Job Title: Principal

Organization: Susan Swan Smith Consulting

As principal of Swan Smith Consulting, Susan Swan Smith advises nonprofits on organizational strategy as well as fundraising, data/information, and North Texas Giving Day approaches. She provides coaching and works with leaders on structure, culture, and accountability. Previously, as founding Director of the My Possibilities Foundation, Susan led advancement efforts in support of My Possibilities – which provides adults with disabilities a pathway to inclusion and a meaningful life. These efforts raised nearly half the organization’s budget annually. From 2010 to 2021 she was Chief Giving Day Officer and Chief Relationship Officer for Communities Foundation of Texas, where she led fundraising, communications and North Texas Giving Day. With her leadership, Giving Day grew from a $3 million effort supporting 300 non-profits to a $65 million juggernaut raising funds from 100,000 donors for more than 3,200 area nonprofits and schools. Earlier roles included stints in leadership positions at The Hockaday School, SMU, the Dallas Theater Center and Theatre Three. Susan holds an A.B. in Economics from Duke University and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from The George Washington University. Susan and her husband, Ken Smith, have a blended family of four adult children – including three spouses and several grand-dogs. Their philanthropic interests focus on women and girls, social justice and clean water. Susan enjoys travel with Ken, walks with pit bull/lab mix Shiloh, any beach, kayaking, and hiking with anyone she can drag along. She is a Leadership Plano alumna (Class 38) and member of the LP Advisory Board. She serves on the board of Houston-based Lindella Foundation; is a member of University of Texas at Arlington’s Innovation & Economic Prosperity Advisory Board; and sits on the Collin /county Assistance Center’s Board of Directors.