Scott Emerick named executive director of GreenLight Fund Philadelphia to lead community-driven process
GreenLight Fund, a national nonprofit funder, today announced the start of their next phase of work in Philadelphia with new leadership and a fourth Fund to fuel that work. With support from local families, corporations, foundations and philanthropic investors, GreenLight Philadelphia has already raised nearly $3.5M for Fund IV. Scott Emerick has been named Executive Director of GreenLight Philadelphia. He will partner with the community to select and invest in bringing the next three evidence-based social innovations to Philadelphia that result in measurable social impact and positive change for individuals, families and children.
“We are so incredibly grateful for the investor coalition that has come together to fund the fourth phase of work in Philadelphia – both stellar new investor partners and wonderful current investors re-committing to their belief in the importance of GreenLight’s work and results,” said John Simon, GreenLight Fund’s Co-founder and Board Chair. “Scott’s experience and passion for this work will make him a fantastic local leader as GreenLight continues delivering measurable change and impact in GreenLight’s first expansion city.”
Emerick brings particular expertise in education, workforce development, systems change, and opportunity youth, with a deep commitment to making an impact in the community he loves and is raising his family in. He comes to GreenLight after serving as CEO of YouthBuild Philadelphia where he expanded their operating budget from $5.8M to $8.2M, developed key community partnerships, and led a $26M fundraising campaign to build a new facility. Prior to being CEO, he was the SVP of Youth Build USA, leading postsecondary and career pathways. Scott got his BA in political science, journalism and mass communication at UNC Chapel Hill and his masters in education from Harvard where he also served as a community organizer with Boston Parents Organizing Network.
Emerick shared his excitement for joining and leading GreenLight’s work in Philadelphia, “I could not be more proud or more humbled to build on the strong foundation GreenLight has built in Philadelphia. I believe strongly in our North Star of connecting deeply with community members to significantly and demonstrably improve economic mobility in Philadelphia. And I know that the strength of communities like the one I have been a part of in North Philly can and must be empowered to help identify opportunities and gaps facing young people, families and communities across our great city.”
GreenLight Philadelphia engages with the local community to address challenges that can make a significant difference in the lives of residents facing barriers to prosperity. Each year, the local GreenLight Philadelphia team partners with the community to elevate a specific unmet need, find and assess programs with successful national track records meeting that need elsewhere in the country, and launch a program in Philadelphia with the best local fit. Nonprofits GreenLight helps scale to Philadelphia are additive to the local ecosystem, address deep-rooted disparities and open opportunities for children and families.
As executive director, Emerick will partner with the Selection Advisory Council, an inclusive, cross-sector group of community leaders, residents and experts, to elevate unmet needs and vet and select the next evidenced-based programs to bring to Philadelphia to deliver measurable results. In addition, he will provide strategic, on-the-ground support to GreenLight’s existing seven portfolio organizations.
“I’ve had the opportunity to see the impact of Scott’s leadership in North Philadelphia for many years and I am thrilled he will be leading GreenLight’s critical work in Philadelphia. As a member of the GreenLight Philadelphia Selection Advisory Council, I look forward to this next selection process as Scott brings his strategic leadership style, collaborative approach and passion for addressing inequities in our city to this work,” said Ravi Acharya, Head of Consumer Regulatory Remediation, TD Bank and GreenLight SAC member.
GreenLight Philadelphia Fund IV will fuel the next set of community-driven selections and is made possible by a strong and growing coalition of generous supporters including: Bain Capital, Bank of America, Richard Bingswanger, Jeffrey & Amy Bodle, Dan & Elizabeth Brillman, BuildStrong Education Foundation / Carmel Classic Invitational, Beth Bunting, Burke Family Foundation, Saj & Marissa Cherian, Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, Customers Bank, Deloitte, Drexel University, Driven Brands, Scott Emerick, The Andrea W. & Kenneth C. Frazier Family Foundation, Goldman Sachs Gives, Hess Foundation, David & Brandi Horowitz, iHeartMedia, Rena & Josh Kopelman, NFL, Laird Norton Wetherby, Dean & Allison Miller, Eagles Social Justice Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation, PACT, Wil Reynolds & Nora Pillard Reynolds, MacKenzie Scott, John & Susan Simon, Marc Singer & Leah Lande, and Iain Ware.
“GreenLight is an innovative funder that understands the value of listening to the community, finding what works and then ensuring the solution has measurable results. We enthusiastically support GreenLight Philadelphia as they expand and amplify impact in our community,” said Lyle Cunningham, EVP & Chief Banking Officer, Customers Bank.
GreenLight Philadelphia launched in 2012, GreenLight Fund’s first expansion site, and has since invested $5.4M to bring seven evidence-based nonprofit solutions to the city that are delivering change including Hopeworks, The Fountain Fund, Compass Working Capital, ParentChild+, Center for Employment Opportunities, Single Stop and Year Up United. These seven organizations have leveraged that investment to secure an additional $42.7M from public and private funding and demonstrated progress on key social impact metrics. GreenLight Philadelphia Fund IV will enable scaling additional proven solutions to Philadelphia that are needed and wanted by the community, open access to opportunities, and address economic and racial inequities.
“Having been an early champion and supporter, I am excited that Scott, with his strong background, collaborative style and deep passion for community impact, will be leading GreenLight’s next phase of work in Philadelphia. Experiencing first hand the process that brought seven effective programs to Philadelphia that wouldn’t be here without GreenLight, I look forward to working with Scott to continue to make progress in addressing tough challenges with programs that deliver results,” said Marc Singer, Managing Partner, Osage University Partners.
“What I find unique and impactful about GreenLight Fund’s model is that they recognize that somewhere, someone has already effectively addressed the problem our community has identified. GreenLight Philadelphia has found those organizations and given them the resources to expand here. I’m proud to support GreenLight and the growing impact it continues to have in Philadelphia,” said Dean Miller, President & CEO, Philadelphia Alliance for Capital & Technologies.
