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Robert F. Smith
Robert F. Smith is an entrepreneur and the founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners (Vista). Smith founded Vista, a leading global investment firm that invests in enterprise software through private equity and private credit, in 2000. Today, the firm also provides access to enterprise software investment via the private wealth channel. Vista is known for its investment approach which focuses on value creation, leveraging best practices formed over 25 years. In 2023, Vista was recognized as the Global Technology Private Equity Firm of the Year by Private Equity International.
A Commitment to Music
Smith is also a dedicated philanthropist, with a particular emphasis on the arts and education. Music has been at the crux of Smith’s life since his childhood. Smith’s father was a musician, and from a young age, Smith recognized the power music held to transport audiences to different eras, immerse them in cultures parallel to their own and open doors to the unique stories of a vast range of musicians.
Smith’s Continued Support of the Sphinx Organization
The Sphinx Organization aims to promote excellence within the classical music industry while recognizing the systemic obstacles faced by Black and Latino communities and others that often lack access to opportunities and resources.
Recognizing the power of an education in music, Smith has provided critical support to Sphinx and many of Sphinx’s artistic partners who are committed to advancing representation in classical music, including long-time partner Carnegie Hall.
In 2016, Smith made a major contribution to the Sphinx Organization to fund scholarships through the Robert Frederick Smith Prize. Each year, the winner of the Senior Division of the Sphinx Competition receives $50,000 from the scholarship fund. The funds are intended to help progress the winner’s career in classical music and evolve the music industry.
In 2019, Fund II Foundation, of which Smith is the founding director and President, contributed the Sphinx Organization’s second-largest gift to date. The $3 million contribution empowers next-generation musicians, entrepreneurs and leaders. Of the donation, Smith said, “As a longtime supporter and advocate of Sphinx, it was both crucial and personally meaningful for me to ensure long-term sustainability for these programs.”
The donation opens up the program to a significantly greater number of talented musicians and funds vital programs such as SphinxConnect, a networking conference. Over the past decade, Smith’s donations have also supported programs such as Sphinx Virtuosi, a chamber orchestra showcasing 18 of the country’s leading Black and Latino classical musicians, and the Robert Frederick Smith Prize. These programs and other similar opportunities unite musicians, industry leaders, educators and advocates.
Smith currently serves as Chairman of Carnegie Hall, and as fellow grantees and recipients of Smith’s philanthropic support, Sphinx and Carnegie Hall have collaborated to annually commission, present and perform new classical works by Black and Latino composers. Additionally, Carnegie Hall annually presents Sphinx artists and ensembles as part of their season and programming.
Smith’s Passion for Other Philanthropic Efforts
Smith’s philanthropy goes beyond music. He is particularly devoted to ensuring access to educational opportunities for all and helping students achieve higher education without significant financial burdens. In 2019, Smith was the commencement speaker at Morehouse College and committed to eliminating the student loan debt held by the graduating class and those held by their parents or guardians on their behalf. After that gift, Smith launched Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) to develop scalable solutions to the challenge of student debt. As Chairman of SFI, Smith helps facilitate SFI's efforts to support students with resources and funding alternatives that are designed to help them overcome barriers to success. To further support communities that lack access to opportunities, Smith co-leads Southern Communities Initiative (SCI), an organization dedicated to accelerating wealth creation and economic growth in six Southern U.S. communities. Through locally led, measured and sustained initiatives, SCI creates opportunities that have lasting impact.
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2020: Smith provided lead support for Sphinx’s first virtual concert and gala: “Lift Ev’ry Voice.”
2019: Smith and Fund II Foundation granted $3 million to support Sphinx’s pipeline of programs. From music education to arts leadership, Fund II Foundation support has:
Underwritten the commission of 12 new works and arrangements by classical composers
Provided over $1 million in support for Sphinx grant-making to artists and institutions that are transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts
Supported the leadership and career advancement of 20 arts leaders/administrators
Underwritten the SphinxConnect network and conference that brings together over 900+ artists, institutions and industry leaders/stakeholders each year
2019: Smith sponsored and brought worldwide attention to Sphinx artists who performed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
2017: Approximately $1 million was granted to the Sphinx Virtuosi national tour for 10 years. The Sphinx Virtuosi ensemble and tour is a renowned group of musicians that reaches over 15,000 each year in concert and community engagement audiences across the country. It is held at Carnegie Hall in the fall.
2016: The Robert Frederick Smith Prize was established as part of the Sphinx Competition to support the careers of emerging classical musicians from communities that often lack access to resources and opportunities.