Kristin Smithson

Kristin Smithson is a senior program officer for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where she manages program investments that address various civic and social issues in the Kansas City area. Her work has focused on strengthening networks within the local nonprofit sector, investing in programs that support family economic stability, and promoting spaces for civic and cultural learning. Smithson engages in projects across the Foundation to apply an equity lens to our strategy, culture, and operations. She supports others in thinking creatively about how to apply best practice learnings to improve grantmaking processes while including diverse voices and experiences in our work.

Prior to joining the Kauffman Foundation, Smithson was part of the team to open the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and held various roles in fundraising, event planning, special projects and public relations. She most recently was the director of Marketing & Communications, where she oversaw the strategy and execution of all internal and external communications, provided leadership for all brand and program marketing efforts, and fostered strong community partnerships.

Earlier, Smithson had experience working for both non-profit and for-profit cultural institutions in Kansas City and Chicago, including cross-functional experience collaborating on the development and execution of Chicago Loop Alliance’s dusk-to-dawn cultural celebration, the first event of its kind in the United States, which drew 200,000 diverse visitors to Chicago’s downtown loop.

Smithson earned a Bachelor of Music in voice and a Bachelor of Arts in music from Truman State University and a Master of Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago.