Chanda Smith Baker to head Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

A fourth-generation Northsider with deep roots in Minnesota’s civic and philanthropic landscape, Chanda Smith Baker will officially become the next president and CEO of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation on Aug. 25.

Smith Baker steps into the role with a career defined by community service, transformational leadership, and an unwavering belief in equity and inclusion. The community foundation, Minnesota’s largest, manages nearly $2 billion in charitable assets and distributes more than 9,000 grants annually across the state.

“I have worked in and for and with community my entire career,” Smith Baker said. “This role feels like a culmination of everything I’ve done. It’s deeply aligned with my values, and I honestly couldn’t be more excited to lead in this new capacity.”

From her early days running Pillsbury United Communities’ Oak Park center to serving as chief impact officer at the Minneapolis Foundation, Smith Baker has spent decades advancing community-centered philanthropy. She also founded her own consulting firm, Smith Baker, focused on cultivating leadership and driving systems change across sectors.

Throughout her journey she has remained rooted in values of accountability, inclusion and collaboration, principles she says closely align with the Foundation’s mission.

“They were very clear that equity and inclusion are core values,” she said. “Listening to community, allowing community to be the compass, convening across differences — those are values that I lead with, and I’m grateful to be stepping into a space that embraces them.”

Smith Baker’s appointment comes at a time of heightened political tension and shifting public trust in institutions. She acknowledges the weight of the moment, but sees it as an opportunity to model how philanthropy can lead with transparency, authenticity and courage.

“There are people living in fear, with disparities becoming more obvious,” she said. “Our responsibility is to demonstrate that we’re about community. That we understand the struggle,  and that we are showing up with integrity and relationship.”

Raised in Minneapolis, Smith Baker is a product of generations of civic leadership. Her maternal family has lived in the city for more than a century, and her uncle, Dr. Richard Green, was the first Black superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools and the namesake of the Green Central neighborhood. Her father’s side came to Minnesota through the Great Migration.

“I’m a Northsider through and through,” she said. “My family has deep roots in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Leading a statewide community foundation feels like coming full circle.”

Her own leadership journey continues to evolve. Earlier this year, Smith Baker was named a 2025 Bush Fellow; a prestigious honor supporting changemakers across the Midwest. Through the fellowship, she is exploring wellness-centered leadership, developing her storytelling skills, and researching how leaders can better sustain themselves in complex roles.

“Life has a way of converging in unexpected ways,” she said. “The alignment between the Bush Fellowship and this role was not something I planned, but I couldn’t be more pleased.”

As she prepares to lead the Foundation into its next chapter, Smith Baker credits her own path to being intentional, values-driven, and deeply relational.

“I’ve learned not to chase someone else’s style of leadership,” she said. “Learn yourself. Invest in your development. Borrow inspiration, but make it your own.”

Asked what advice she would offer to young people watching her rise to one of the state’s top philanthropic roles, she paused and smiled. “Know that there are many ways to lead, and your way is valid,” she said. “Move with integrity. Prioritize relationships. And dream big.”

Smith Baker also shared her appreciation for outgoing CEO Dr. Eric Jolly, the Foundation’s team, and the board who selected her.

“I’m deeply grateful to Dr. Jolly for his visionary leadership over the past decade,” she said. “This foundation has a powerful legacy. I’m honored to be trusted to carry it forward.”

In her down time, Smith Baker says she enjoys reading, traveling, and gathering with friends and family. “Give me a book, give me some good people, and I’m good,” she said with a laugh. “That’s how I refill my cup so I can show up and lead well.”

For the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation’s new strategic plan, or other information, visit www.spmcf.org. 

Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-reocrder.com.