John Michael "Mike" Smiles serves as a trusted partner to philanthropists, impact investors, and social entrepreneurs via Zephyr Impact and StepChange Partners and is passionate about collaborating closely to bring their charitable initiatives and programs to life.  He currently serves as Senior Advisor to The Sarara Foundation serving the first-ever community-led elephant sanctuary in Africa, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary.

A former Chief Advancement Officer for Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and the international Serious Fun Children's Network, Mike spent the first half of his career raising over $80 million for nonprofits that provide innovative education programming and social services for communities in need.

Most recently Mike advised the Raikes Foundation's Impact Driven Philanthropy non-profit, Giving Compass, in launching its technology platform strategy to the wealth management and foundation ecosystems.  Other StepChange client work included assignment as Chief Advancement Officer to the successful $10 million VolunteerMatch 2020 Campaign and launching the Coalition for Volunteer Impact, an international data collaborative of VolunteerMatch.

As a volunteer, Mike serves physically and mentally disabled athletes with Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, and previously as President of the Board of Directors of the ISAAC Charter School in New London, Connecticut.

Mike completed his MBA at the University of New Haven and his BA from Beloit College where he was named the inaugural recipient of the Warren Miller Blue Skies Award.