The Starfish Initiative
Empowering Not-for-Profits, One Strategy at a Time
At Informatics, we believe even small acts of service can make a big impact—especially when they support organizations working to better our communities.
That’s the heart behind the Starfish Initiative, our employee-driven Give Back program providing in-kind digital services to not-for-profits located in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids Corridor.
Through this initiative, our team members nominate local organizations they’re passionate about to receive tailored support and valuable in-kind services in areas like digital strategy, marketing, web services, and analytics.
It’s our way of throwing a starfish back—making a difference, one organization at a time.
What is the Starfish Initiative?
The Starfish Initiative is an internal program inviting our team to nominate local not-for-profits for free or reduced-cost digital services. These aren’t cookie-cutter deliverables—they’re strategic services designed to help young or growing organizations build a solid foundation for sustainable impact.
In 2025, we’re donating $25,000 in services across eight organizations, focused on nonprofits in health and human services, education, the arts, and environmental work. Our goal? Help amplify the mission of those doing essential work, even if they don’t have the budget to bring on full-time digital help.
Since piloting this program in 2022, we’ve already donated more than $80,000 in in-kind services to local organizations; it’s our goal to give back a total of $250,000 by 2035.
What We Offer to Not-for-Profits
Each selected organization receives a custom package of services tailored to their goals, challenges, and organizational maturity. Past support has included:
- Website audits and recommendations
- Social media strategy and training
- Email marketing campaigns
- Branding consultations
- Analytics setup and coaching
Every project begins with a conversation—because we know one size never fits all.
Why We Do It
Our team is made up of thinkers, builders, and creative problem-solvers—but above all, we’re neighbors. We live and work in the communities we serve, and we understand the power of digital tools to elevate good work. Give Back is one of Informatics’ Core Values, and this initiative is one way to put that value into action.
The Starfish Initiative is inspired by a simple story Informatics President and CEO John Osako first heard while volunteering with CHI Haiti, a not-for-profit that sets up temporary medical clinics in remote villages. It goes like this:
One day a man was walking along the beach, when he noticed a boy hurriedly picking up and gently throwing things into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “Young man, what are you doing?”
The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
The man laughed to himself and said, “Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make any difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference to that one.”
“The story reminded me that we each have the capacity to make a difference, we just need to act,” John says. “We’re not typically given the opportunity to change the world, but this is a chance for us to absolutely change our community.”
Hear From Past Starfish Recipients
In 2022 and 2023, Informatics teams piloted the first Starfish Initiative-style engagements with Mirrorbox Theatre and the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy, both located in Cedar Rapids; those experiences informed the development and establishment of this formalized program.
Hear from Mirrorbox Theatre Founder Cavan Hallman, and EIAA Executive Director Heather Wagner, about their experiences with Informatics in the videos below:
Mirrorbox Theatre
As Informatics’ first Give Back pilot client, Cedar Rapids-based not-for-profit Mirrorbox Theatre needed help reaching new audiences. Our marketers launched a series of digital campaigns aimed at Eastern Iowa residents, resulting in a 8,356% YoY increase in paid social engagement and nearly 1,000 new page followers on Facebook. Read more about our work with Mirrorbox.
Eastern Iowa Arts Academy
This K-12 arts academy in Cedar Rapids needed help sharing its mission with donors and different community groups. Our Media team responded by interviewing stakeholders and producing an inspiring mission video that the organization can share with potential donors, schools, parents, and other key groups.
The Future of Starfish
While the current program is internally driven, we’re working toward opening nominations to the public in the future. Until then, we’ll continue championing local changemakers, one project at a time.
Want to see what we’ve built together? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for featured stories from our Starfish partners, or reach out to us to share your own community-changing idea! We love putting big ideas to work.
We want to be your partners in success.
One simple conversation can change your business forever.
