Jeanette Ruiz

Jeanette leads our climate justice initiative, which seeks to address the disproportionate impact of climate chaos on communities of color and other marginalized communities. She is responsible for strategic planning, maintaining relationships with grant partners and others, managing critical partnerships, and overseeing grant making processes including new grants of $2 to $2.5 million annually.

Jeanette is a lifelong Miami resident (not counting the first year or two of her life, and out-of-state education!). She comes to Allegany Franciscan Ministries with tremendous experience: as Executive Director of the Miami Climate Alliance (MCA), she led a network of more than 160 organizations advancing climate justice and community resilience across South Florida. In that role, Jeanette oversaw strategy, operations, programming and fundraising, and co-designed a statewide grant program that distributed more than $3 million to frontline communities. As a result, she has relationships with many of Allegany’s climate partners. At the heart of her work at MCA was a commitment to building trust and community-centered partnerships, ensuring that those most impacted by climate injustice were resourced and supported to lead.

Jeanette shared why she is excited to serve as the 3CH Director: “I am eager to take on this critical role at Allegany Franciscan Ministries because it sits at the intersection of climate justice, community partnership, and values-driven philanthropy, work that is close to my heart and experience.”