Jim Shelton

With a multi-sector background spanning policy, philanthropy, education, technology, and investing, Jim Shelton forges connections that spark change at scale. Last year, he was named CEO of Blue Meridian Partners, a major philanthropic platform bringing together donors and social sector leaders working to “strengthen the upward path for all Americans, especially those in poverty.” Blue Meridian’s national and place-based investments include Code for America, Grameen America, the HBCU Transformation Project, CodePath.org, Jobs for the Future’s Center for Justice & Economic Advancement, and more. He previously served as the organization’s President & Chief Investment and Impact Officer, during which time he increased the scale of its nationwide investments; expanded its support of comprehensive place-based strategies and partnerships; and extended its work to include and leverage for-profits, policy, and advocacy. Jim has shaped education innovation and policy as as an operator, investor, entrepreneur, and impact accelerator—leading education funding at the Gates Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, serving as President & Chief Impact Officer at 2U, co-founding LearnNow and Amandla Enterprises, and serving as Deputy Secretary of Education and founding Executive Director of My Brother’s Keeper under President Obama. He’s also lent his expansive expertise to the Aspen Institute, AERDF, KKR, and the Brookings Institute, and he was one of The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s 16 People to Watch in 2025. In every chapter of his impactful career, Jim proves time and again that we are so much stronger together.