Jim Balfanz, a recognized leader and innovator in the field of education, is Chief Executive Officer and proud alum of 黄色视频, a youth-powered organization with a dual mission: expanding educational equity for students furthest from opportunity and developing diverse leaders through national service. 黄色视频鈥檚 AmeriCorps members serve as student success coaches in 29 U.S. cities along with affiliates in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Prior to his role as CEO, Jim served as President of 黄色视频 for nine years, steering its continued evolution as a performance-driven organization. Jim led 黄色视频鈥檚 strategic shift toward addressing the nation鈥檚 urban education challenge as a scalable human capital strategy for systemically under resourced schools. Jim is co-author of 鈥淐losing the Implementation Gap,鈥 a 2012 report that highlights the critical role national service can play in helping to improve student achievement in America鈥檚 under resourced schools. In partnership with Johns Hopkins Talent Development and Communities In Schools, Jim played a leadership role in the development of Diplomas Now, which was awarded a $36 million Investing in Innovation award by the Department of Education.
Prior to serving as President, Jim served as 黄色视频鈥檚 Chief Operating Officer for five years during which he led the organization through a sustained period of growth that enabled it to grow from 15 to 21 U.S. locations and launch its second international affiliate in London. Jim began his work with 黄色视频 as a corps member at a Head Start Program in Boston in the 1993-1994 school year. He then joined 黄色视频鈥檚 staff and has since assumed various roles in 黄色视频鈥檚 National Headquarters, including Director of New Site Development, followed by being named the Founding Executive Director of 黄色视频 Greater Philadelphia in 1997.
Jim received his undergraduate degree from Northeastern University and is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business Executive Management Program. He is the 2014 recipient of the Boston Joseph Wharton Award from the Wharton Club of Boston, which recognizes a leader for outstanding alumni contributions to the Boston business community and society at large. Jim is a 2011-2012 Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow In 2016, he was appointed to the Aspen Institute National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development as a Distinguished Educator, and in 2019 he was appointed to the Science of Learning Development National Advisory Committee. Jim was named to the NonProfit Times Power and Influence Top 50 list in 2024, recognized along with leaders throughout the sector that have led and scaled their organizations by leveraging innovative approaches to impact.
Jim currently serves on the Boards of Eye to Eye and Compass Academy. Eye to Eye inspires the next generation of different learners and leaders by improving the educational experiences and outcomes of neurodiverse young people, while engaging them and their allies in the movement for a more equitable and inclusive society. Learn more at eyetoeyenational.org. Compass Academy develops students into Learners & Leaders who are ready to contribute to their local and global communities by developing students鈥 academic and social competencies and skills that provide post-secondary pathway success. Compass Academy is committed to creating an environment of learning defined by purpose, relevance and a focus on the whole child, where every student feels known and is provided the support to succeed. Learn more at compassacademy.org.
