Appearances & Interviews

Allen Smart is a nationally recognized speaker and facilitator, known for his provocative and challenging perspectives on the world of philanthropy. A representative sample of presentations includes the following:

  • “Why Aren’t Foundations More Innovative and Risk-Taking?”
  • “The New World of Healthcare Conversion Foundations”
  • "How to Develop Work of Interest to Private Foundations”
  • “What Does the Future of Philanthropy Look Like?"
  • “The 10 Tenets of Effective Rural Philanthropy”
  • “Building a Field of Rural Philanthropy”
  • “How Communications, Strategy and Evaluation Merge in Rural Foundation Work”
  • “How Foundations Can Begin Their Rural Learning Journey”
  • “Equity - It's a Rural Issue Too!”
  • “How Healthcare Can Step Outside Its Walls”
  • “How Churches Can Step Outside Their Walls”

Allen regularly presents before individual foundations, national non-profits, state-based funder groups, national Philanthropy Serving Organizations and multi-state regional funder associations.

Recent Engagements

  • Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health. Introduction to Rural Philanthropy — March 2, 2023
  • Philanthropy Northwest Rural Webinar Series — December 6, 2022.
  • Intermountain West Funders Network Gathering — April 26, 2019, Colorado Springs, CO
  • Center for Effective Philanthropy Biennial Meeting — May 8, 2019, Minneapolis, MN
  • Federal Private/Public Annual funder meeting — May 30, 2019, Washington, DC
  • GlobalMindED Annual Meeting — June 5, 2019, Denver, Colorado
  • National Conference for Growing Community Foundations — October 28, 2019, Wichita, KS
  • American Association of Land-Grant Public Universities — November 11, 2019 San Diego, CA
  • New Mexico Grantmakers Annual Meeting — November 13, 2019 Albuquerque, NM
  • Upswell (Independent Sector) Annual Meeting — November 15, 2019 Chicago, IL
  • Annual Summit of the Root Cause Coalition — October 4-6, 2020, Kansas City
  • Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Public/Private Partnership Meeting — June 2-3, Washington DC
  • First Annual National Rural Recovery Housing Summit — June 10, Memphis, Tennessee
  • National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Annual Meeting, October 6, Harrisonburg, Virginia
  • Philanthropy Northwest Rural Webinar Series -  March 16, April 14, May 12, June 16, September 15, and November 9, 2022.
  • Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, National Rural Health Association and Grantmakers in Health Annual Gathering of Rural Health Funders and Federal Officials -  October 26-27, 2023.

Upcoming Events

  • Philanthropy Missouri — January 26, 2024,St. Louis, MO
  • Indiana Philanthropy Alliance — March 28, 2024, virtual

Need a Speaker for Your Event?

To book Allen for your event, please contact us.