LISC has named Jorge Cruz as executive director of LISC Greater Newark, a decades-long community investment program that has delivered more than $169 million to New Jersey neighborhoods, businesses and community organizations to support economic opportunity and growth.
NEW YORK (May 21, 2024)—The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has named Jorge Cruz as executive director of LISC Greater Newark, a decades-long community investment program that has delivered more than $169 million to New Jersey neighborhoods, businesses and community organizations to support economic opportunity and growth.
Cruz has deep roots in Newark, as well as in impact investing and community development across New Jersey. Most recently, he served as vice president for community development at Citizens Bank, building alliances with community leaders to deliver financial products and services to underbanked communities and leading the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) market strategies.
He also spent more than 18 years working as an executive and consultant to nonprofits and other community investment organizations supporting efforts to raise capital, develop sound grant-making practices and bridge health, economic and racial equity gaps that impact quality of life, as well as serving as chief external affairs officer for New Jersey Community Capital; chief strategy officer at the Jewish Renaissance Foundation; and executive director of Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation.
Jorge Cruz, LISC Greater Newark Executive Director
“Jorge has spent more than 30 years working to deliver capital and programs that energize our communities and make our economy work better for everyone,” said Michael T. Pugh, LISC president and CEO. “He is that rare example of someone with expertise working at the neighborhood level, in the impact investing sector and with public programs that are central to the well-being of families and communities.”
This is Cruz’ second stint at LISC. He served as executive director of LISC Greater Newark from 2021-23 and is returning to that role in order to expand the program’s local investments and deepen its community impact.
“Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work in many capacities to serve New Jersey’s neighborhoods and residents,” Cruz said. “And at LISC, I can weave all of those threads together—working with investors to expand local access to capital, working with policymakers on programs that support neighborhood revitalization, and working with nonprofits and business leaders on the full spectrum of issues related to quality of life, from housing to education to health, safety and jobs.”
During his prior LISC tenure, Cruz administered more than $22 million in annual grant and investment commitments, all structured to benefit low-income communities. Innovative efforts include helping lead the formation of the New Jersey CDFI Capital Growth Fund, developing the local platform for LISC’s Entrepreneurs of Color Fund, forming the New Jersey Child Care & Early
Learning Fund, and extending LISC’s Financial Opportunity Center model to new communities to help people build their skills, find quality jobs and better manage their finances.
In addition to his professional experience, Cruz also volunteers his time to benefit local organizations and communities. He is the chair of the Triple C Housing board, a member of the corporate advisory council for the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, and a member of the La Casa de Don Pedro board. For the last two years, he has served as a member of the Jegna Advisory Council, a statewide working group guiding the grantmaking strategy and priorities for the New Jersey office of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He also serves as a steering committee member of the Doing Good Better advisory council, a state-level collaboration of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and the Center for Nonprofits, which are working together to form a trust-based philanthropy platform. Cruz formerly served as an executive officer for the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits and Jewish Renaissance Foundation boards as well.
Cruz earned his B.S. in sociology from the College of New Jersey. He can be reached at jcruz@lisc.org beginning on June 17th.
About LISC
LISC is one of the country's largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. LISC works with residents and partners to close systemic gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity and advance racial equity so that people and places can thrive. Since its founding in 1979, LISC has invested $32 billion to create more than 506,000 affordable homes and apartments, develop 82.5 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space, and help tens of thousands of people find employment and improve their finances. For more, visit www.lisc.org.