WOMEN IN NONPROFITS with BARBARA SEXTON SMITH
Having spent years as a fundraiser and civic leader, Barbara Sexton Smith is without a doubt a Louisville legend. She has raised more than $220 million whilst working with the Fund for the Arts, Metro United Way, Olmsted Parks Conservancy, NCCJ, West Louisville Boys and Girls Choirs, Community Hunger Walk and many others.
Don’t miss the opportunity to listen to Barbara’s perspective on women in nonprofits as she draws from her own experiences and forecasts what may be possible for female fundraisers in the future. No matter your gender identity or where you are in your development career, this program will surly leave you inspired.
FREE to Members, $25 Guests, $10 YPAL Members
Barbara Sexton Smith,
Honorary Ambassador Louisville, KY &
Former Deputy Mayor for Louisville Metro Government
MORE ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Former Deputy Mayor Sexton Smith reported to the Mayor and served on the Senior Leadership Team which set the city’s strategic direction. She led seven offices operating within the Mayor’s Office including: The Offices of Equity, Philanthropy, Sustainability, Women, Immigrant Affairs, Philanthropy - Early Childhood Learning, and the Human Relations Commission.
Barbara is currently serving as Louisville’s Honorary Ambassador, Pure Edge board member, and as a Trustee for Kentucky College of Art + Design. Throughout the years she has served on more than 36 boards, commissions and task forces including Simmons College of Kentucky (HBCU), Muhammad Ali Center, Rotary Club of Louisville, Evolve502, and the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District Board.
Barbara most recently served a four-year term as the Louisville Metro District 4 Councilwoman during which time she sponsored legislation resulting in $1.2 billion in economic development creating more than 4,700 jobs. She co-created the partnership that produced the Kroger Mobile Market which visited 34 locations in neighborhoods where grocery stores did not exist. Her legacy will always be as the original sponsor and co-author of the Ordinance – Breonna’s Law – banning no-knock search warrants in Louisville, Kentucky which passed unanimously 26-0 in 2020.
Prior to serving in elected office, Barbara led the Fund for the Arts as its President & CEO responsible for generating sufficient operating revenue for the local orchestra, opera, ballet, theatre, and visual arts including the EVERY Child Arts Education Initiative for public education. She served as the Chief Liaison for the Compassionate Schools’ Project, the world’s largest longitudinal study focused on curriculum for health, social and emotional well-being, body regulation and mindfulness for elementary school children. She began her nonprofit work during the 1980’s as a fundraiser for the Metro United Way.
After graduating from the University of Louisville’s College of Business in 1979, Barbara was quickly promoted through the management levels at Wendy’s International and claims everything she needed to know about management and leadership she learned at Wendy’s. Her entrepreneurial spirit took hold and she launched her own company to teach the highly sought after Street-Smart Principled Negotiation program producing thousands of graduates.
As a life-long learner, in November 2022 Barbara attended the Harvard Law School program for Master Negotiators. Along the way she launched a 300-foot barge, flew a two-seater jet, roped the Wing Tip Rodeo Golden Steer on stage, and hit the bullseye in two axe throwing exhibitions. In 2023 she received the Lyman T. Johnson Torchbearer Award at the annual ALEF HOPE Breakfast.
