The Council on Alcohol and Drugs, founded in 1969, is a 501(c)(3) charitable, nonprofit organization and receives funding from state and federal grants, the United Way, corporate sponsorships, private foundations as well as private contributions, special events and program fees.

Alcoholism, addiction and drug dependency are very complex diseases. Addressing these issues is never a simple task. Our mission is to keep Georgia communities healthy, productive and safe by providing services and information to all who may be adversely affected by alcohol and drugs.

That means we help anyone at any time with any issue related to alcohol or drugs. We do this through prevention, intervention (interruption), outpatient treatment, education and outreach. We reach people at home, at school, at work and in the community.

Our service philosophy is based on the principle that each client's needs are unique. We meet individuals, families and businesses where they are in the cycle of addiction.

We are grateful to all our board members, corporate sponsors, donors and friends for their dedication, commitment and service to the citizens of Georgia. With their individual efforts, The Council will continue to reduce shame and stigma often associated with the disease of addiction and help one person, one family, one business at a time. Together we are making a difference; We are saving lives and healing families.

Throughout the history of The Council there has been a continual challenge to fund the resources needed to carry out our mission.  For too long The Council has primarily relied on state and federal grants. Such resources are diminishing and competition for the remaining resources is keen. Therefore, The Council must become more creative in obtaining needed funding to continue providing substance abuse prevention programs to the citizens of Georgia.

The Council must continue to develop mutually profitable relationships with corporations.

The Council is uniquely positioned to take advantage of corporate partnerships for the following reasons: 

• Our mission appeals to companies.
• Involvement with The Council enhances a company's image in the community.
• Helping employees and their families to remain drug and alcohol free affects the profitability of corporations.
• There are already established natural links between what The Council is doing with its drug free workplace division and certain corporate products and services.
• The leadership of The Council (the CEO and board) has the necessary status and established networks to open corporate doors.
• The partnership of The Council with the state chamber of commerce strengthens The Council's relationship with companies throughout the state.
• Visitors to the SAIR database on our website are potential buyers of products.
• The Council is known to a large audience of businesses through our drug free workplace newsletters.
• Georgia is replete with company headquarters of corporations with long standing histories of corporate responsibility.

The Council has created a corporate sponsorship program based on partnerships and investments, not handouts and charity. The goal of this program is to help corporations build relationships between their company and potential customers.

The Council develops corporate relationships, which will grow over time. We will continually upgrade these relationships by moving from one-time contributions to ongoing support, from exploratory involvement to commitment, and from accepting donations to helping shape corporate involvement.  

Corporate giving must become an essential part of the overall development program for our agency.  Corporations distributed $12.4 billion to charitable causes in 2004, almost as much as did private foundations. The importance of including corporations in our strategic fundraising plan is obvious. Fundraising in general and corporate fundraising in particular has evolved into a process of exchange. Companies want to invest in opportunities. The challenge will be to match their interests with ours. The term "corporate relationship" for The Council must come to mean a long-term relationship in which both parties value working together over time.