What do you value? What impact do you want to make on the world with your resources? This is where all good philanthropy starts.

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Jewel was founded by Jessica Kate Pliska, a nationally recognized leader in social impact and philanthropy, with expertise in private philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, and nonprofit governance. As Founder and CEO of Jewel Philanthropy, she helps individuals, families, and organizations realize their visions for philanthropic and social impact. 

 

Jessica is also Founder of The Opportunity Network (OppNet), a 21-year-old, $12m national education nonprofit in 25 U.S. cities, which she founded in her living room, serving as CEO for 17 years, and then working with donors, family offices, private foundations and companies on philanthropic partnerships supporting the organization’s growth and sustainability. Jessica also sits on the organization’s Board of Directors and is Chair of Nominating and Board Development Committee. At OppNet, she worked in close partnership with major gift donors, private foundations, corporate social responsibility leaders, athletes, and entertainers on philanthropic partnerships driving shared missions.

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From 2014-2016, Jessica and the OppNet team were invited to The White House to collaborate with Former First Lady Michelle Obama's Reach Higher Initiative, along with leaders across education, policy and government. In 2023, Jessica and OppNet co-founder Brian Weinstein, were named Philanthropists of the Year by Variety magazine, which each year recognizes one non-profit organization. And in 2024, Mackenzie Scott granted OppNet one of her select, multimillion-dollar, transformational grants awarded to organizations making the deepest impact in their sectors.

 

Before founding OppNet, Jessica worked in marketing communications for Mercer Delta Consulting, a Marsh & McLennan management consulting firm as its first U.S. Director of Marketing, and before that she was an executive at Edelman, where she managed communications for multinational corporations, organizations, and governments.

 

Jessica sits on the board of CareerVillage.org, sat previously on the National Advisory Board of the “I Have a Dream” Foundation and was a member of the National College Access Network’s Rapid Response Policy Team. For eight years she was a monthly columnist for Forbes, interviewing CEOs and senior leaders on purpose and impact.  She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University.​

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