Donate Search Close Search Menu Close Menu Our LocationsExpand About SubmenuWe actively engage with local communities to identify needs not being met and invite in best-in-class nonprofits uniquely suited to address them. See our portfolio of investments Find GreenLight in Your City Atlanta Baltimore Boston Charlotte Chicago Cincinnati Dallas Denver Detroit Greater Newark Miami Kansas City Philadelphia San Francisco Bay Area Twin Cities Our Approach Our ImpactExpand About Submenu Annual Impact Report Stories of Impact About UsExpand About Submenu Our Team Our Board National Investors Our Values Centering Racial Equity Our Portfolio News + Insights Careers Get In Touch Donate Search Search Close Our Portfolio News + Insights Careers Get In Touch Our LocationsWe actively engage with local communities to identify needs not being met and invite in best-in-class nonprofits uniquely suited to address them. See our portfolio of investments Find GreenLight in Your CityAtlantaBaltimoreBostonCharlotteChicagoCincinnatiDallasDenverDetroitGreater NewarkMiamiKansas CityPhiladelphiaSan Francisco Bay AreaTwin CitiesOur ApproachOur ImpactAnnual Impact ReportStories of ImpactAbout UsOur TeamOur BoardNational InvestorsOur ValuesCentering Racial Equity Donate Search Close Greater Newark Partnering to advance economic mobility opportunities NWK Portfolio Organizations Impact Team & Advisors Investors News & Insights Get In Touch Overview A vibrant region with boundless potential A region with a dynamic network of universities, Fortune 500 companies, startups, philanthropic institutions and community organizations. Yet, upward economic mobility across the city has not been equally shared. GreenLight Greater Newark engages deeply with the community to identify priority unmet needs for individuals, children and families navigating barriers to prosperity. We then search for, select and launch portfolio organizations that will move Newark further, faster. Portfolio Investing in proven organizations to bring to Greater Newark to address community-identified needs We identify, invite in and launch evidence-based organizations, providing support so they quickly become embedded in the community and deliver measurable change. See All Organizations Greater Newark Greater Newark Greater Newark Newark Addressing Challenges in Greater Newark In 2025-2026 34,507 Individuals and Families Reached $2.4M Invested in Portfolio Organizations to Date $1.7M Additional Leveraged Dollars by Portfolio Organizations In Greater Newark 630 units secured to expand access to stable, affordable homes. Read the Story Greater Newark Team & Partners GreenLight Greater Newark is made up of a diverse group of changemakers from across the community, working together for positive impact. Team & Advisors Investors What Our Community is Saying “I appreciate that GreenLight allows Newark residents to be seen and heard. I am encouraged that the issues that matter most to us are being addressed in real time with an intentional focus that includes the community’s thoughts, ideas, and voices.” Amina Bey Executive Director, Newark Emergency Services “It’s been incredibly impressive watching the work of hearing real concerns from every part of the city and translating that into potential strategies to make positive change. Most of all, those approaches truly get run through the wringer to get to the core of what can work in Newark.” Evan Weiss President and CEO of the Newark Alliance “I deeply appreciate institutions that thoroughly assess, actively listen and authentically engage with the community. The efforts I have seen GreenLight make to uphold those standards under Tish’s leadership have been held as true.” Tenisha Malcolm Director of Urban Mayors Policy Center “GreenLight’s unique and innovative model aligns with the goals of our Foundation. I’m looking forward to bringing evidence-based programming that will have a real and lasting positive impact on youth in our community” Kate Whitman Annis Executive Director, NJ Devils Foundation EMS Corps EMS Corps Food Connect Food Connect Housing Connector Housing Connector Reading Partners Reading Partners By the numbers Discover how GreenLight Fund Greater Newark drives economic mobility through innovative, community-led solutions with measurable impact. The data and stories below showcase impact from July 2025-June 2026. $2.4M Invested in Portfolio Organizations to Date $1.7M Additional Leveraged Dollars 34,507 Individuals and Families Reached Portfolio Organization Investments Since 2022, GreenLight has invested in bringing four evidence-based nonprofits to Greater Newark. Housing Connector Key Result 630 units secured to expand access to stable, affordable homes. Families reached in 2025-26 8 Reading Partners Key result 98% of families in Parent Engagement Workshops reported learning a new skill to support