GreenLight Fund Names Zac Rich as New Executive Director

Rich will lead the next phase of GreenLight at its inaugural Boston site

Boston, MA – July 29, 2025 – GreenLight Fund, a national nonprofit funder, welcomes Zac Rich as the GreenLight Fund Boston Executive Director, where he will provide on-the-ground support to GreenLight’s existing portfolio organizations. As Executive Director of GreenLight’s flagship site, Rich will lead the community-driven process to bring the next set of social innovations to Boston, addressing pressing unmet needs and complementing the work happening in Boston’s social service sector. This appointment comes following Melissa Luna’s seven-year tenure in the role; Luna now serves as Vice President of Site Success for the organization.

“Zac is the ideal leader to carry GreenLight Boston into its next chapter,” shared Irfan Alibhai, President of The Burkehaven Family Foundation. “Zac brings a collaborative and strategic leadership style and deep commitment to addressing inequities in our community. We’re thrilled to welcome him into this role and are excited to see the continued impact GreenLight will have in Boston under his leadership.”

Melissa Luna stated, “It was a privilege to have held the reins at GreenLight Boston and to be at the center of transformational impact. I have no doubt that Zac will pick up right where I left off, and I’m excited to witness all the great things that he will bring to the team and community.”

Rich brings to GreenLight a wealth of experience in identifying specific community needs and successfully implementing initiatives to fill the gaps. He began his Boston-area career as a youth worker at Roca Chelsea, focused on neighborhoods in and around Chelsea, East Boston and Roxbury. There, he provided intensive outreach and case management support to young adults at the center of urban violence, both in the community and behind the wall in HOC, DOC and DYS facilities. Most recently, Rich was Chief of Program & Evaluation at The New Commonwealth Racial Equity & Social Justice Fund in Boston, where he led statewide capacity-building and evaluation strategies and oversaw all programmatic and evaluation efforts for the Fund.

Zac Rich stated, “I’m honored to step into the role of Executive Director at GreenLight Fund Boston, an organization that has been a catalyst for real change. I’ve had the opportunity to interface with GreenLight previously in my career and have witnessed the incredible impact it has had on my community firsthand. I look forward to continuing to scale the mission and carrying on the great work that has been achieved thus far.”

Rich will lead GreenLight Boston’s annual, community-driven initiative to identify and bring to the city the most effective social innovations not yet available locally – solutions that address the needs that matter most to Boston residents facing barriers to prosperity. In partnership with the Selection Advisory Council – an inclusive, cross-sector group of community leaders and experts – and the Family Partners Group – residents with lived experience in the issues being addressed – Rich will prioritize barriers to economic mobility and then find, vet and ultimately select one evidenced-based program each year to bring to Boston to address that need with measurable results. GreenLight Boston supports each selected organization to reach and sustain impact locally with on-the-ground support, multi-year funding, strategic partnership development and accountable measurement systems.

GreenLight’s work in Boston, fueled by a generous group of investors, has made a significant impact in the community. In the 12-month period ending in June 2024, GreenLight Boston’s 16 portfolio organizations reached 340,786 children and families with innovative programs addressing economic and racial inequities, including early childhood literacy, college access and persistence, health and wellness, asset building, workforce development and youth aging out of foster care.

“We are so incredibly proud of GreenLight Boston – our founding city – and the 20-year track record of success and impact for children and families in measurable and life-changing ways,” said John Simon, GreenLight Fund’s Co-founder and Board Chair. “Zac’s experience as a social impact leader committed to community-centered solutions makes him a fantastic local leader as we continue to deliver measurable change and impact in the Greater Boston area.”