Catchafire program surpasses $1.6 million in value

Investing in measurable impact is a core value of Social Venture Partners. This is why we fund programs like Catchafire that enable nonprofits to do more, and to increase their skill levels. As of today, nonprofits across the region have received $1,663,749 in value from pro-bono professionals who volunteer their time on the Catchafire portal. This is thanks to a collaborative of … Read More

Making lemonade through Lemonade Circle

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.

How Skilled Volunteers Are Helping Nonprofits

Magdalena House Impact Story Jan 2023

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.

The Power of the SVPSA ConnNectwork

Connections through SVPSA

A car wash does not seem to be a very big deal. However, when a fledgling organization gets an unexpected communication offering the proceeds of a Haunted Car Wash to be held the weekend prior to Halloween, the wheels start to turn.

Refreshed Thinking Transforms Fellows’ Work

Texas Kidney Foundation

After each gathering of the SVPSA Fellowship, Texas Kidney Foundation CEO Tiffany Jones-Smith comes home with a checklist of action items. Paging through her notebook to the most recent entry, she reflects, “If I implemented five of the nine that are here, that’s transformative.” 

Inspiration Came from Learning About the 990

celebrate dyslexia

Jasmin Dean, founder and executive director of Celebrate Dyslexia, always dreaded filling out Form 990, the annual filing that the IRS requires of nonprofits and charities. Dean saw the 990 as a distraction from the mission-critical work that she was doing to create community, offer resources and provide support for dyslexic students, their families, and the educators who serve them. 

Volunteers’ value surpasses $1 million milestone

SVPSA Catchafire

This month, local nonprofits reported they surpassed $1 million in value from skilled virtual volunteers provided by a local funding cohort started during the pandemic by Social Venture Partners San Antonio (SVPSA). Nonprofits started using the virtual volunteer website, Catchafire, in the fall of 2020, early in the pandemic to help fill critical skills gaps when most offices were shut down and organizations were forced to change how they raised money, delivered services, used technology and communicated with board and donors.

Fellowship provided a sense of community

SVPSA Fellowship community

In the early days of the pandemic, Pride Center San Antonio scrambled to deliver on its mission to provide services and support to the LGBT+ and ally community in San Antonio.

More than giving money, SVPSA helps nonprofits become better stewards

Erika Prosper

Partner Spotlight: Erika Prosper As a small business owner, Senior Director of Customer Insights for H-E-B, San Antonio’s First Lady, and a volunteer board member with countless local organizations, Erika Prosper is known for her tireless work supporting important causes and nonprofits in San Antonio. She says the reason she got involved with Social Venture Partners San Antonio was simple: … Read More