News | Social Venture Partners San Antonio

A new generation of philanthropy

At 35, Garrett Brown is among the youngest SVPSA Partners, which gives him a unique perspective on engaging the next generation of philanthropists. He also has more than a decade of experience in recruiting millennial leaders to serve in community. Garrett shares some things he has learned with SVPSA.

While he believes younger professionals have a strong desire to serve, they don’t always understand the need in their communities. The key is telling a story effectively, and use appropriate communication channels to let them know what’s happening close to home, Brown said.
While he believes younger professionals have a desire to serve, they don’t always understand the need in their communities. The key is using their communication channels to let them know what’s happening close to home, Brown said.

Making lemonade through Lemonade Circle

Growing up on San Antonio’s East Side, Brandi Coleman treasured the support of teachers and community leaders. As an adult, she wanted to recreate that support for today’s generation of African American girls. That led her to start The Lemonade Circle, a mentorship program serving girls of color in grades 5 through 12.

Changing systems for better outcomes

It was a transformative experience when Kimberly Sama moved into a rural village in a small West African country. Her job with the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso was the start of a decade of living and working in African countries.

She worked on issues ranging from girls’ education, women’s empowerment, gender-based violence recovery and prevention and community health work.

How Skilled Volunteers Are Helping Nonprofits

Magdalena House is a shelter for women and their children fleeing domestic violence and trafficking. San Antonio happens to be one of the areas with the highest rate of trafficking in the nation. There is never enough time to do all that could be done.

Bringing the Arts to Everyone

After decades in business, Cory McRae never thought he’d be leading an arts organization. But his business experience has helped the Alamo City Performing Arts Association (known as Alamo City Arts) grow into a multi-faceted performing arts powerhouse. What started as a volunteer position became an obsession, McRae said. Today his work with the arts association is full-time.

“I saw there was a lot of potential with this organization,” he said. “I wanted to see what its true potential would allow it to become.”

SVPSA Partner Insists on Finding Solutions

In Judaism there is a tenet called repairing the world. That principle has been a guiding force in the life of Barbie Scharf-Zeldes, a Bexar County associate judge and SVP Partner.

“That’s something I carry with me, that I’m repairing the world in little bits and pieces wherever I go,” she said.

Scharf-Zeldes’ life is a testament to that goal. It not only drives her professionally, but also fuels her commitment to community service. She’s served on nonprofit boards, provided leadership in her faith community and has served as an SVP Partner for the last four years.

Supporting veterans with personalized care

Military service sometimes comes at a personal cost for service members and their families. That’s why Endeavors, a San Antonio-based nonprofit organization, is dedicated to helping veterans and their families with personalized, comprehensive care. Hear from one of the SVPSA Fellows on their mission to support military and their families.

Helping nonprofits grow with innovation and ROI

As a wealth management advisor with over two decades in the financial services industry, SVP Partner Justin Pawl understands return on investment. That’s what makes him a big believer in SVP. For Pawl, SVP’s appeal is its adoption of the venture capital model that investors use in private enterprise: building smaller organizations and helping them scale by investing not only dollars, but professional guidance.

SVP founder shares leaderships insights in San Antonio

The most important (leadership trait) of all, Shoemaker said, “is a generosity mindset, which looks for ways to connect people and is based on the belief that bringing people together makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts.”

“It’s insanely important in the world today. It’s not about being nicey nice and polite. Having a generosity mindset is a truly strategic way you approach your work. When you walk into the room, are you looking to see who should be connected?” he said.