San Antonio Area Foundation Establishes Professional Advisor Council

The San Antonio Area Foundation is launching a Professional Advisor Council (PAC), a leadership network designed to strengthen charitable giving across Greater San Antonio. The council engages professionals who guide some of the community’s most important financial, estate, and philanthropic decisions.

The PAC recognizes that professional advisors are often the partners clients turn to when they begin thinking seriously about values, legacy, and impact. And for advisors who believe philanthropy should be as thoughtful and strategic as any other investment, the PAC offers a chance to lead that conversation together.

Through combined knowledge of guiding complex giving decisions, council members will help move local philanthropy toward intentional charitable investment. This includes inspiring strategic use of charitable tools, encouraging support for promising nonprofits, and helping donors think more holistically about place-based impact in our rural and underserved communities.

For nonprofits, this translates into funding that is more informed, more flexible, and better aligned with organizational capacity and long-term goals. For the community, it means capital is deployed with greater insight and coordination. “Professional advisors play a critical role in how generosity takes shape in our region,” says Lisa Brunsvold, Chief Development Officer at the San Antonio Area Foundation. “The Professional Advisor Council creates a space for shared learning and leadership so we can support stronger outcomes for the community we all care about.”

Who serves on the Professional Advisor Council?

The Professional Advisor Council will be a select group of 12-20 experienced professionals drawn from across the advisory landscape, including attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, wealth managers, trust officers, and others involved in estate, tax, and charitable planning.

Members of the PAC will participate in ongoing dialogue about trends in philanthropy, share practical expertise with peers, and provide direct input that helps shape how the Area Foundation supports advisors and their clients.

Advisors interested in serving on the inaugural council can apply online. Applications are due by February 28, 2026.

A Two-Way Learning Community

The PAC is intentionally designed as a two-way exchange: Advisors learn from one another, and the Area Foundation learns how to better support client-centered charitable planning across the region.

Members benefit from curated educational experiences led by national experts, access to tools and case studies that support values-driven client conversations, and a strong peer network of respected advisors and community leaders. The council also provides opportunities for recognition as philanthropic leaders shaping the future of giving in Bexar and surrounding counties.

Just as importantly, members gain a deeper understanding of local nonprofit needs and emerging opportunities—insight they can carry directly into their client work.

Council members serve two-year, renewable terms. Members meet six times per year from April to October to discuss emerging planning trends, participate in focus groups that inform Area Foundation strategies, and engage in optional working groups focused on education, outreach, and events. Site visits and briefings with nonprofit leaders offer a grounded view of how philanthropy plays out on the ground.

Learn More

Advisors interested in learning more about the Professional Advisor Council, discussing time commitments and expectations, or understanding the application process, are encouraged to contact David Simmons at dsimmons@saafdn.org or 404-964-1785.