Ciara Garcia Named Chief Executive Officer of SVP International (SVPI)
[Seattle, WA, April 17, 2024] – SVP International (SVPI), a global network of engaged philanthropists, has named Ciara Garcia as its new Chief Executive Officer. Garcia brings over 17 years of nonprofit leadership experience championing community-driven philanthropy to generate multigenerational change.
As CEO of the SVP Tucson affiliate, Garcia quadrupled the organization’s budget and partnership, allowing the expansion of staff, nonprofit partners, and programmatic impact. A key initiative was pioneering an innovative “2Gen” model aligning services like workforce development, childcare and mental health to holistically empower whole families across generations.
“We are thrilled to elevate Ciara’s leadership and voice to push our global movement forward,” says Dr. Adriana Loson-Ceballos, Co-chair of the SVPI board.
“Ciara is the ideal leader to guide SVPI into the future,” said Paul Shoemaker, Founder of SVPI. “Her depth of experience growing an affiliate and creating transformative relationships across our network make her perfectly suited for this role. We’re thrilled to have her at the helm.”
“The opportunity to strengthen SVPI’s worldwide impact is both humbling and inspiring,” said Garcia. “I’ve witnessed how channeling resources and trust into communities can catalyze holistic, interconnected change from local to global levels. I’m honored to help our affiliates unlock their fullest potential.”
Prior to SVP Tucson, Garcia spent 11 years at Tu Nidito Children and Family Services, rising from development director to COO. Her expertise in promoting collaborative partnerships was further developed through on-the-ground work and a fellowship at the Aspen Institute.
In her new role, Garcia envisions facilitating deep connections at all levels of SVPI’s work. Key areas of focus will include nurturing relationships with affiliates and funders, tailoring support for affiliates from new groups to renowned thought leaders, empowering affiliates to connect local and global impact through cross-network learning, and providing the partnership and philanthropic capital communities need to create equitable opportunities.
“SVPI is doing deep internal work around what our global network is best positioned to do and how we can collectively make the most impact,” says Shoemaker. “Ciara has the unique combination of brains, heart, and energy that make her the right dynamic leader for SVPI in this moment.”
About Social Venture Partners International
At SVP International, we have witnessed the power of collective action throughout our global network of affiliates embedded in communities worldwide. SVPs have been influencing meaningful change on local and global levels by working hand in hand with community leaders. To learn more about the transformational network that is SVPI, visit www.svpi.org.
For more information regarding SVPI and Ciara Garcia’s new role as CEO, please contact mary@soldesignco.com.
