Dr. Jocelynne Rainey

President & CEO (She/Her/Hers)

Dr. Jocelynne Rainey is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of executive leadership experience in the New York City nonprofit sector. Dr. Rainey joined Brooklyn Community Foundation as President & CEO in December 2021 at an exciting moment of growth and opportunity. She oversees the development of strategic initiatives, innovative programs, and community-centered philanthropic services that embody the Foundation’s deep commitment to racial justice while furthering its mission to spark lasting social and economic change for Brooklyn communities and beyond.

Before joining the Foundation, Dr. Rainey served as CEO and President of Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO), a leading citywide nonprofit serving justice-involved individuals. At GOSO she oversaw programming which has helped more than 10,000 young men access education, achieve emotional well-being, and secure meaningful employment since its advent.  GOSO’s innovative workforce development program, GOSOWorks, has placed hundreds of justice-involved young men in paid internships and permanent jobs in numerous growth industries in the New York metropolitan area.

Previously, Dr. Rainey was Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for the Brooklyn Navy Yard (BNY), leading workforce development, administration, security, and human resource strategies for the organization. She established impactful partnerships in order to connect underserved communities in Brooklyn with career opportunities in the Yard’s growing industries, eliminating barriers to employment for disadvantaged populations. During her eight years at BNY, Dr. Rainey increased workforce placements as well as the number of minority- and women-owned businesses that secured procurement contracts with the Yard. She was an integral part of the team that created the innovative STEAM Center Department of Education High School Program, a program located at BNY that exposes high school students to manufacturing and tech careers. Dr. Rainey also increased organization-wide DEI initiatives during her time at the Yard. 

Prior to her tenure at BNY, Dr. Rainey was the Human Resources Director for specialty food retailer  Agata and Valentina. She has also held senior positions at Independent Living Association, Home Depot, and Boar’s Head. 
 
A graduate of Southern Connecticut State University, Dr. Rainey holds a master’s in administration from Metropolitan College and a doctorate in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher College. 

She is a member of several boards that include the New York City Workforce Development, Brooklyn Navy Yard, and Mark Morris Dance Group. She is also a trustee of the foundations of both her alma mater Southern Connecticut State University and New York College of Technology. Dr. Rainey is the recipient of several prestigious honors, including being named one of The Network Journal’s 25 Influential Black Women in Business in 2016 and one of Crain’s Notable Black Leaders and Executives in 2021 and 2023.