Alumni Spotlight: Jake Peña (MPA-PNP 2025)

A former Bloomberg Fellow and co-chair of the Association of Latinx Students and Allies in Public Service (ALAS), Jake Peña’s motivation to make a difference through philanthropy brought him to The New York Community Trust. The Trust is New York’s largest community foundation, serving New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. For more than 100 years, The Trust has brought together the local knowledge and diverse expertise of its team and nonprofit and philanthropic partners to support thriving and equitable communities and help donors champion the causes they love—including health, the arts, LGBTQ+ causes, people with disabilities, housing, democracy, and more. The Trust makes approximately $200 million in grants each year from its charitable funds set up by individuals, families, foundations, and corporations. 

Since graduating from Wagner, you’ve moved into a role as senior associate for donor relations and development at The New York Community Trust. What does your role entail and what motivates you most about the work you do? 

My role is primarily to support fundraising efforts and manage grants that our donor advisors recommend. This means ensuring that the grants our donors recommend are fulfilled with diligence and efficiency and that our development and fundraising efforts are engaging, strategic, and data informed.

It’s motivating to work at an institution that has served New York for more than 100 years. At The New York Community Trust, I feel like I am part of the legacy of New York City by carrying on the work of those from past generations—whose funds still provide for the region’s communities today. It’s particularly motivating to work for a community foundation because we are accessible to all types of charitable New Yorkers. Funds at The Trust come from a myriad of sources—from cab drivers to gilded-age entertainers—and each fund shares the vision of thriving and equitable communities across New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. In addition, several of my colleagues at The Trust are also Wagner graduates, which fosters among us a strong sense of connection and continuity to the public service ecosystem in New York City.

In your time at Wagner, you were a Bloomberg Fellow. How did the Fellowship help shape your Wagner experience and your career path?

The Georgina and Charlotte Bloomberg NYU Public Service Fellowship at Wagner was truly life-changing for me. That the fellowship paid for my full tuition was incredible, and on top of that, I received leadership development and connections to industry leaders across New York City. Through the Bloomberg fellowship, I made some of my closest friends, with whom I studied, collaborated, and dreamed. 

What drew you to a career in philanthropy?

Before matriculating at Wagner, I worked for various advocacy and organizing nonprofits across the country, which meant regular interaction with funders, so I often wondered what it would be like to work within philanthropy. As I researched graduate schools, Wagner jumped to the top of my list because of New York City’s status as a philanthropy hub. So I made it my goal not only to attend Wagner, but to break into the funder space. In fact, it was through Wagner that I discovered The Trust's graduate fellowship program. Thanks to advice from my professors, fellow students, and Wagner Career Services staff, I was hired as The Trust's communications and marketing fellow in May 2024. 

You also served in a leadership role with ALAS. What did being a part of ALAS mean to you, and what are you most proud of from your time on the executive board?

I was thrilled to join the Association of Latinx Students and Allies in Public Service (ALAS) at Wagner during my first year. I came on as the communications chair focused on engaging as many Latine students and allies as possible to participate in our cultural and social events on campus. During my second year, I was elected co-chair of ALAS and focused my time on building a space for Latine students where they felt safe, proud, and encouraged to pursue their public service goals. Co-leading ALAS was one of the highlights of my Wagner experience, especially when we convened a sold-out panel event featuring community leaders and journalist Paola Ramos to discuss recent political shifts among Latines in the U.S. 

Looking ahead, what impact do you hope to make in your work?

I'm still an organizer at heart. I don't think that drive to build up others and create power will ever leave me, regardless of what role that I'm in. I think, at this challenging moment in our country, we need more organizing for people to band together to care for one another and to take part in creating the world that they want to live in. Whether it's in philanthropy, politics, or in leading my own nonprofit, I will aim to make a positive impact for those who need it the most.