Robert F. Smith’s Philanthropy

Philanthropist and entrepreneur Robert F. Smith is committed to uplifting the human spirit, particularly in underrepresented and underserved communities. Smith’s work with Fund II Foundation as the founding director and President has helped fund racial equity and educational reform initiatives, as well as outdoor access and historic preservation efforts. Additionally, his partnership with the foundation led to the creation of internship and career pipeline opportunities for Black Americans and other marginalized groups.

“There’s nothing greater than liberating the human spirit.”

-Robert F. Smith

Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners

Paying it Forward

Smith learned about the importance of giving back to others at a young age. This early understanding inspired Smith throughout his personal and professional endeavors and has helped to shape who he is today. As a result, Smith hopes to teach younger generations about the importance of giving back through his philanthropic efforts. Ultimately, he hopes to inspire others to step forward and become community leaders and philanthropists who will help make the world a better place.

Smith aims to encourage outdoor preservation and access by working with organizations like Lincoln Hills Cares.

Smith’s Partner Organizations

Smith is committed to creating philanthropic infrastructure that allows underserved communities to heal, grow, find strength and renew their purpose. He deliberately invests his resources in organizations that are pursuing innovative solutions and building towards a better, more equitable, future.

For example, Smith supports the work of Southern Communities Initiative. The Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to boosting racial equity in six Southern U.S. communities that are home to the majority of Black Americans. To drive lasting impact, the Initiative partners with corporate and philanthropic organizations to support four main racial priority pillars. These focuses include supporting minority business enterprises, boosting community access to capital, education and workforce development and ensuring digital access for underrepresented communities.

About Robert F. Smith

Smith is a descendant of Pullman porters and teachers who achieved middle-class stability in the twentieth century. Advocacy and philanthropy became part of Smith’s life at a young age, with his mother carrying him as a baby with her during the historic March on Washington in 1963. The words spoken that day about the connection between economic health and civil rights by iconic leaders, including the great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., were reiterated to Smith by his parents throughout his childhood. Smith has worked to advance this conversation by drawing awareness to the economic opportunities lost when people lack access to education and job opportunities that can help them build generational wealth.

Smith is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners (Vista), a leading global investment firm that launched in 2000. Since its inception, the firm has exclusively invested in enterprise software, data and technology-enabled businesses. The idea for this stems from Smith’s belief that the health of our society, economy and planet lies in the transformative power of technology.

As Vista expanded, Smith broadened the scope of his philanthropic goals, but his original inspiration remains his mother’s monthly $25 gift to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). In 2017, Smith became the first Black American to sign the Giving Pledge. With his wife, Hope Dworaczyk Smith, by his side, he committed to investing half of his net worth in charitable projects that liberate underrepresented communities and support ecological initiatives that will ensure a better future for humankind.

News and Updates

RICE Center Receives a $1 Million Grant to Create PayPal Retail Academy

November 28, 2023

The Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, also known as the RICE Center, received a $1 million grant from PayPal to launch a PayPal Retail Academy designed to help Black businesses get off the ground.

Baltimore Triplets Begin Freshman Year at Spelman and Morehouse Colleges

November 21, 2023

Baltimore triplets, Morgan Hicks, Sanai Hicks and Tony Hicks Jr., will all be attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Atlanta. They reflect on their diligence in their studies and how they got to where they are today despite challenges.

Girls Who Invest Receives a Grant From PEWIN Foundation

November 14, 2023

PEWIN Foundation, the non-profit branch of the Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN), has awarded its first grant to Girls Who Invest (GWI). This $15,000 grant will support college students interning through GWI’s Summer Intensive Program.

Multimedia

Watch conversations, speeches and profiles of Smith to learn more about his life, philanthropy and thought leadership.