Travis Smith, a fundraising expert with experience in higher education and nonprofit organizations, is returning to Trine University as director of annual giving.

Smith previously served the university in 2017 as director of corporate and foundation relations. In that position, he worked with Trine's academic community to identify funding opportunities and submit grant proposals to private and corporate foundations.

In his new role, Smith will serve as lead annual giving officer, focusing on increasing donor participation, retention and dollars raised. His responsibilities will include the phonathon, faculty/staff campaign and university giving days. He also will oversee Trine's Parent and Family Association and work with the Student Foundation.

Smith most recently served as president and founder of Driven Performance Golf, LLC, a Kendallville-based business focused on golf club fitting, repair and motivating golfers to reach their potential.

His fundraising roles in addition to his work at Trine have included director of development for the Lambda Chi Alpha Education Foundation in Carmel, director of development for the Community Foundation of Noble County, and associate director of regional advancement for the Indiana University Foundation. He has presented multiple workshops on fundraising and grant writing.

Smith holds a master of arts in philanthropic students from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and a bachelor of science in public affairs from Indiana University. He also is a Certified Fundraising Executive.

He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Northeast Indiana Chapter, the International Club Makers Guild, and Elks Lodge #1194, and is on the board of directors for the Parkview Noble Hospital Foundation and the Cole Family YMCA.