Sam L. Smith Jr. is a community cultivator, advocate, servant-leader, change agent, strategist & innovative thinker. With over 13+ years of experience working for various corporate and nonprofit institutions.
Currently, Mr. Smith is the Executive Director of GreenLight Fund Charlotte. In his role, Mr. Smith brings stakeholders from philanthropy, nonprofits, the private sector, government, and community leaders to invest in solutions and drive measurable results that improve opportunity and mobility for low-income families in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community, which includes incubating and scaling evidence-based, innovative organizations with proven impact to address unmet community needs.
Previously, Mr. Smith served as the Director of External Engagement with the United Way of Central Carolinas. Mr. Smith expanded and managed the $3.2M Unite Charlotte grassroots-based community investment fund and led United Way’s Advocacy initiatives. The Unite Charlotte fund was established in response to the unrest in Charlotte in September 2016. The fund supports new and/or grassroots organizations led by people of color, offering innovative solutions to improve economic mobility through a racial equity trust-based approach.
Mr. Smith has been a recipient of many awards and honorary accolades throughout his career. In 2022, Mr. Smith was honored by the Charlotte Business Journal - 2022 Class of 40 under 40.
This honor was given to a selected group of leaders shaping and making a significant impact in the City of Charlotte.
Mr. Smith has been vigorous in community advocacy for over 12+ years and has been a frequent volunteer and board member for various community-based not-for-profit organizations. Some include the International House of Metrolina, Out Teach, Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, the City of Charlotte Community Relations Committee (CRC), and the WCNC News Advisory Council.
Mr. Smith is an appointed member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Citizen Review Board, appointed to the Citizen Advisory Committee on Governance by the Mayor and City Council, and the Mecklenburg County COVID-19 Recovery and Renewal Taskforce by the Mecklenburg County Commissioners.
Mr. Smith is a co-founder of the Northwest Community Alliance (a community organizing and activism group).
Mr. Smith is an active member of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Beta Nu Lambda chapter, where he chairs the Political Action Committee.
Mr. Smith earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Baker College and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Phoenix. In addition, Mr. Smith has earned a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and a certificate in Corporate Citizenship Practice from Boston College.