How JPMorganChase is helping drive economic growth in Northeast Ohio

What is your role and what impact is JPMorganChase making in Northeast Ohio?

As a Program Officer at JPMorganChase, I lead the company’s strategy in Ohio for deploying philanthropic capital to local organizations. I support innovative strategies and solutions that drive economic growth and connect people to opportunities. Over the past five years, we’ve partnered with more than 80 local organizations to advance small business growth, support community development, strengthen financial health and bolster workforce development by deploying over $11 million in philanthropic capital.

One area I’m particularly passionate about is workforce development because by 2027, about 60% of workers will need skills training, according to the World Economic Forum, yet only half currently have adequate access. In Cleveland, we’ve concentrated our grantmaking efforts on aligning workforce capabilities with the demands of high-growth sectors like manufacturing and information technology (IT). For example, to equip students with the necessary skills and experience for careers in IT and STEM, JPMorganChase committed $500,000 to the Greater Cleveland Career Consortium. This commitment, and others, is helping equip the workforce for the future.

Explain your approach to grantmaking

JPMorganChase’s approach to grantmaking focuses on driving systems change and achieving sustainable community impact by blending data-driven solutions with targeted philanthropic commitments. We prioritize funding scalable, outcome-oriented organizations that address the root causes of barriers to opportunity while piloting innovative solutions to fill knowledge gaps and inform long term strategies.

Additionally, we innovate and scale business products and tools to create greater impact. By partnering closely with community and business leaders, JPMorganChase aims to align resources to ensure the greatest impact possible.

How did your career journey lead you to become a Program Officer of Global Philanthropy at JPMorganChase?

I spent the first decade of my career researching innovations in education, which instilled in me a data- driven approach to addressing systemic challenges. My work in research, K-12, higher education, and workforce development deepened my understanding of barriers to economic mobility and allowed me to bridge research to practice by designing and implementing programs focused on driving tangible change. This ability to connect insights with action prepared me to join the Global Philanthropy team at JPMorganChase, where I leverage my experiences to drive strategic commitments, foster partnerships, and support communities to ensure everyone has access to well-paying jobs, can scale and grow their businesses, and has financial stability.

What has been the most rewarding experience in your role?

Collaborating with brilliant and inspiring community leaders on systems change efforts always leaves me inspired. Transitioning to my role at JPMorganChase in March 2020 marked a significant shift in my career—from securing grant funding to becoming a program officer at one of the world’s leading banks—during a global pandemic and a period of significant uncertainty. The role is challenging because although our community has so much opportunity, there are immense needs, making it crucial that my philanthropic commitments are strategic and impactful. Despite the challenges, this is the most rewarding job of my career. I’ve learned about the barriers to economic growth and connected with community and business leaders nationwide who aim to leave the world better than we found it. By focusing on scaling locally informed solutions through our business, I am confident that we can make an impact, and I believe it’s possible with the people I meet and work with every day.

How can residents and organizations get involved to help strengthen the community?

Giving back can take many forms. It can be contributing your time, talent, or resources. For instance, at JPMorganChase our Employee Engagement and Volunteerism team engages employees in skilled volunteerism like nonprofit consulting and small business mentoring. Equally important is listening to and amplifying the voices and experiences of those closest to the challenges we aim to address, ensuring solutions are informed and sustainable.

To my fellow corporate funders, I always ask: What problem are you trying to solve with the resources at your organization? Who are you collaborating with to solve it? What does success look like? Be strategic, targeted, and collaborative, and this approach will lead to greater community impact.

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