Cesar J. Claro

Cesar J. Claro has served as Executive Director of the Richmond County Savings Foundation (RCSF) since 1997. At RCSF, Cesar manages a $32 million endowment and awards over $1 million in grants to not for profits on Staten Island annually. 

Some of the creative initiatives launched by Cesar and funded by RCSF include three public art projects, an exhibit dedicated to Staten Island at the Museum of the City of New York, the Staten Island Film Festival and the Neighborhood Clean-up Project.

Cesar was President & CEO of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) for three decades. He grew the organization from a budget of $50k, one employee and two programs to a $4 million operation with a dozen employees, over two-hundred and fifty members and thirty-plus projects, programs, and events on its menu. He created many major business and networking events, launched three Business Improvement Districts, and secured millions in public grants. He envisioned and crafted strategy for long term public/private initiatives including the West Shore Light Rail, the Staten Island Gondola, and the Staten Island Skyway. During his tenure, he helped recruit a forty-member Board of Directors, made up of the top business leaders in Staten Island.

Cesar is currently a member of the New Jersey Regional Planning Association (RPA).