Princeton resident Marge Smith honored for her efforts to boost nonprofits and strengthen communities

Longtime Princeton resident Marge Smith, the founder of an all-volunteer annual conference for area nonprofit leaders and volunteers, has been recognized for her work by the International Alliance for Women.

Smith has been awarded a community award for her commitment to advancing the work of nonprofits. “She has empowered countless women to act on their idea of working in, serving, or creating nonprofits by developing their skills and confidence to do so,” reads the citation for her award. “She has devoted her life to building teams and empowering people, especially women, as a way of creating sustainable positive change in the community.”

As a nonprofit consultant, adjunct professor at Mercer County Community College, and founder and chair of Princeton Community Works, Smith has worked to connect people with others and empower them to discover their strengths and pursue their passions.

Princeton Community Works, the largest nonprofit conference in the region, was created in 1999 by Smith, who successfully recruits dozens of volunteers each year to help plan for, organize, and run the conference. More than 12,000 people have attended about 550 workshops at the low-cost annual event that provides networking and training to leaders, board members, and volunteers from organizations across the state.

Smith has served on numerous boards, including Planned Parenthood of Mercer County and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). She served as the executive director at YWCA Princeton for several years, starting the organization’s breast cancer awareness effort and annual race, and a yearly conference for women. She continues to volunteer at the YWCA in leadership roles focusing on education and women’s empowerment.