When Larry Smith learned he had been named IBJ’s Nonprofit Executive of the Year, his first thought wasn’t about his own career. Instead, he thought about the team behind the work and the thousands of fathers the organization serves each year.
Since becoming CEO of Fathers and Families Center in 2022, Smith has overseen continued growth at the organization while expanding services for fathers and families across Indianapolis. He spoke with the Indianapolis Recorder about what the recognition means, the organization’s impact and the experiences that continue to shape his leadership.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
What does earning IBJ’s Nonprofit Executive of the Year honor mean to you at this point in your career?
Smith: There are something like 20,000 501(c)(3) organizations in Marion County, so it’s an overwhelming feeling to have been selected from all of those worthy candidates. It’s quite an unexpected honor, and I’m very humbled by it.
Since becoming CEO of Fathers and Families Center, what accomplishment are you most proud of?
Smith: I’m most proud that we’re serving an ever-larger number of dads every year. Like I tell our team frequently, the good news and the bad news is the same for us: all fathers can become better. We’re always looking for ways to expand the number of men we serve.
What impact is the organization having on fathers and families in Indianapolis today?
Smith: The IU Public Policy Institute completed a study about our impact in the community, primarily focusing on our economic impact. In 2023, we had an economic impact of $5.1 million on the greater Indianapolis area. In 2024, it increased to $5.6 million.
The men who secured jobs after going through our programs increased their wages by a combined $1.8 million. Our success is tied solely to their success.
Beyond the numbers, we know fathers are becoming more effective at raising their children. We know they’re spending more time with their children, and we know they’re spending more time trying to improve their communities. We’re equally proud of both the quantitative and qualitative effects.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to navigate during your leadership?
Smith: The challenges our men face are really a reflection of what’s happening in society and in the economy. The average annual income for the men entering our program is around $11,600, so when there are bumps in the economy, they disproportionately affect the men we serve.
Cuts to social welfare programs, Medicare and Medicaid have also affected our men. About half the men we serve each year are formerly incarcerated, and homelessness has become a growing challenge. If someone who is on parole receives a citation related to homelessness, they can be violated and sent back to jail or prison. Those are the kinds of challenges many people don’t necessarily think about, but they have a real impact on the fathers we serve.
Looking ahead, what are your top priorities for the future?
Smith: Our biggest priority is continuing to grow so we can serve more men.
We’ve signed a lease to move one block north to Brouwer Plaza, where we’ll be alongside several other nonprofit organizations doing extraordinary work in Indianapolis. We’re excited to be part of that community.
Like virtually all nonprofits, we’re continuing to raise money so we can serve more people, and that’s become more challenging in recent years. We also want to continue investing in our staff. When I arrived in August 2022, we had 13 employees. Today we have 21, and I want to continue growing our team so we can reach even more men.
This recognition is a team recognition. Fathers and Families Center is far from a one-person operation, and I want to give explicit praise to my team for the work they do every day.
Can you share a personal experience that has most influenced how you approach this work?
Smith: My parents divorced when I was very young, and my father wasn’t involved in my life. I share that story with every Strong Fathers cohort because I want the men to know I understand where many of them are coming from.
I also became a father at 16 while growing up on the east side of Indianapolis. I always tell the men that, if not for the grace of God, I would be sitting in the class instead of leading the organization.
Becoming a first-generation college student changed the trajectory of my life. I got here through hard work, a great education and God’s grace. Remembering that helps me stay connected to the men we serve because I know my life could have turned out very differently.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about this recognition?
Smith: I’m honored, I’m humbled and I’m hopeful that I can live up to it. There were many deserving nominees, and there are many nonprofit leaders doing extraordinary work who weren’t nominated. My goal is simply to represent those leaders to the best of my ability.
To learn more about Fathers and Families, visit ffcindiana.org.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
