At the June 7, 2021 Annual Meeting, Impact Austin introduced the Strategic Advisory Council (SAC) as an advisory committee of community leaders who will help strengthen and diversify our membership and grantmaking.
We've had a long history of gathering community feedback to shape our work, and the SAC takes this to a new level with a more structured and sustained approach. Council members will share their expertise and connections to support the mission and vision of Impact Austin, and make strategic recommendations to the Board of Directors.
SAC co-chairs Becky Austen and Lorene Phillips developed the council charter and operating principles this past spring. As a next step, they reached out to an impressive group of leaders who self-nominated or were recommended by colleagues and Impact Austin members. The cohort of 28 council members was finalized and approved by the Board in August. The SAC represents the diversity of our community, and over 70% of members are people of color. While many have been connected with our work, membership in Impact Austin is not a requirement to be on the council. About half the members are nonprofit professionals, with the remainder representing corporate, community and academic organizations, as well as two Austin chambers of commerce.
Nominations and self-submissions for the SAC referenced important skillsets, lived experiences, and professional expertise that will make the council stronger and its recommendations for Impact Austin all the more meaningful. How exciting that these attributes will be part of the SAC’s work!
“She knows what it is like to be one of Impact Austin’s community partners and would give that experience a voice in the council.”
“As a Latina fundraiser, she thinks critically about how racial equity can better come to life in Central Texas’ philanthropic sector.”
“…..career in marketing, product promotion and communication has enabled her to proactively bring focus to issues in the Austin nonprofit community.”
“…..steadfast in her support of girls and women in STEM programs.”
“I believe that Impact Austin is an organization that is very open to change and to adapt with the times and the needs of the community….”
“She is a lover of all things leadership and strives to bring that learning to her teams, peers and community to build stronger relationships and organizations.”
The SAC will hold its first meeting on September 28 and convene quarterly after that. We're excited to bring together this incredible group of leaders who care so much about our community, and we're grateful for the energy and ideas they'll bring to the council.
Paulina Artieda The New Philanthropists
Courtney Bailey Leadership Austin
Rebecca Birch Susan G. Komen®
Sylvia Butanda Latinitas
Vanessa Davila Helping Hand Home
Chelsea Dean-Martinez Girls Empowerment Network
Estevan Delgado Austin Community Foundation
Chelsea Elliott half Helen Foundation
Johanna Moya Fabregas Con Mi MADRE
Fang Fang Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce
Ana-Cristina González Mobile Loaves & Fishes
Woody Harrison Woody Harrison Films
Patricia Hayes PVH Consulting Group LLC
Carolyn Krawczyk Austin PBS
Dan Leal Seedling
Pauline Lewis Community Leader
Diana Maldonado Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber
Lynelle McKay Community Leader
Irina Meza Mission Capital
Haydee Moreno JUST Community
Dr. Rosalind Oliphant Sadler Means YWLA
Karen Ranus NAMI
Lourdes Rodríguez St. David’s Foundation
Denise Shannon Philanthropy Consultant
Ricki Wax Google
Nakeenya Wilson Huston Tillotson University
