Dear Friends:
In a year marked by global recession and reduced assets, foundation leaders sought to make the best decisions under the worst circumstances. One of the ironies of philanthropy is that when our people need help the most, there is less to give. During this year of economic recession, the San Antonio Area Foundation demonstrated its responsibility to donors, beneficiary organizations, the Board of Directors, volunteers, and staff with strategic oversight enabling us to sustain our service to the community in 2009 while positioning the Area Foundation for the future.

We were pleased the Area Foundation was able to keep grant and scholarship award distributions in 2009 consistent with previous years’ totals. Even in the face of harsh economic times, we distributed more than $20 million in grants and scholarships. We are grateful to our generous donors for investing their resources to improve the lives of others. Our work would not be possible without them.

During 2009, we commissioned a six-month study to determine how the Area Foundation could develop a strategy enabling us to strengthen our community impact and better address community needs. FSG Social Impact Advisors conducted a study that offered recommendations for our grant-making future. Two of the excellent recommendations from FSG stood out as areas in which we could have a significant role: nonprofit capacity building and improving high school completion.

In 2009, the Board of Directors took steps to incorporate the Nonprofit Resource Center into the Area Foundation, creating the Center for Nonprofit Support. The Center will provide expert guidance and services to nonprofits by offering educational and leadership resources. We plan to answer the next significant recommendation—to serve more in the education arena—specifically in the area of improving high school completion rates.

During 2009, we were proud San Antonio served as the host city for the Council on Foundations’ Fall Conference for Community Foundations. Reggie Williams was honored to serve as the Conference Chair. The conference brought 800 community foundation leaders, mayors of cities and municipalities, and national dignitaries to San Antonio to discuss Public-Private Philanthropic Collaborations in support of our communities. It was considered so successful the Council on Foundations is planning another conference in San Antonio in the near future.

The Conference for Community Foundations also served to debut our neighbor-to-neighbor news and communications system—NOWCastSA. The Knight Foundation’s Information Challenge was a call to community foundations to find better ways to communicate and “spread the news” throughout communities and our NOWCastSA proposal won a $487,000 matching grant by offering to provide community news in innovative and exciting ways. In a collaborative partnership with over 25 different entities representing the City, universities, charities, health organizations, and the library, NOWCastSA provides an interactive online communications portal for sharing neighborhood news. From neighborhood meetings and celebrations to disaster preparedness and volunteer opportunities, NOWCastSA focuses on the events, issues, and concerns
that matter most to the neighborhood.

Our community outreach efforts consisting of the South Texas Hispanic Fund, the San Antonio Area African American Community Fund and the Women & Girls Development Fund made great progress toward their goals of expanding the philanthropic spirit in San Antonio and Bexar County.

As a leader for charitable giving in the region, we are establishing a Center for Philanthropy, a resource in charitable giving for all members of the community—family and corporate donors, nonprofit organizations,
civic leaders, educators, as well as individuals with an interest in supporting the community. We will share news on our progress in this exciting effort during 2010.

With your support, we will continue to be a major partner in meeting the needs of our great community. The Board’s, volunteers,’ and staff’s commitment to our donors’ vision for the betterment of the community is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is…helping donors achieve their charitable goals for the greater benefit of the community. As we move onto the future, our goal is to continue to be your Foundation “where giving and community connect.”

J. Robert Mehall 2009 Chair, Board of Directors
Clarence R. “Reggie” Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer