Bexar Branches: Cultivating a Greener, Healthier San Antonio

Jaci Randel and Bexar Branches Alliance

For Jaci Randel, the vision of a healthier environment where everyone can thrive has always been at the heart of her work. This passion led her to help establish Bexar Branches Alliance in 2021, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing San Antonio’s urban forests. Jaci’s journey to founding this organization is a testament to her lifelong commitment to making the world … Read More

Unveiling the Magic Behind Magik Theatre’s Success

A story of how SVPSA’s Catchafire program made a difference In the heart of San Antonio, Magik Theatre stands as a beacon of creativity and imagination, captivating audiences of all ages with its spellbinding productions. But behind the scenes, Director of Development, Heather, had a vision to enhance the theater’s operations and ensure its continued success. Enter our hero, Jack, … Read More

Paying It Forward: The Journey of Ben Brooks, Jr.

Imagine the concept of “Pay it forward” and your mind would probably go right to Ben Brooks, Jr., the CEO of San Antonio nonprofit with the same name, Pay It Forward. His story exemplifies this philosophy, inspiring donors to understand why he dedicates himself to such impactful work in our city. Ben’s journey with Pay It Forward began as a … Read More

Steven Meyer: A Local Leader Committed to Community Impact

With deep roots in the San Antonio community and a passion for making a difference, Steven is a welcome addition to our network of changemakers. As Branch Manager at ABC Home and Commercial Services in San Antonio, Steven brings a wealth of leadership experience and a commitment to enhancing community welfare.

Making a Difference: The SVP Impact at Haven For Hope in San Antonio

Located in the heart of San Antonio, Haven For Hope stands as a beacon of hope and healing for individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. Since its inception, this transformative organization has been dedicated to providing comprehensive services and support to those in need, helping them rebuild their lives and regain their independence. Today, we shine a spotlight on the … Read More

Creating a Positive Ripple Effect: How SVPSA is Making Waves in Our Community

In a world where every action counts, the power of creating positive change cannot be underestimated. At Social Venture Partners San Antonio (SVPSA), we believe in the transformative impact of collective action. From empowering nonprofits to fostering collaboration, we’re dedicated to making a lasting difference in our community. Join us as we explore how SVPSA is creating a positive ripple … Read More

Developing a Plan for Giving

A majority of giving to nonprofits is with a donation here and there. We look at our list once a year around tax time. We give to our school, to our church, maybe a hospital that helped our family. You get a lot of requests and give to those who catch us at the right time, one here, two there and so on.

All of these causes need your support, but do you actually measure the impact of your giving and see measurable change? Would you like to be more purposeful in your charitable giving? You don’t have to give a million bucks to see change. That is a myth! All of us can see an impact from our giving.

Culturingua receives visit from Duke and Duchess of Sussex

part of Culturingua’s Sewing for Success program, a Welcome Project grantee. The Duke and Duchess were hosted by Nader Mehdawi, Culturingua COO, and Nadia Mavrakis, Culturingua CEO, respectively.

The Welcome Project, a program of the Archewell Foundation, supports the programming provided by Culturingua for women who have recently resettled in San Antonio from Afghanistan. Through Culturingua’s Sewing for Success classes, these women benefit from group gatherings where they develop their sewing skills and build community.

Founding Partner describes growth of SVPSA

Pawl and two other partners were introduced to the concept of Social Venture Partners (SVP) by a member of the SVP chapter in Austin. He admitted he had never heard of anything like it from a philanthropic standpoint, and was immediately intrigued. Pawl comes from a capital markets background and had worked with venture capital firms before. So the venture capital approach to business being applied to philanthropies was something that was immediately attractive for Pawl.

“I’ve seen how impactful private capital can be when applied appropriately, along with professional guidance to growing private businesses,” Pawl said. “And I thought, what a fantastic thing to do in the philanthropic world.”