CARGILL ASSOCIATES, INC.
FT WORTH, TX

As a fundraising development firm dedicated to raising funds for institutions, organizations, service agencies, non-profits and churches, nationally and internationally, Cargill Associates has brought philanthropy, generosity and stewardship into sharp focus for worthy causes since 1976. We partner with you to design effective and efficient development strategies and solutions tailored to your unique personality, culture, circumstances and challenges to help you fulfill your vision. Our consultants and staff include the most prestigious, experienced, knowledgeable and successful men and women in this field. They come to Cargill Associates with ‘other side of the table’ experience. They are experts in group dynamics, skilled problem solvers, and excellent strategists and stand ready to share with you their counsel of professional experience with discernment and integrity. Our campaign strategies are based on sound fundraising principles and are rooted in a strict code of ethics, protecting the confidentiality of each of our clients and prospects. Since its founding, Cargill Associates has been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and subscribes to their code of ethics and standards of professional practice. Having joined Cargill Associates shortly after the company was founded, Steve has more than 37 years’ experience in pre-campaign planning, capital, comprehensive and major gifts campaigns, development audits, strategic planning and Board training. He developed the Cargill Associates’ Pre-Campaign Survey and has personally conducted over 350 of them. He has provided counsel for private and public universities, major health care systems, social service agencies, museums, family and children services, youth organizations, churches and parishes. Steve has served as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer for 15 years and works with the staff to continue the Cargill Associates’ tradition and reputation as a trusted industry leader with a national and international client base. As a founding member of the Fort Worth chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Steve is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Council for Resource Development (CRD) and Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP). Vice President of Business Administration Sharon joined Cargill Associates in 1984, as Business Manager, during a period of rapid growth for the company. She was named Vice President of Business Administration in 2008, and serves the company by overseeing its financial management. Her duties include all accounting functions, human resources, payroll, financial planning, record keeping, planning and monitoring of the annual budget, and timely reporting of financial data within the company. In the community, Sharon has served as Treasurer and Executive Board Member of a local chapter of Business and Professional Women. She is also active in her church, currently serving as a member of the Stewardship Committee. A native of Fort Worth, Sharon attended Texas Wesleyan University and Tarrant County College. Rev. Dr. Kurt Appel is a Senior Vice President for the Church Division of Cargill Associates, and is also currently serving as the Senior Pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Petal, Mississippi. Because of Cargill Associates’ reputation for successful church stewardship planning and programming, Kurt joined the team because it enabled him to be in ministry with a broad spectrum of churches seeking to grow in mission and ministry. An ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, Kurt has spent over a decade in full-time ministry serving large and small membership churches on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. With his background in church development and experience in the local church, his ministry is focused upon helping churches become disciple making congregations. Prior to entering ministry Kurt was an Engineer with Sharp Electric, Inc., a major commercial and industrial electrical contractor. He completed his undergraduate work in Mechanical Engineering at Louisiana Tech University, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. As the Vice President of Operations, Lee Ann supervises the daily assignments and tasks of the company, directs Cargill Associates’ consultants and support staff, and is the administrator of Cargill Associates’ website and SharePoint site, as well as assisting the C.E.O. in any duties that might be required. Overseeing the Church Division’s Research Department for twelve years and the Institution Division’s Survey Department for four years, she has had the opportunity to oversee more than 400 feasibility programs, and is continually enhancing Cargill Associates’ feasibility and survey work. Lee Ann has a passion for developing a client’s vision through statements of purpose, and is a specialist at analyzing client’s financial data and compiling the comprehensive feasibility and survey reports. Prior to joining Cargill Associates, Lee Ann was the Assistant Headmaster of a K-12th grade Fine Arts charter school in Fort Worth, and worked on receiving grant endowments for the school. Lee Ann has earned a BME degree in music from Baylor University, and a BBA degree in management from the University of Texas at Arlington. Sonny Banning is a fundraising executive with more than 25 years of experience working with non-profit organizations in development and administration. His expertise includes planning and developing successful annual and capital fund raising campaigns as well as board development seminars and strategic planning sessions. Before coming to Cargill Associates, Sonny served as Vice President for Development for York College (York, Nebraska), and as President and Chief Executive Officer for Maude Carpenter Children’s Home (Wichita, Kansas). Sonny holds a degree in Theology and, prior to his career in non-profit development and administration, served for 20 years as minister for churches in Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and Kansas.