Dr. Denise A. Smith has joined Coastal Community Foundation (CCF) as the Regional Senior Director of the Southern Lowcountry.
In this role, Smith will serve Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties, creating meaningful dialogue, building trust, and inspiring action among an array of stakeholders. As a member of CCF leadership, she will be responsible for developing strategic partnerships to create positive outcomes for nonprofits and communities in the region. Smith will direct the management of the Southern Lowcountry’s competitive grantmaking portfolio, including CCF’s largest grantmaking program, The Beaufort Fund. She will also work alongside CCF’s Philanthropy Department to inform donors about pressing needs and opportunities in the Southern Lowcountry.
“The Southern Lowcountry is home for me,” said Dr. Denise A. Smith. “Returning in this role is both personal and professional as well as purposeful—I understand the history, culture, and resilience of this region, and I see tremendous opportunity to build a future that honors that legacy. My roots here ensure I lead with both commitment and accountability to the communities we serve.”
Smith joins the CCF team with a wealth of experience in the nonprofit sector. Her professional background includes work with The Truth Initiative, the longest running national anti-tobacco campaign for youth and young adults, and most recently she served as the Deputy Director and Senior Fellow of Higher Education at The Century Foundation, where she led research and policy advocacy projects to address disparities across higher education, healthcare, workforce, and economic justice. She earned her undergraduate degree at South Carolina State University. She then achieved a Master of Public Health Administration in Management and Policy from Morehouse School of Medicine and a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Howard University.
“We are excited to have Dr. Smith join CCF,” said Kerri Forrest, VP of Grantmaking and Community Leadership. “Her ties to the region combined with her nonprofit leadership, policy advocacy, fundraising, and data evaluation experience will elevate our work in Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties. One of her responsibilities will include further development of the Catalyst Grant program, which awards large, multi-year grants to nonprofits making transformational change through bold and innovative ideas. This program has already awarded more than $8 million in the last five years, and I look forward to seeing the impact of the next grants under Dr. Smith’s leadership.”
In the past 25 years, Coastal Community Foundation has granted more than $20 million in the Southern Lowcountry thanks to its family of endowed perpetual funds.
