Jon Belgrad joined Knight Foundation in 2019 and serves as a program officer on the Community and National Initiatives team where he advances the foundation’s programs that strengthen Miami’s technology and entrepreneurship economy. Recently, Belgrad helped lead the program to make its first climate-oriented investments, prioritizing partnerships that increase local resident participation in furthering climate resiliency. Jon drives operations for a national team of 14 that leads a $150 million grant portfolio guided by locally-relevant strategies including downtown and neighborhood revitalization, smart cities, public spaces and economic opportunity.

Prior to Knight, Belgrad grew Pacific54, a boutique digital marketing agency in Miami, serving startups, universities, banks and non-profits. At Pacific54, he led the development and launch of a packaged agency offering, as well as deepening strategic partnerships across the digital marketing industry that attracted new clients to the agency. Belgrad has spent time building Drinking Vessels, an art studio in Colorado that produces shows around the country in partnership with over 50 glass artists.

Originally from the Chicago area, Belgrad earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Miami, and after graduating, chose to make Miami home. He serves as a member of The Underline’s Technology Advisory Council.