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San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic Program Expansion Plan

Founded in 1979, San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic began as a Christian ministry of First Presbyterian Church when congregation leaders recognized an urgent need for charitable dental care for low-income adults in San Antonio. In 1986, First Baptist Church joined the ministry and offered space for expansion, growing the Clinic’s capacity from two (2) to eight (8) dental chairs. In 2009, Haven for Hope founders invited SA Christian Dental Clinic to move onto its campus and the clinic expanded to 16 chairs.

Cielo Strategy Group has partnered with San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic on a number of projects over the years.  Initially, we were asked to help increase the Clinic’s digital presence and educate the community on the importance of their mission. We then moved into assisting them with a variety of fundraising strategies ranging from year end appeals to a major gifts campaign.

With a long-term partnership, our team gets to know every aspect of the organization. We have become part of the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic family. Our work is tailored to their needs and we make ourselves available to coach and mentor, design and implement tactics, strategize and facilitate generative conversations centered around organizational sustainability.

One recent generative conversation occurred while facilitating their three-year strategic planning process. The planning process for this strategic plan was a partnership between the Board of Directors and senior staff and included input from both internal and external stakeholders.  A reoccurring theme centered around “Where we live is important” and the topic of place became a significant discussion point throughout the planning session. Ultimately, the board landed on four strategic priorities recognizing that financial sustainability and brand and identity are critical before the question of place or property could be answered.  However, as facilitators, we worked very hard to make sure everyone’s voice was heard throughout the planning process and to make sure that all points of view were considered as the board wrestled with the possibility of what’s next for the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinice.

Our work with San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic has changed and evolved to meet the needs of the organization, and it is a pleasure to engage in a long-term relationship with a nonprofit where we can see and measure effectiveness and impact over time.

Back to Our Clients

  • "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

  • “As the Garden has grown and evolved, Cielo consultants have proven their ability to meet us exactly where we are in the moment. They are flexible, responsive, and creative in developing solutions that fit our unique needs. Cielo understands the delicate balance required when working with both staff and volunteer-driven initiatives. Their ‘listening first’ approach is refreshing. Time and again, Cielo has proven they don't just provide cookie-cutter consulting—they take the time to understand our mission, our community, and our specific challenges, then craft solutions that are both practical and innovative. You won’t find a better strategic partner."

    KATHERINE TRUMBLE, PRESIDENT & CEO
    San Antonio Botanical Garden

  • "Cielo Strategy Group was a joy to work with and has been a big help in channeling our energy in more productive ways. Our board has become more involved, and communication between staff leadership and the board has improved tremendously. The Cielo team has made an incredible impact on our art center!"

    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

  • "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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