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Knapp Community Care Foundation – CEO Search

The Knapp Community Care Foundation (KCCF) seeks to help Mid-Valley communities in the Rio Grande Valley improve access to healthcare, wellness, nutritional services, and education by supporting local nonprofit organizations. Since its inception in 2012, the Foundation has granted more than $47 million to local organizations supporting children and families in the Mid-Valley region.

In 2022, when the founding CEO announced that she would be stepping down, we had been working hand-in-hand with Knapp Community Care Foundation on a variety of projects; mostly focused on building capacity within the Foundation’s grantee partners, but we had also spent a great deal of time with the Foundation board on identifying strategic priorities and talking through succession planning for both board and staff.  We had grown to love the strength, resiliency, and warmth of the Rio Grande Valley community and appreciated our varied projects with the Foundation, so when KCCF’s CEO approached Cielo Strategy Group to lead the executive search, we said a resounding yes!

The gift in this search was time.  The 18-months that the CEO provided for gave everyone (board, staff and Cielo Strategy Group) an opportunity to really concentrate on succession planning before even beginning the search.  We supported the succession planning committee in its efforts to ensure that all organizational policies, practices, and procedures were in place. We led conversations around staff compensation, emergency planning, communications plans, and helped the committee update the organization’s Bylaws. Once that work was complete, we supported all efforts associated with the executive search. We guided the Foundation in:

  • Selecting the search committee 
  • Working with the committee on process
  • Designing the CEO position guide
  • Creating the process timeline
  • Drafting selections criteria
  • Announcing the positions
  • Coordinating all outreach efforts 
  • Vetting candidates
  • Developing the interview rubric
  • Researching compensation ranges
  • Coordinating virtual and in-person interviews
  • Checking references and coordinating background checks
  • Informing candidates of progress
  • Coordinating meet and greets with board members
  • Drafting committee motion for Board
  • Writing the welcome letter and announcement

We are grateful for having the opportunity to guide the Knapp Community Care Foundation team in such an integral process and are honored to have forged such a strong partnership with the Foundation. The search process was successful and we are confident the Foundation’s second CEO will lead with grace and humility as she takes the Foundation to its next level.

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  • "We chose Cielo because of their extensive expertise and deep understanding of our donor base, and they delivered on every level. From the beginning, they took the time to listen to our unique needs and challenges, ensuring their recommendations were tailored to our organization’s goals and values. With their guidance, we refined our messaging and developed a clear and inspiring vision for the future. They were instrumental in helping us craft a strategic plan with actionable next steps that will drive meaningful progress. The Cielo team exemplifies professionalism, combining their vast knowledge with a personal, empathetic approach that made us feel genuinely supported at every step. We highly recommend them to any organization seeking a partner who listens, understands, and delivers exceptional results."

    HEATHER MCFARLAND, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    Alamo Heights School Foundation

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    KATHERINE TRUMBLE, PRESIDENT & CEO
    San Antonio Botanical Garden

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    LANZA TEAGUE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    Kerrville Arts & Cultural Center

  • "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

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    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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