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Las Casas Foundation

Founded in 1988 as part of the effort behind the restoration of San Antonio’s historic Majestic and Empire Theatres, Las Casas Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of the performing arts through education and scholarships and the restoration and preservation of historic theatres.

Cielo Strategy Group worked in partnership with Las Casas staff to create an infrastructure for organizational success. We followed their most recent strategic plan to ensure we were aligned with organizational priorities. We created board policies, designed a board committee structure, provided board training and education, and helped create a major gifts campaign for increased donor engagement. Cielo Strategy Group also worked with the Las Casas Foundation team to develop and design a press kit that told the story of their organization’s history, programs, and impact. We also designed and developed their first ever annual appeal to engage their donors in year-end giving resulting in more than $40,000 in contributions.

Our Cielo consultant worked closely with existing staff to develop a staffing structure that supported immediate and intermediate needs while also considering future growth. As a part of the project, the consultant provided executive coaching and made recommendations for increased efficiencies and effectiveness as it related to day-to-day operations, fundraising, and board governance.

As with many of our partnerships, Las Casas Foundation experienced an executive leadership transition while we were working with them. We quickly expanded our scope of service to include an executive director search supporting the board through the transition. We created the job description, conducted the outreach, vetted candidates, and worked closely with the board hiring committee to interview, rank, and present a final recommendation to the full board.

Cielo Strategy Group enjoyed its partnership with Las Casas and learning alongside of board and staff the possibilities for an organization despite organizational change.

  • The Cielo Strategy Group team brings a passion for strengthening nonprofits to their work, and it is evident in their every detail – from their outstanding customer service, to their impeccable follow-through, to the way they engage with residents, board and staff – I just can’t say enough good things. They are professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely dedicated to creating a sustainable organization. I am forever grateful to them.

    SANDRA WHITLEY, FOUNDER/FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    Thrive Youth Center
  • The Bay City ISD School Board and staff could not have been more enthusiastic about the marketing plan that Cielo Strategy Group developed for us. We are extremely excited to see what we can do with the tools you've given us. Thank you so much for making my job easier."

    GRANT MCGALLIARD, CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
    Bay City ISD
  • Thank you so much, Cielo Strategy Group for creating capacity within our organization now and for the future. You guided us, coached us, encouraged us, and taught us how to execute ideas that had always felt like far-off dreams. You didn’t come in and point out our weaknesses – you celebrated our strengths, and then, you met us where we were and gave us actionable steps to strengthen our board governance, fundraising, communications, storytelling, and operations. We are stronger because of you!

    MINKA MISANGYI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    Girls on the Run Bexar County
  • The Cielo team has been a trusted partner strengthening our organization from the inside out. After facilitating our initial organizational assessment process, they identified key areas we needed to focus on that would move our mission forward. They didn’t just give us a report with recommendations, they jumped in and created the infrastructure we needed to help us operate more effectively – from basic Board governance documents and processes to a staff and volunteer handbook, to operational planning and goal-setting. They have coached me to become a better leader. As we celebrated our ten-year anniversary, we accepted a transformational gift to purchase our own land and build upon our vision. We could not have done this without “getting our house in order”, which is what Cielo Strategy Group did for us.

    DEBRA FRANCO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association
  • The Cielo team has been instrumental in helping the Weslaco Museum rebuild for the future. As a new Executive Director, I am thankful for their unwavering commitment. They provided our organization with the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” – enabling us to focus on our vision and mission. They have helped the Weslaco Museum grow our member base, streamline our website, strengthen our board, and our overall vision for the future.

    CRYSTAL RODRIGUEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    Weslaco Museum
  • Cielo Strategy Group is part of our Clinic family. With our long standing partnership, I have relied on their team as a steady support system – responding to our needs and flexing with us. They have elevated our storytelling and communications, guided us through annual fund development plans, designed and project managed annual appeal mailings, coached us through grant proposals, facilitated Board sessions and a strategic planning process. They push us toward excellence and don’t settle for less.

    GLORIA Z. CANSECO, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
    San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic