Raissa Smorol is Principal of the Nonprofit Practice at Changing Our World, a leading social impact consultancy. As a member of the firm’s executive team, Raissa leverages her deep sector expertise to help nonprofit clients build meaningful relationships that secure essential resources, enabling them to achieve their missions and amplify their impact in the communities they serve.
Raissa rejoined Changing Our World in June 2025, bringing a wealth of experience from her previous tenure as a senior consultant and leader of the firm’s Human Services Practice. Her client portfolio has included the Innocence Project, Safe Horizon, GMHC (formerly Gay Men’s Health Crisis), the New York Police Foundation, and Guiding Eyes for the Blind. She also played a lead role in advising World Vision USA in the successful launch a $500 million fundraising campaign.
With over 25 years of professional experience, Raissa is a trusted advisor to organizations navigating key moments of growth and transformation. She provides strategic counsel in areas including fundraising strategy, organizational planning, major and principal gifts, campaign planning and management, and
board development and engagement.
As a practitioner, Raissa has served in frontline development roles, leading and strengthening fundraising programs at the Center for Reproductive Rights, Direct Relief, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara City College Foundation.
Raissa earned her B.S. from Cornell University and an MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. A dual U.S. and Swiss citizen, she resides in Santa Barbara, CA where she proudly serves as Co-President of the Board of the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation and is an active member of the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara.
