Hello, Duke community! 

I am so happy to have the chance to introduce …or re-introduce … myself to you.  

Nearly seventeen years ago, I joined the Duke Gift Planning team as a Gift Planning Officer.  In fact, in the photo above, you will see my son, Jack, who was almost 6 months old on my first day of work – time certainly flies! 

In my first job at Duke, I had the privilege of partnering with alumni, families, and friends across the country to help them craft significant and often deeply personal philanthropic gifts. Each interaction and relationship brought me joy and invaluable lessons.  A former trustee once shared a story that still resonates with me. Upon being called a “philanthropist,” her first reaction was that it was much too lofty a title for her to comfortably accept. But after looking up the word, she realized that the origin and meaning of philanthropy is love for your fellow man (and woman). It is what drives us to help others and she embraced that description. I am continually inspired as I work with people, like all of you, who express that same love and care for others through their giving.  

When an opportunity to grow came to me after a decade at Duke, I took a six-year journey away for a new challenge as the VP of Philanthropy and then Chief Development Officer for the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, our state’s largest foster care, adoption, and family strengthening organization. I learned so much and am deeply grateful for all that the CHS community brought to my life. And then came an exciting invitation to bring my experiences and insights back to Duke, to lead the exceptionally talented Gift Planning team. 

From day one in my new position back at Duke, I have been energized by the incredible strength and passion of the Duke community and by all that Duke is making and will make possible for our region, our country, and our world.  I look forward to collaborating with you as you make gifts that will truly transform lives. Like the title of “philanthropist,” thinking of your giving as transformational could seem lofty, but gifts of all sizes have ripple effects that go wider and farther than we can know. It is truly my honor to play a role in how you create those ripples, waves, and sometimes tidal changes. 

About the author

Kristen Brown Smalley

Assistant Vice President of Gift Planning

kristen.smalley@duke.edu

Kristen began her career as a banker and then as a tax attorney, but found her true calling almost 20 years ago when she saw how her legal, tax, and financial expertise could help others make charitable gifts to further their passions and priorities. As the Assistant Vice President of Gift Planning at Duke, Kristen now leads a highly skilled team working with our community of donors who are including philanthropy in their financial, retirement, and estate plans.  When not at work, Kristen finds joy traveling with family and friends and diving into whatever crafty project has captured her interest at the moment.