As the San Antonio Area Foundation continues its work to expand opportunity across the region, the organization is welcoming two new members to its Executive Leadership Team. Their roles will help strengthen the resources that fuel community change and the systems that help make that change possible.
Lauren Schumann has been named Chief Philanthropy Officer, and Melinda Higgins Louden will serve as the organization’s first Chief Strategy Integration Officer.
Together, they bring almost four decades of experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, communications, and organizational transformation. Their appointments reflect the Area Foundation’s commitment to growing its capacity to serve donors, nonprofits, students, and communities throughout the region while continuing to invest in solutions that create lasting impact.
Strengthening Philanthropy Across the Region
As Chief Philanthropy Officer, Lauren Schumann will lead the Area Foundation’s efforts to grow charitable investment and deepen relationships with the donors, families, and community partners across Bexar and surrounding counties.
With nearly 20 years of experience in fundraising, philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership, Lauren has helped connect donors with causes they care about while building programs that strengthen communities. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Individual and Major Giving at United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County.
At the Area Foundation, Lauren will help strengthen the Foundation’s role as a trusted philanthropic partner for the region. She will help ensure donors and fund advisors have meaningful ways to support the issues and organizations that matter most to them, strengthen partnerships with professional financial advisors who help clients achieve their charitable goals, and oversee efforts that support scholarship opportunities.
“Lauren understands that philanthropy is about more than raising dollars. It’s about building relationships, connecting people to purpose, and helping create opportunities that can transform lives,” said Nadege Souvenir, CEO of the Area Foundation. “She brings exceptional experience, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to community, and we are excited to welcome her to the Area Foundation team.”
Lauren noted that she is honored and excited to build on the Foundation’s long tradition of community engagement.
“Throughout my career, I have been passionate about connecting generosity with purpose and creating pathways to lasting change,” she said. “I look forward to building relationships with our donors, community partners, and the talented team at the Area Foundation to strengthen our collective impact and help shape a brighter future for San Antonio and the surrounding region.”
Guiding the Foundation’s Next Chapter
The Area Foundation is also introducing a new executive role, Chief Strategy Integration Officer, designed to help advance the organization’s strategic priorities and maintain momentum as the Foundation takes on increasingly complex possibilities and challenges.
In this role, Melinda Higgins Louden will help guide major initiatives that require collaboration across teams and departments while ensuring the Foundation remains focused on its long-term goals and community commitments.
She brings extensive experience spanning corporate responsibility, communications, development, and large-scale organizational change. Most recently, Melinda served as Manager of Corporate Communications at Toyota Motor North America, leading the external brand and reputation of the San Antonio manufacturing plant. Prior to that, she led stakeholder alignment and governance efforts for a major business transformation initiative at USAA, helping bring together leaders across multiple business units to achieve shared goals.
According to Souvenir, Melinda’s background makes her uniquely suited to help translate ambitious ideas into action.
“Melinda brings a rare ability to connect people, priorities, and strategy,” Souvenir said. “The goals outlined in our 2030 strategic plan are ambitious, and achieving them will require collaboration, focus, and a willingness to think differently about what’s possible. Melinda’s leadership will help us advance our efforts to ignite impact, elevate voice, and build futures while ensuring we remain responsive to the needs of our community.”
Melinda said joining the Area Foundation will allow her to contribute to an organization she has long admired.
“From my earliest days as a nonprofit grantee, to recently as a peer in impact, I have admired and respected the San Antonio Area Foundation’s leadership and commitment to our community throughout my career,” she said. “I am honored to join this exceptional team and help shape the Area Foundation’s next chapter of trusted, strategic philanthropy and creating positive change.”
The addition of Lauren and Melinda reflects the Area Foundation’s continued evolution as a convener, collaborator, and catalyst for change across the San Antonio area and South Texas.
Alongside leadership, staff, and supporters, their leadership will help position the Area Foundation to take on larger opportunities, forge deeper partnerships, and create lasting impact for the communities it serves.
