At SA2020 we believe that everyone is capable of affecting change. And because SA2020 transparently reports on San Antonio’s progress towards our shared goals, the entire community is able to see where we are making strides and where we are falling short, ultimately always able to advocate for and lead change.
In our vision for Civic Engagement, San Antonians imagined a city that “cultivates inspired and effective leaders in selfless service to the community.” Over the last several years, our Nonprofit Partners have shown a growing need for board members who can help support and strengthen their work. In fact, in Fall 2018, SA2020 surveyed 126 Nonprofit Partners and identified an opportunity for cultivating leadership and service through nearly 400 nonprofit board openings. (You can read our full 2018 Nonprofit Impact Report here.)
So, here’s where you come in.
The Board Game is a leadership development training and matching program that connects San Antonians interested in serving their community with SA2020 Nonprofit Partners. We currently have 47 nonprofits participating, with over 200 board openings among them. (This includes SA2020 because we believe so much in what we’re producing that we want to recruit from this program, too.) Our Partners’ collective work impacts all eleven SA2020 Cause Areas, with Education, Health & Fitness, and Family Well-Being as the top three.
Nonprofit Partners participating in The Board Game have identified a skills gap on their boards in fundraising, marketing/public relations/communications, advancing equity, technology, and strategic planning. So, if you have expertise in one of these areas, you are encouraged to apply. We also know organizations are stronger when their boards represent the communities they serve. Looking at the data we collected from our Partners, in order to strengthen representation, people of color (especially women and gender non-conforming folks of color), folks who live in San Antonio City Council Districts 2-7, and folks under the age of 40 are also encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will be matched with Nonprofit Partners whose current board needs align with their demographics and areas of expertise.
In order to affect change, all of San Antonio must take collective responsibility for advancing community results. This responsibility is embodied in the SA2020 Community Vision. So, SA2020 works in partnership with multi-sector organizations to intentionally redesign the way our system—made up of the public, private, and social sectors—works. This coordination is essential because community results cannot be achieved by one organization alone.
SA2020 Nonprofit Partners are critical to our community’s progress. They work every day to make our city better, meeting community needs and moving us closer to reaching the community vision. SA2020 supports the work of our Nonprofit Partners through capacity building, collaboration, data sharing, and storytelling.
We’re asking you to also support our Nonprofit Partners by serving on a board, volunteering your knowledge, skills, and experience, and learning more about how organizations are moving the needle on the Community Results you care about most. We know board service might seem a little daunting or overwhelming, so we’re committed to helping you plug in and find a great match. When we work together and lean on each other’s strengths, we know we can achieve our vision for a thriving San Antonio.
