Sally Smith

Activist, Brainstormer, Change Agent, Concerned citizen, Explorer, Global soul, Idea generator, Philanthropist, Social entrepreneur, World traveler

Sally Smith is the Founder and Managing Director of The Nexus Fund, started in 2012 to strengthen the global community to end mass atrocities. The Nexus Fund provides funding around the world to civil society organizations and activists building more peaceful communities in especially at-risk areas, with a focus on Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka and Nigeria. As the an inaugural co-chair of the Conflict and Atrocity Prevention Funders Working Group, Sally coordinates with peer funders at the Peace and Security Funders Group and the International Human Rights Funders Group. Prior to founding The Nexus Fund, she coordinated the Sudan Now campaign, led by Humanity United and six other major anti-genocide and human rights organizations. She also worked on advocacy for Sudan and South Sudan through the Enough Project to End Genocide and Mass Atrocities at the Center for American Progress. Since 2003, Sally has worked for numerous campaigns, foundations and nonprofit organizations, including the Partnership for Public Service, Obama for America, Nick Lampson for U.S. Congress, Walmart Watch, EMILY’s List, and more. She has written pieces for the Washington Post and is an alumnus of EMILY’s List Campaign Corps. Originally from Texas, Sally graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rollins College and is currently pursuing a mid-career Masters in International Public Policy at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, with a focus on Conflict Management.

Supporting grassroots and locally-led efforts to prevent mass atrocities and build peace.

There are only three funders in the world dedicated to preventing genocide and mass atrocities. Our closely held value that "Never Again" should a genocide occur is simply not backed up with the support of our private or public dollars and efforts. Now more than ever, innocent men women and children are facing the risk of being killed for simply being who they are, where they are. I am committed to building this field and ensuring that people on the ground have what they need to build more peaceful, resilient communities (among other resources needed) so that "Never Again" can become a reality.

Surfing, ballet, organizing, being positive, gratitude meditation, speaking Spanish after a couple glasses of wine