Philanthropist Robert F. Smith Brings a Wealth of Experience as NAF’s New Board Co-Vice Chairman

In spring 2023, NAF, a national education non-profit that brings schools and businesses together to support high school students’ efforts to be future ready, was thrilled to welcome a new board member – Robert F. Smith. Smith, who brings a valuable new perspective and years of experience uplifting educational excellence to NAF, is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners (Vista), a leading global investment firm, and currently serves as Co-Vice Chairman of NAF’s Board of Directors, alongside Kenneth Chenault. Smith is a graduate of both Cornell University and Columbia Business School and continues to give back to his alma maters through donations and board memberships.

Many may know Smith as the philanthropist who eliminated the student loan debt of the Morehouse College Class of 2019, a gift that spurred the creation of Student Freedom Initiative (SFI). However, this is only a part of his philanthropic reach. As an entrepreneur and innovator, Smith uses his platform to advance racial equity and create opportunities for under-resourced communities.

In that vein, educational equity is at the forefront of Smith’s philanthropic endeavors, making him an invaluable asset to the NAF network. His passion for education began at a young age, thanks to his parents. His father, William, helped pioneer the Head Start Program in Colorado, and his mother, Sylvia, was an educator who dedicated her career to empowering the children in their community. Every month, Smith watched his mother make a $25 contribution to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) – no matter his family’s financial circumstances. Not only did this ingrain in Smith the importance of education, but it also fueled his passion for providing students with equal access to high-quality education.

To further amplify NAF’s mission, Smith marked his board appointment with a $15 million pledge. This gift will bolster NAF academies in metropolitan areas of the Southern U.S. identified by Southern Communities Initiative (SCI) as regions where a majority of the country’s Black population resides.

Since 1980, NAF has led a movement for immersive, career-focused teaching and work-based learning to help students explore career options, create a plan for the future, and take part in hands-on learning unlike anything traditional public education systems can offer.

Another organization that Smith supports in conjunction with Fund II Foundation, where our journey together first began, is internXL – a platform that connects students to valuable career resources and internships. This program provides students with opportunities to network with senior-level executives and have hands-on learning experiences that build invaluable skills for their future careers. Smith’s firm Vista partners with both internXL and NAF to offer students access to internship experience in the financial services industry.

Through our work, we are thrilled to put students on a path to achieving their full potential and take pride in appointing the best leaders to help prepare students of all backgrounds to be future ready. By carefully crafting our Board of Directors with those who have deep roots in education, we aim to help more of our students achieve academic, college, career, and future success.

Read more about Smith’s NAF Board appointment and follow Mr. Smith on social media:  Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Also, keep up with NAF for the latest news, storytelling spotlights, resources, and more!