John Farnam

Chief of Staff | Morgridge Family Foundation

John Farnam is the Deputy Disruptor and Chief of Staff for the Morgridge Family Foundation. In this role, John catalyzes connections that equip innovative leaders with the network and resources needed for transformational change. Farnam’s expertise has been sought out as an Aspen Institute Fellow, a member of the American Enterprise Institute Leadership Network, and an advisor to the Governor's Leadership Committee on COVID Relief. Recently, he was accepted into Oxford’s Chief of Staff Fellowship. Farnam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Sciences and Mathematics and served as a Student Senator for the College of Health Sciences during his tenure at the University of Wyoming. In his earlier career, Farnam served as Vice President of Marketing for Goodwill Industries of Denver and played an integral role in establishing the Goodwill Endowment Fund, which hit the revenue goal of $10M. During his time as the Executive Director of Northern Colorado AIDS Project, Farnam was recognized with the DoSomething Award celebrating leaders whose work transforms his community. His work in education began when he raised $6.5 million to build Vanguard Classical Schools. Farnam is a member of the Board of Trustees at Denver Academy, a private, independent school for children with learning differences; Chairman of the Board of mindSpark Learning, an education organization serving entire systems to achieve K-12 transformation; and he was the Chairman of the Board of Excelsior, a mental and behavioral health organization serving young people ages 2-18. John and his husband, Paul, grow and donate over 2,000 pounds of produce every year, in addition to their volunteer work at Metro Caring, Hunger Relief Center, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and their church, Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church.