John Farnam

Chief of Staff/Deputy Disruptor, Morgridge Family Foundation
Denver, Colorado

John Farnam works to advance the mission of the organization by aligning resources and innovation around social issues. Farnam began his work in education when he raised $6.5 million to build Vanguard Classical School, one of the first charter schools approved by Aurora Public Schools. Prior to his work in education, Farnam served as Vice President of Marketing for Goodwill Industries of Denver where he supported the retail and human service efforts of the $40M organization. Farnam has also served as the Executive Director of the Northern Colorado AIDS Project. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

My Truth

The challenge and opportunity that I am interested in solving is that of equity in service delivery design, implementation, and execution. I believe we will achieve equity when we have supportive services that address the whole family and does so with an eye on the long game. We all have very specific needs, desires, and wishes. An equity design thinking approach would amplify the voice of families seeking assistance. Addressing equity through gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation lens is of utmost importance to me.

Stories featuring John Farnam

Four outstanding organizations and partnerships have been selected to receive flexible grant funding to accelerate their work moving children and families with low incomes toward educational success, economic security, and health and well-being. Ascend Impact Fund awardees are: “The Ascend Impact Fund is an extension of our investment in values-driven leadership to advance economic mobility …

Four Outstanding Projects Selected for Ascend Impact Fund Read More »

BlogDecember 9, 2020
Black Lives Matter. As a collective of leaders committed to advancing two-generation strategies to end multigenerational poverty, we believe that the only path to that outcome is through a reckoning with our past and present, and a fundamental shift in our institutions. This requires a new social contract to remedy the harms of White supremacy –a …

Undo A System of White Supremacy: The Call for a New Social Contract Read More »

BlogJune 29, 2020
Kwame AnkuChairman and CEOBlack Star Fund Sacramento, CAMy Vision – The problem I am focusing on solving is breaking the economic disparity cycle afflicting people of the African diaspora. I call my bold vision 100X100. It is a vision of 100 Black investment managers who will each manage $100M innovation funds by 2025. I believe we …

2018 Ascend Fellow Action Plans Read More »

Ascend FellowshipJune 19, 2019
2018 Ascend Fellows
NEWS RELEASE Contact: Lindsay Broyhill Ascend at the Aspen Institute Tel: 202.721.5596 Lindsay.broyhill@aspeninstitute.org Prestigious Aspen Institute Ascend Fellowship Announces 2018 Class of Leaders Diverse Leaders Selected for Their Groundbreaking Work Advancing Opportunity for Children and Families With Low Incomes Washington, DC, September 6, 2018 – The Aspen Institute announced today the 2018 class of Aspen …

Prestigious Aspen Institute Ascend Fellowship Announces 2018 Class of Leaders Read More »

Press ReleasesSeptember 6, 2018