About Us

Flourish is a family foundation established in 2022 through a trust created by Nancy Smith. Nancy’s father, Bud Smith, was an entrepreneur who established companies in the St. Louis area relating to ceramics and packaging, most notably CLSmith Company. Bud Smith laid the foundation for his daughter Nancy’s journey. A dynamic force in her own right, Nancy complemented her father's business acumen, propelling the growth of their businesses.

Following the sale of CLSmith Company in 2021, our family felt inspired to start a foundation to share our prosperity and enrich the soil from which we are rooted by giving back to our communities.

We are a family foundation built on integrity, humility, compassion, and gratitude. These values guide us in our relationships with each other, our community, and our environment.

Our approach to giving is deeply shaped by our family’s lived experiences. We have walked alongside loved ones through challenges including alcoholism, dementia, and cancer. These experiences have strengthened our empathy and continue to inform how we show up—grounded in compassion, dignity, and respect for the complexity of people’s lives.

We were also profoundly impacted by the life and loss of Nancy’s husband, Ray, who served as a board member of the foundation. Ray’s insight and perspective helped shape our vision in lasting ways. His time in Africa with Global Health Connection, especially influenced our commitment to supporting programs that equip individuals and communities with the tools and opportunities they need to build sustainable futures—investing in pathways that allow people to grow, lead, and ultimately thrive on their own terms.

We believe in social justice as an overarching theme in all of our philanthropic interests, including equity in education, equity in health care, community development, and environmental sustainability. As a multiracial family, our perspectives have been shaped by the diversity within our family and by listening to and learning from the experiences of those closest to us. We recognize that racial justice is fundamental to achieving true equity across all of these areas. We believe that lasting change is driven from within communities. Our goal is to listen, learn, and provide funding to community leaders and organizations working to create meaningful, positive change.

Our board consists of Nancy Smith and her two adult children, Abby Shareef and Alec Newby. Ned Rollhaus, our fourth board member, brings a valuable perspective as a partner at Matter Family Office. Abby and Alec serve as directors of the foundation and are navigating the evolving landscape of philanthropy with the support of peers and mentors.

We invest approximately $1 million annually in people, projects, and programs. We strive to be intentional in our giving and believe in trust-based philanthropy. Our family is based in St. Louis, Missouri, and Denver, Colorado, and we are committed to supporting organizations in both communities.

If you are seeking grant funding, please reach out to us.