Co-Founder
“The Bronx is not only my home, having been born and raised in The Bronx, but The Bronx is a borough I consider a place of great strength and opportunity. I consider myself a product of Bronx philanthropy. Co-founding The Bronx Community Foundation allowed me to give back to a community that has given me so much.”
A proud New Yorker and Bronxite, Derrick H. Lewis is an energetic and passionate advisor and entrepreneur who has dedicated his career to empowering communities and driving inclusive growth. For more than fifteen years, he has advised early- and late-stage organizations on corporate and technology strategy, strategic planning, growth, risk management, and human capital.
Derrick is the co-founder of The Bronx Community Foundation—the first and only public community foundation solely dedicated to the Bronx, New York. The Foundation’s mission is to empower residents to reach their full potential, advance the borough’s well-being through community power, and make the Bronx a global destination. The Foundation’s approach is focused on scalability, multi-generational sustainability, resilience, and wealth, always putting community needs first. The Bronx Community Foundation’s work has been recognized by outlets such as New York Daily News, CBS New York, Gothamist, News12 Bronx, The City, Bronx Times, and BronxNet. Its work centers on five strategic pillars: Community, Equity & Justice, Economic Security, Health, and Digital Equity.
An alumni of Boston College and Harvard Business School, Derrick has been recognized for his commitment to social impact and innovation in publications such as The Heights. He has shared his insights on community leadership and economic empowerment in conversations featured on BronxNet TV, the Boston College Alumni Network, and the Boston College Magazine Podcast.
Derrick’s work has also been profiled by organizations and initiatives that align with his mission to strengthen communities and expand opportunity. He has advised world-changing organizations including Walkabout Education, Birthright Africa, and the New York Social Diary. He has been featured as one of PoliticsNY’s Rising Power Players, and his leadership in civic engagement and philanthropy has been documented in the Bronx COVID-19 Oral History Project, Concordia, and the Fordham University Library archive.
Through his professional journey and community advocacy, Derrick continues to champion equity, innovation, and opportunity in the Bronx and beyond.
Connect:
LinkedIn
