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Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy

The Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy is committed to creating a 330-acre natural area park for the entire San Antonio community. The Conservancy was founded to support all aspects of the park, from planning programs to fundraising. Operating in accordance with a master property plan, the Robert L. B. Tobin Land Bridge had recently been completed, and open to the public.

Upon completionof the land bridge project, the Conservancy’s iconic board president stepped down to allow for new leadership and fresh innovation. With a new president, the support of the Conservancy’s Executive Director, and the completion of its most recent land bridge project, the Conservancy’s board of directors was poised to invest the time and resources needed to embark on a three year strategic planning process.

Phil Hardbeger Park Conservancy turned to the Cielo Strategy Group team to assist with their planning. They needed to look inward while maintaining an outward perspective, exploring the possibilities for future growth and sustainability. Throughout the planning process, we helped the board and staff wrestle with questions like:

  • What is the Conservancy’s purpose now that the “bridge” is built?
  • How might we strengthen our relationship with the City of San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation Department?
  • How do we leverage community ties?
  • How do we tell our story better?
  • How can the board help in securing adequate resources to achieve our mission and vision?

Our strategic planning process with the Conservancy included focus group sessions, individual interviews, surveys, and a comprehensive materials review. We worked with the board, staff and City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation staff in an extensive process that culminated in a four-year written strategic plan.

What we create is an actionable plan – not intended to be shelved – that includes strategic priorities with supporting goals and activities. The plan outlines key measures, a timeline of activities, and budget implications. In order to measure success, Cielo Strategy Group provides an annual operational planning tool and a dashboard to go along with each organization’s strategic plan.

Back to Our Clients

  • 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
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