their child with reading. Individuals reached in 2025-26 2,039 EMS Corps Newark Key result The third cohort graduated 100% of program participants, with 77% of licensed graduates obtaining full-time employment. Individuals reached in 2025-26 36 Food Connect Key result 130,000 meals distributed to families across the Greater Newark region. Individuals reached in 2025-26 32,500 Real Stories. Real Change. Real Impact in Greater Newark. Read participant stories that show what impact looks like in action. Community Connection: Housing Connector When a local family faced rapidly deteriorating living conditions under their previous landlord, the Newark community mobilized through Housing Connector. Read their story Reaching Neighbors: Food Connect Food Connect’s home delivery program helps reach people who cannot safely or easily travel to a food pantry, bringing reliable access to food directly to their homes. Read their story Share this Report LinkedIn Facebook Email Team Leonard Davis Leonard Davis Program Manager Tish Johnson-Jones, JD Tish Johnson-Jones, JD Executive Director, GreenLight Greater Newark Kaitlyn Orsini Kaitlyn Orsini Coordinator, GreenLight Greater Newark Advisory Council Hazel Applewhite Ironbound Community Corporation Kaleena Berryman Newark Alliance Amina Bey Newark Emergency Services Dr. Sharnee Brown City of Newark Kevin Callaghan Council of New Jersey Grantmakers Vivian Carter Community Leader Mark Comesañas My Brother’s Keeper Newark Kim Cook Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Danielle Corea – Smith United Way of Greater Newark Tafshier Cosby National Parent Union Shanell Dunns Roots and Bridges Nalune Francios Community Foundation of NJ Jasmine Joseph – Forman Opportunity Youth Network Cathy Keegan Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Jheryn Kenney LinkedIn Margarethe Laurenzi Maher Charitable Foundation Dominique Lee BRICK Education Network Filomena Machleder Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield Craig Mainor United Community Corporation Helen Mazarakis Impact 100 Essex Kelly Mulligan Center for Court Innovation Thomas Owens Mentor Newark Shante Palmer Rutgers University – Newark Americo Rodrigues Blackstone Mario Shepard Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Suzanne Spero MCJ Amelior Foundation Yolanda Stokes South Ward Promise Neighborhood, Community Leader Paula White JerseyCAN Kate Whitman – Annis NJ Devils Foundation Lavar Young Mercury LLC Founding Investors Steve and Luana Alesio Wayne and Jodi Cooperman Cooperman Family Foundation David and Allison Blitzer Debra and Kenneth Caplan Della Rosa Family Foundation Deloitte Fournier Family Foundation Matt and Liz Goldberg Megan and John Hagerty Tom and Meg Healey Peter and Dana Langerman Helen and Thanassis Mazarakis MCJ Amelior Foundation Newark Emerging Leaders Initiative Mary Beth O’Connor Eileen and Les Quick Laura and David Rosenberg Lyn Rosensweig and Bruce Schnelwar Rachel Schwarz and Marc Schiffman Sharon and James Schwarz MacKenzie Scott Susan and John Simon Sara Naison-Tarajano & Orestes Tarajano Stephen and Heather Thomas Weidhorn Family Kim and Finn Wentworth Zach Widmann and Kim Hirsh Larry and Gayle Wieseneck Wilf Family Foundations John and Suzanne Willian Type inFocus: Building Pathways to Work Insights inFocus: Building Pathways to Work Sep 29, 2026 Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Greater Newark, Kansas City, National, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area Celebrating Four Years: Rooted in Newark. Ready to Grow. Play Video Insights Celebrating Four Years: Rooted in Newark. Ready to Grow. Jul 9, 2026 Greater Newark Our First Four Investments: A Story of Trust, Partnership, and Growth Insights Our First Four Investments: A Story of Trust, Partnership, and Growth Jul 1, 2026 Greater Newark From Insight to Impact: Lessons from Harambee 2026 for Building Lasting Change Insights From Insight to Impact: Lessons from Harambee 2026 for Building Lasting Change May 12, 2026 Greater Newark, National, Twin Cities Propelling Impact: An Engine for Scale Play Video Insights Propelling Impact: An Engine for Scale Apr 10, 2026 Cincinnati, Greater Newark, National, Twin Cities GreenLight Fund Greater Newark responds to the city’s most pressing needs Play Video News, Video GreenLight Fund Greater Newark responds to the city’s most pressing needs Oct 16, 2025 Greater Newark GreenLight Fund Announces $1.2M Investment to Fight Housing and Food Insecurity in Greater Newark Play Video News, Press Release GreenLight Fund Announces $1.2M Investment to Fight Housing and Food Insecurity in Greater Newark Oct 16, 2025 Greater Newark From the Community Ready to Serve: More than Just a Motto, A Mission 20 Stories of Change, Insights From the Community Ready to Serve: More than Just a Motto, A Mission Sep 25, 2025 Greater Newark
