Entrepreneurs for North Texas has been fully folded into the Communities Foundation of Texas, eliminating the need for executive director Catherine Cuellar.
Cuellar joined the nonprofit, which promotes philanthropy for entrepreneurs, last July after leaving her post as executive director of the Dallas Arts District. She’s played a major role in integrating the organization into its umbrella organization. Cuellar will leave the nonprofit at the end of the month.
“I’m really proud and happy of what was accomplished, I just hadn’t considered that I would be on the job market so soon,” Cuellar said. “I worked myself out of a job.”
Entrepreneurs for North Texas, which is losing its name and branding, always existed under the umbrella of the Communities Foundation, which connects donors to worthy causes. But since EFNT’s inception in 2000, it’s been functioning independently, serving the small and middle markets. About six years ago, the Communities Foundation outlined a strategic plan to bring the two organizations closer together. Then, in January of last year, the Communities Foundation advisory board determined that it needed to make an intentional effort to meet the needs of business philanthropy, and EFNT would provide a direct line to a different membership of companies.
“There’s some real efficiencies to be gained,” said Susan Swan Smith, chief relationship officer. “The services EFNT offers … make it more seamless.”
The change puts EFNT under the leadership of the Communities Foundation, which is currently in search of its next CEO. Its most recent CEO, Brent Christopher, left the organization in June to become the president of Children’s Medical Center Foundation. While Cuellar is out, no other personnel changes are expected to result from the merge.
Under Cuellar, EFNT was able to add more than two dozen member companies and sponsors. It now has a total of about 100 member companies. EFNT also hosted its largest Freedom Day to date, with more than 600 volunteers participating in the day of service on Sept. 11.
Cuellar has not determined her next steps just yet, saying she’s looking for the right opportunities to leverage her skills.
“It’s about how can I help the most,” said Cuellar, a downtown Dallas resident who said she’s been shaken and also inspired to help since the Dallas police shootings. “I’m not running to rush into anything.”
Prior to joining EFNT, Cuellar served as executive director of the Dallas Arts District for about two years. She also served as a communications manager for Oncor, managing editor of Pegasus News, and reporter for KERA.
