Jacob Fraire

Jacob Fraire leads ECMC Foundation’s strategy, innovation, and growth. He is anchored by a North Star goal to eliminate postsecondary completion gaps and advance economic mobility through postsecondary attainment, career pathways, and entrepreneurship. Joining the foundation in 2023, Fraire is responsible for an annual philanthropic budget totaling $100 million, and a richly diverse and talented team located on campuses in Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Washington, DC. The foundation drives grants and program related investments that benefit students and supports the future of higher education in the U.S. His stewardship ensures the foundation - an affiliate of ECMC Group - remains mission-focused and responsive to the evolving needs of the postsecondary sector and those furthest from opportunity. Previously, as President & CEO of the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC), Fraire provided leadership to the state’s network of 50 public, independently governed community colleges. Under his watch, TACC secured new state funding for colleges and a $79 million exemption from restrictive tax policies, directly benefiting 750,000 students across Texas. His stewardship resulted in debt-free operations and robust reserves for TACC and the Texas Success Center, providing stability and resources for student-focused initiatives. In 2021, Fraire led a statewide coalition of college and business leaders to create a legislature-authorized commission on community college finance. The commission would later recommend reforms to the state’s 50-year-old system of state finance of community colleges. Fraire’s commitment to equity is evident in his leadership and management of more than $79 million in philanthropic grants at Trellis Company, supporting low-income and first-generation college students. He designed and managed programs that improved college access, persistence, and completion, and led research efforts that built knowledge around student success for underserved populations. A son of Mexican immigrants and US migrant farmworkers, Fraire defines his work through a steadfast commitment to the transformative power of higher education. He has advanced policy advocacy, coalition building, and public policy reforms. He co-chaired statewide taskforces on dual credit and transfer pathways, shaping reforms that expand educational opportunity.