With its trust-based philanthropy modus operandi and an unprecedented push toward equity as part of its new strategic plan, the San Antonio Area Foundation is proud to see its work reflect the new vision to close opportunity gaps for those of our neighbors who most need it the most.

Thus, we couldn’t be any prouder to learn that we have been named a recipient of the San Antonio Business Journal2022 Diversity & Inclusion Award! We join a distinguished list of fellow recipients, which includes the likes of CPS Energy, San Antonio Zoo and UTSA.

“Moves that impressed the judges included diversity in top leadership positions, health care benefits for nontraditional families and unconscious bias training,” the publication stated in its announcement of this year’s winners.

An award ceremony will be held Oct. 5, with location yet to be determined. It’s actually the second year in a row that the Area Foundation is linked to this recognition – our very own Jane Paccione, Managing Director for Collective Impact within our Community Engagement and Impact team, was a winner in 2021.

Already a leading voice for our region’s philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, the Area Foundation is embarking on a significant new journey toward stepping up our role toward making the Alamo City more equitable, so we all have the same shot at success no matter which zip code we call home.

The change is reflected in our new mission and vision serving as the centerpiece of a new five-year strategic plan that the Area Foundation’s Board of Directors approved earlier this year. 

The push also involves raising the organization’s profile at the national level, reflective of our current standing among the top 20 community foundations (by asset size) out of the more 850 across the country.

The Area Foundation is also gearing up to launch a new outreach campaign focusing on our new mission and vision, to help raise awareness of our new strategic plan and work to grow our leadership role in our community and beyond.

“We’re humbled that the judges for the San Antonio Business Journal’s Diversity and Inclusion Awards concur that our new journey is a worthy endeavor,” said Lisa Brunsvold, the Area Foundation’s Vice President for Development and Donor Services.

“Yet this is just the beginning – we have much work to do to help reverse the lack of opportunities so many San Antonians still face in reaching for their dreams,” Brunsvold noted.

Hernán Rozemberg is the San Antonio Area Foundation’s Director of Communications and Storytelling.