Dora Verde has an impressive record of community involvement, so joining Impact San Antonio this past February provided another opportunity for her to give back. Here is what she has to say about why she became a member and what she likes most about the organization.
How did you hear about Impact San Antonio?
I first heard about Impact San Antonio many years ago through my longtime friend Rose Mary Fry. Rose Mary and I have served on several nonprofit boards together, and through the years she mentioned the excellent work that Impact San Antonio was doing to assist nonprofits. In addition, I have several friends who are members of Impact San Antonio and spoke passionately of the work being done and the positive impact to our community.
Why did you decide to become a member?
I attended my first Grant Award night in October 2020 when the awards were presented virtually. I was so inspired by the work being done by the award-winning nonprofits, and I know that the Impact San Antonio grants will result in projects that will greatly benefit our community. I decided that evening that I needed to become a member.
What roles have you played in the organization?
This is my first year with Impact San Antonio, and I was asked to serve on the Financial Review Committee (that reviews the financial records of applicants for the grants). My service on that committee exposed me to many nonprofits that I did not even know existed in San Antonio. I also had the opportunity to experience the infrastructure that this group of women has built to ensure that our processes work in reviewing and selecting grant recipients. I look forward to serving in other capacities in the future as my time permits.
What do you enjoy most about being a member of Impact SA?
I have enjoyed being part of a group of strong, dedicated, confident women who are willing to donate their time and efforts to ensure that we make our community better. I participated in the new member orientation in August and found that the virtual meeting was well organized and very informative. The leadership of Impact San Antonio was very welcoming and even went the extra mile by personally delivering a nice goodie bag to our homes prior to the orientation.
What do you find most inspiring about the way Impact SA works in the community?
Impact San Antonio is making a difference in our community by awarding substantial grants that are changing and transforming organizations to ensure that they in turn can provide needed services to our community.
What do you do for a living?
I am a CPA and a CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) with a consulting practice that has focused on giving back to the community by providing chief financial officer services to nonprofit organizations in the San Antonio community. I also worked for five years as Chief of Internal Audit for the San Antonio Water System and 18 years as a partner in a local public accounting firm. I also sit on two corporate boards for Trellis Company and TD Industries.
What other work do you do in the community?
I am a Member of San Antonio 100, a women’s networking group, and I am an inductee of the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame in the area of Business and Finance. I serve on several nonprofit boards, including being board secretary of the Trellis Foundation, board secretary of the ACE Academy in the Northeast Independent School District, board treasurer of WINGS (Women Involved in Nurturing, Giving, Sharing), Inc., and a member of the board of advisors of the National Association of Corporate Directors. I also am the chair of the Audit Committee for the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame.
