Jessica Haselton

Managing Director Jessica Haselton is responsible for the strategic, financial and operational effectiveness of the organization, in addition to leading Education Innovation Ventures, the Foundation’s impact investing program.

Jessica has a broad background in philanthropy, social enterprise, impact measurement and impact investing. Prior to joining ECMC Foundation, Jessica was a partner at TriLinc Global, an investment management firm that makes impact investments in small and medium enterprises in developing economies, where she managed investor relations, corporate social responsibility and corporate communications for the firm. Jessica came to TriLinc Global after conducting a post-graduate fellowship at the Clinton Foundation, where she led the development of an impact measurement framework and produced key performance indicators for the organization’s members to use in tracking and reporting on the performance of their social and environmentally focused work. Jessica has worked with multiple organizations and companies spanning Southern California, Washington, D.C., and Southeast Asia, and currently serves on the boards of Beam and Proserva. She has previously served on multiple boards and in various leadership capacities with organizations like the Downtown Women’s Center, WISE-LA, the SAM Initiative and Temple Akiba.

Jessica holds a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in social entrepreneurship from the USC Marshall School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Why are you working at ECMC Foundation and committed to working toward improving higher education for underserved learners?

I work at ECMC Foundation because I believe higher education is one of the most powerful tools we have to break cycles of poverty and unlock opportunity—especially for students from underserved communities. My own educational journey profoundly shaped the trajectory of my life and fuels my commitment to expanding access, persistence and success in postsecondary education for others. I’m especially passionate about the role of impact investing in driving systemic change—and supporting organizations and companies that aim to do well by doing good. By democratizing access to capital and supporting mission-driven organizations and entrepreneurs, we can begin to invest in some of the most innovative, transformative and pioneering solutions for students, ensuring all students are on a pathway to thrive in—and beyond—school.