Vickie Smith
Nonprofit Leadership & Advocacy Consultant

Vickie Smith is a nationally recognized consultant with extensive nonprofit experience. Her expertise in domestic violence advocacy, public policy, and crisis communication helps nonprofits build resilient strategies and amplify their impact. Vickie is a seasoned nonprofit consultant renowned for her advocacy expertise, particularly in domestic violence policy, nonprofit leadership, and crisis communication. At Thrive Consulting, Vickie provides nonprofits with critical insights to enhance their effectiveness and impact. Vickie has experience in several organizations responding to significant fund losses and changes in approaches to core principles and services. This includes managing staff, boards, and membership, and budgeting for longer-term sustainability. Vickie worked with a group of volunteers to found a community-based agency that responded to victims of domestic violence and their children. She moved to the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) in 1988 and became the Executive Director in 1993. She then spent six years at the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, traveling around the country providing training and consultation to local, state, and national organizations on prevention and intervention issues related to gender-based violence. Vickie returned to ICADV in 2008 as President and CEO, leading the organization until her retirement in 2024. During this time, she supported the ICADV membership by restructuring the governance, increasing education and training, and advocating for significant increases in resources for services for families experiencing domestic violence.


Nonprofit Advocacy & Policy Expertise

Vickie specializes in:

  • Nonprofit policy development and advocacy

  • Legislative and community advocacy strategy

  • Building effective advocacy programs

  • Stakeholder engagement and coalition building

Experience & Skills

  • Coalition descriptions and building components

  • Managing crises; managing change including during national upheaval, like Covid

  • Budgeting non-profits, planning for reductions

  • Long-term planning and strategy mapping

  • Support for management/executive staff and boards during crisis or major changes

  • Managing staff expectations and responsibilities.

  • Clear communication with staff, boards, and organization stakeholders

  • Non-profit budget development and oversight

Experience

  • 42 years in nonprofit volunteerism, services, and leadership, particularly in areas of crime victims’ services

Contact Vickie Smith today for strategic advocacy guidance, crisis communication expertise, and effective nonprofit leadership solutions.