Reginald Jones, Jacobs Center

Reginald Jones
President and Chief Executive Officer, Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation

Overseeing the organization’s mission and goals since 2012, Reginald Jones is president and chief executive officer of the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation and the Jacobs Family Foundation.

Through the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, Jones leads efforts to develop enduring partnerships that create equitable, community-driven change in Southeastern San Diego, focusing on physical development and economic opportunity. He works with culturally diverse residents, organizations, political leaders and private entities to foster understanding of the organization’s intent, seek input and build collaboration for ambitious neighborhood revitalization efforts. Current projects include CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center, the region’s first low to moderate income and diversity-focused business accelerator program. A partnership between the City of San Diego, the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation and CONNECT, the program guides startups that want to grow rapidly with the support they need to be successful. 

Prior to his work in San Diego, Jones served as president of the Chicago-based Steans Family Foundation, a philanthropy committed to revitalizing North Lawndale, a disinvested community on Chicago’s west side. 

Jones’ leadership in philanthropy extends to serving as a board member for the Museum of Photographic Arts, advisory board member for Mainly Mozart and trustee with the Steans Family Foundation. He has served on the board of the Council on Foundations — for which he chaired the Family Philanthropy committee, Grassroots Grantmakers — as co-chairman, and the Lake County (Illinois) Community Foundation.

Jones is a frequent presenter on topics of philanthropy and placed-based driven approaches for community change. In 2019, Jones was honored with the San Diego METRO Magazine’s Men of Influence Award for his leadership in supporting innovative, practical strategies for community change in Southeastern San Diego. He is currently an Aspen Institute-Neighborhood Funders Group Philanthropy Forward Fellow.