GREENFIELD — With a new executive director at the helm, Common Good, a nonprofit financial institution that was founded in Greenfield and is dedicated to “community-centered economic democracy,” plans to expand its reach internationally.
The organization announced in December that Jose Cruz had been tapped to serve as the new executive director. Cruz, who replaces founder William Spademan of Ashfield, said he is excited to use his skills and experience in social work to grow Common Good and widen its reach.
“I come from a background in social work. My whole career, since college, has been doing work to empower communities,” Cruz said. “The job at Common Good came up and it seemed like a perfect fit for me.”
Cruz studied sociology at California State University, San Bernardino, and later received a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus. He has previously worked with the Boys & Girls Club of America and the World Federation of Youth Clubs.
He officially began with Common Good on Oct. 1, and has been working to learn how the organization operates and prepare for its next steps. He added that it’s been a good transition as he has been able to learn directly from Spademan.
“It’s been a lot of learning and getting to know the system,” Cruz said. “I think the beauty of it is the founder is the one that passed the torch down to me.”
Common Good acts like a community-owned bank. Members can deposit and withdraw money, and use their Common Good card to shop at participating businesses. Meanwhile, members vote on how to invest the bank’s funds, and which causes it wants to support through the Common Good Community Fund.
Heading into 2026, Cruz said Common Good plans to revamp its website and seek funding to “replicate a proven model.”
“We’re planning to strengthen our internal systems so it can support us as we expand and grow,” Cruz said. “We’re not changing anything. … We want to expand the reach of our mission of supporting an economic democracy.”
While Cruz is based in southern California, he said Common Good will continue to support businesses and organizations in western Massachusetts, as well as other participating locations.
Common Good has more than 50 participating businesses listed on its website in the Pioneer Valley region, and more in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, Vermont, New Jersey and California.
Cruz said the Common Good team is working in Atlanta, Georgia, and Dallas, Texas, in 2026, as well as growing involvement in existing communities and launching global initiatives further down the line.
He added that Common Good plans to work with chambers of commerce across the country as well as local governments, and expand the community fridge program, which has provided fridges to communities that can then be filled by residents with fruits, vegetables and other food items for those in need to pick up as they choose.
On top of that, Cruz said Common Good is working to introduce micro-loan options, expand the mini grant program and take on more fiscal sponsorships. By being sponsored by Common Good, small nonprofits can receive tax-deductible donations without being 501(c)(3) organizations themselves.
“I just want to say thank you to our community, board of directors and staff for getting us to this level,” Cruz said. “Now we’re hoping to take Common Good to another level.”
For more information about Common Good, visit commongood.earth.