Jess Brooks

Co-teaching a course for undergraduate students on how to address global challenges through entrepreneurial ventures. My focus is on the practical "building blocks" of social impact: moving from a mission-driven idea to a fully realized operational and financial plan. It’s a joy and a privilege to help our next generation of social innovators design business plans that aim to change the world.

We're a women-owned public benefit corporation partnering with small farmers and women-run cooperatives around the world to direct-import spices, which we roast, mix and blend in Massachusetts. We tell stories that amplify the voices of farmers, producers, families, and communities across the globe - especially those of women doing this work - to create social and environmental change through food and our shared relationship with it. Oh, and we cook and eat well, and the places where we do it smell delicious. :)

Help Mission Driven Finance increase access to quality child care by addressing child care centers' real estate challenges. By attracting increasingly market-oriented investors and scaling CARE's reach with national equity, MDF's goal is to ultimately acquire and stabilize 500+ child care properties within 10 years.

Help people and organizations make investments that meaningfully improve people’s lives. Since our founding in 2011, Social Finance has mobilized over $400 million in new investments designed to help people and communities realize improved outcomes in education, economic mobility, health, and housing.

Work with individuals, foundations, nonprofits and corporations to invest in a more inclusive renewable energy economy. Raise investment for Sunwealth's Solar Impact Fund, which invests in small-scale solar energy projects on rooftops of nonprofit organizations, schools, fire stations houses of worship, health centers and office buildings. Build a community of investors, local solar developers and organizations who believe renewable energy can and should benefit *all* of us, while building a values-driven small business whose team and whose work make me proud every day.

Partner with CEO and leadership team to grow resources for community health centers through the work of Capital Link, a nonprofit consulting company focused on capital planning for federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and Community Health Center Capital Fund, a national community development financial institution (CDFI) focused on FQHCs. Collaborate with the National Association for Community Health Centers and Collective Energy to launch the CHARGE Partnership, providing turn-key solar + storage battery back-up systems to enhance health center resilience and fight climate change. Partner with team and board to develop and refine strategic priorities to guide the organizations' work over the next three years.

Partner with CEO and Senior Leadership team to grow resources for primary care association supporting Massachusetts' 53 community health centers. Support the launch of the Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation and Policy, fundraising for the Connecticut River Valley Farmworkers Health Program and annual gala.

Partnered with CEO and senior management team to meet the capitalization and external communications needs of $1 billion non-profit CDFI. Helped grow assets under management from $60 million to over $1 billion. Developed and maintained relationships with key partners and stakeholders, including investors and donors. Wrote grant proposals, presented to prospective investors, donors and community groups, partnered with potential investors to finalize investments, and oversaw quarterly and annual reports summarizing financial performance, impact and accomplishments. Engaged in strategic communications to advance strategies benefiting low-income people and communities, including policy advocacy, op-eds and media outreach. Oversaw the development of communications materials and strategies highlighting our impact (annual report, website, social media, etc). Accomplishments: Partnered with CEO and SUN team to raise over $200 million from impact investors, foundation and financial institutions to provide foreclosure relief to struggling homeowners in MA, RI, MD, IL, NJ, CT and PA. SUN attracted media coverage in Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, U.S. News and World Report, Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, The Nation, and Chronicle of Philanthropy, among other publications, and has been featured on PBS NewsHour, NPR’s All Things Considered, CBS Evening News, and FOX Business News. Helped draft organization’s successful New Markets Tax Credit applications, resulting in tax credit allocations of over $500 million to benefit economically distressed communities. One of 12 CDFI leaders nationwide selected by Annie E. Casey Foundation for its CDFI Leadership Learning Network (2015). Named an “Emerging Leader” by the Boston Business Journal (2011). LeadBoston Participant (2007).

Managed business team that launched New York Times Digital’s online knowledge network (Abuzz) and helped grow it to one million members, overseeing teams responsible for editorial content, affiliate management, and customer service. Managed internal and external business relationships, working with editors and producers from NYTimes.com, CNBC, and American Express. Oversaw production of daily editorial content and managed a team of 40 offsite community moderators responsible for the monitoring and policing of the website. Represented Abuzz and New York Times Digital at local and national conferences. Key accomplishments: Managed the company’s own local community service activities and partnerships with local public schools. Profiled by Rosabeth Moss Kanter in Harvard Business School case study on Abuzz’s “community-building community;” featured in Kanter’s book Evolve! and Inc. magazine. Received Boston Private Industry Council’s Achiever Award for commitment to community service and Boston public schools (2000).