News

 Rising Ground Welcomes Jeff Cohen to its Board of Directors

Rising Ground, a trusted and longstanding human services nonprofit at the forefront of meeting the critical needs of New Yorkers, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Cohen to its Board of Directors. Mr. Cohen is the Global Head of Leveraged Finance and Private Credit for Santander USA’s Corporate and Investment Banking division.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jeff Cohen to Rising Ground,” said Matt Del Percio, President of the Board of Directors. “With his strong background in banking and financial leadership, Jeff brings valuable expertise that will strengthen our strategic planning and financial stewardship. His commitment to community service aligns perfectly with our mission, and we look forward to the insight and dedication he will bring to our work."

Mr. Cohen said: “I’m honored to join the board of this impactful nonprofit and look forward to working alongside passionate leaders to support and uplift children, adults, and families. I am especially excited about the work Rising Ground does building stronger communities and brighter futures for young people, supporting them as they grow, discover their potential, and shape their path forward.”

About Jeff Cohen

Jeff Cohen is the Global Head of Leveraged Finance and Private Credit for Santander USA’s Corporate and Investment Banking division, which he joined in 2023. Previously he spent 23 years at Credit Suisse in leadership roles, most recently as Global Head of Leveraged and Acquisition Finance. He was Chair of the Underwriting Committee and served on the Investment Banking Management and Operating Committees. 
Jeff joined Credit Suisse in 2000 when the bank merged with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), where he was a banker based in Los Angeles. Prior to DLJ, he was with Bankers Trust in leveraged finance in Los Angeles. Earlier in his career, Jeff was a Manager of Strategic Planning for the Walt Disney Company and a Group Manager of Corporate Development / M&A for PepsiCo.
Jeff holds an M.B.A. in Finance and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago, where he has previously served on the Visiting Committee for the college.
Jeff is a past board member of the Loan Sales and Trading Association (LSTA).
He is on the Board of Starfish Connection, a mentoring and enrichment program supporting promising students from underserved families in Stamford, Connecticut.

About Rising Ground

Rising Ground is a leading nonprofit human services organization, currently operating more than 101 programs at 143 sites across all five New York City boroughs and Westchester County, employing a workforce of 2,000 people. Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping more than 72,000 children, adults, and families to rise above adversity. Founded in 1831 as Leake & Watts, an orphanage, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs and is a leader in utilizing results-focused, evidence-based practices. For more information, visit RisingGround.org.

View the press release here.