Samantha Sims, CEP
Samantha Sims, CEP is a nonprofit leader and fundraising professional whose career has been rooted in service, community engagement, and advocacy for vulnerable families. Based in Bedford, Samantha currently serves as Chief Development Officer for Giving Grace, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. With nearly 25 years of nonprofit involvement, including almost six years in professional development leadership roles, she has built a reputation for compassionate leadership and strong community partnerships. Before transitioning fully into nonprofit work in Texas, Samantha spent years volunteering in leadership positions in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, including serving as a community vice president for nearly a decade, while also gaining corporate administrative experience with N3 in Atlanta.
Throughout her nonprofit career, Samantha has specialized in fundraising, donor cultivation and stewardship, grant development, event planning, and nonprofit management. She previously served as Chief Development Officer for the Journey to Dream Foundation, where she focused on addressing teen homelessness before joining Giving Grace in 2024. Working largely as a one-person development team, she oversees fundraising campaigns, community awareness initiatives, speaking engagements, sponsorship development, donor relations, and grant writing. One of her most notable accomplishments was helping secure a $300,000 grant to renovate nonprofit facilities, strengthening the organization’s ability to serve families in need. Samantha also holds a Certified Event Planner (CEP) credential, completed a nonprofit management certificate program in 2024, and participated in the Leadership Lewisville program in 2022.
Deeply involved in her local community, Samantha is an active member of the Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce, Denton Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Cross Timbers Rotary, where she was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow for her service contributions. She has also received honors such as the Lewisville Chamber’s 2021 Rookie of the Year award, multiple Chamber ambassador recognitions, and recognition from local Rotary organizations for her volunteer work and community impact. In addition, she frequently supports other nonprofits through mentorship, sponsorship guidance, and volunteer service. Samantha describes herself as having a “servant’s heart,” emphasizing honesty, transparency, and compassion in both her professional and personal life while continuing to advocate for families facing homelessness and hardship.
• Certified Event Planner
• Founding Member, Dallas Women in Business for Good
• Skills for Inclusive Conversations
• Business School (no degree completed)
• Nonprofit Management Certificate Program (2024)
• Leadership Program (2022)
• Louisville Chamber of Commerce 2021 Rookie of the Year
• Paul Harris Fellow (Rotary)
• Louisville Chamber Ambassador of the Month (multiple times)
• Recognized by Louisville Morning Rotary for Service
• Featured on Front Cover of North Lake City Lifestyle Magazine
• Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Denton Area Chamber of Commerce
• Cross Timbers Rotary
• Supporting other nonprofits by volunteering at their events
• Mentoring other nonprofits on how to get sponsorships
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work and determination. I just like to see people succeed, and I don't believe in throwing people away because they made mistakes. We can all be very judgmental, but my heart is a servant's heart, and I just want to help those that can't help themselves and be a voice for those that don't have a voice. I've always been like that, so this is who I am. I get that from my mom - we always had a full house as kids.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is just to be me. Don't try to be somebody else because you see other people doing certain things. I'm a firm believer that my gifts are my gifts and others' gifts are their gifts. I believe what God has for me is for me, and what God has for you is for you.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges are with all the cuts and things going on, and there are a lot of nonprofits out there. We all have allotment areas, so a lot of the buckets of money we're all trying to get support from are the same businesses and same pots of money. You have to find ways to set yourself aside from the others, because the question is always, why should I support you and not support this nonprofit or that nonprofit. When it comes down to it, it's always their choice. But I just try to be honest and transparent about everything that we do. I'm a very transparent person. If you ask me a question and I know it, I'll share. If you ask me a question and I don't know it, I will get you an answer. The saturation of nonprofits in the area, the homeless population, the rise of the homeless population that people really don't truly know is there, and just finding ways to be able to support all of their needs - there's a lot of moving parts.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are respect, honesty, love, loyalty, and family.
Locations
Giving Grace
Bedford, TX 76021