Jessica Peña

Jessica Peña is a Partner at City Fund, where she collaborates with local leaders to support innovative, community-driven strategies that expand access to high-quality public school options for all children. As one of City Fund’s founding team members, Jessica has worked with organizations and stakeholders in cities across the country, helping to advance efforts that improve student outcomes and increase opportunity.

Jessica brings deep experience in philanthropy, education strategy, and nonprofit advising. Prior to City Fund, she served as a Partner at Education Cities, where she provided strategic support to local nonprofits working to improve education outcomes. Before that, she spent eight years at the Philadelphia School Partnership, where she managed a $100 million fund to launch, replicate, and expand proven school models. Her career has been rooted in investing in what works, launching new organizations, and helping local partners build strategies that drive results for students in underserved communities.

Earlier in her career, Jessica worked on criminal justice, immigration, child welfare, and housing issues, both inside and outside of government. She is a graduate of NYU School of Law and Trinity College in Connecticut. Originally from New York City, Jessica now lives in New Jersey with her husband and two teenage children.Parter, City Fund