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About Us

Our Story

StepChange Partners was founded in 2015 by Andrew Smiles, a veteran philanthropy advisor with 28 years of experience helping organizations and individuals find creative ways to accomplish their impact goals.

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Andrew noticed that wealthy individuals and family foundations didn’t have access to the same support and resources as corporations and large nonprofits. They often lacked the time, industry knowledge, and network to establish a strategic approach beyond one-off donations. StepChange Partners was created to help the next generation of philanthropists chart a joyful and impactful path forward.

 

StepChange has partnered with some of the world’s largest philanthropy organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and third-generation Walton family members. In 2022, StepChange co-founded Zephyr Impact with the Harbourton Foundation to offer philanthropists and social entrepreneurs to maximize their impact by providing tailored solutions to operationalize funds effectively.

Our Values
The Stepchange philosophy

We believe that taking a strategic approach to philanthropy can increase your impact as well as your personal fulfillment. Start with values alignment, make big bets, and step forward with open hearts and minds.

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Change Is our North Star

Change is in our name. We maintain a learning mindset and actively seek innovative approaches instead of settling for the status quo. We support our clients in building the confidence to be leaders in the future of philanthropy. We support successful and lasting change with careful planning and commitment.

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Genuine Care

Kindness and authenticity are central to everything we do. How we show up in the world matters. We start with the human element and listen deeply to our clients and our intended beneficiaries. We connect at a level that matters most — to each other, to ourselves, and to those we serve.

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The Art of the Possible

Where others see roadblocks, we see opportunities and new pathways to impact. Our deep knowledge of the past and present acts as a foundation for imagining bold futures. We are fueled by challenges and relish the chance to think creatively. 

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Courageous Doing

Audacity is required for this work. We are bold thinkers, but we are not just dreamers — we are builders. We empower our clients with the knowledge and support to courageously take action and convert a vision into reality. We take an iterative approach that incorporates learnings as we go. 

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Mutual Engagement

We value our clients' expertise and match their passion. Co-creation is our preferred approach. We earn and keep trust by building relationships based on mutual respect. We are invested in your success as a means to realizing our vision.

Meet The Team

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Andrew Smiles

Founder​​​​​​​​​

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Andrew Smiles is the founder of StepChange Partners and co-founder of Zephyr Impact, a 501(c)(3) collaborative philanthropy initiative. With 28 years of experience, Andrew is passionate about helping people connect their values to their work and unlocking greater impact through innovation in the world of philanthropy. He specializes in leadership development for philanthropic organizations.​​​​​​​​

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amaya varma

Impact Strategy Associate​​​​​​​​

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Amaya Varma is a dedicated professional in cross-cultural communication, operational strategies, and project management, committed to creating sustainable, community-led solutions that prioritize local contexts and values. 

Our Clients

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Sarara Foundation
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