Rick Cruz has served in leadership roles at companies, nonprofits, and government agencies—and has extensive experience in organizational management, partnerships, business development, strategic planning, and external relations.
Rick was the president and CEO of Arabella Advisors, a mission-driven Certified B Corporation dedicated to helping changemakers and philanthropists create a better world. In his role at Arabella, Rick leads the executive team and guides strategy and operations with the goal of growing the organization’s reach and social impact. Previously he built and managed the firm’s client development and external relations functions.
Over the last decade, Rick has served in senior roles at leading social sector education and youth development enterprises, including College Board, America’s Promise Alliance, FSG, Teach for America, DC Prep Public Charter School, and the DC Public Charter School Board.
Rick began his career in the professional services sector, working at the Corporate Executive Board (CEB) in Washington, DC, and London for more than a decade. There he assumed successive leadership roles and built teams that helped global corporations develop their strategic planning, finance, risk management, and governance capabilities.
Rick is deeply committed to advancing access to quality education. He serves as chair of the board of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. As well, he recently completed an eight-year tenure as a board member and chair of the DC Public Charter School Board. That independent board oversees the 66 nonprofit organizations and their 126 schools which educate nearly half the public school students in the District of Columbia. Rick is a frequent panelist and speaker on public education and reform efforts.
Rick also holds board positions at several other local and national nonprofits, including Washington International School, Instruction Partners, and Goodwill of Greater Washington.
Rick earned a BA in philosophy from Yale University. He resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two children.
