As owner of KALAFATAS PARTNERS, John Kalafatas brings 30 years of experience leading mission-driven organizations to impact, equity, sustainability, and scale.

For 13 years, John has worked at KIPP Public Schools, the nation’s largest charter network (280 schools) with a mission to prepare students with skills and confidence to lead fulfilling lives and create a more just world. Currently, John serves at the national KIPP Foundation as Vice President of Scale & Sustainability on the Network Growth Team. Previously, he was a Senior Relationship Manager guiding a portfolio of KIPP regions around the country. John’s first role at KIPP was COO/CFO of KIPP Massachusetts.

As a Portfolio Manager at the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, John invested $40M in grantees advancing opportunities for youth overcoming poverty. At City Year, a national service and education organization, John served as Director of Strategic Planning & Org Development and as a Regional Director managing site EDs. John has also worked as a management consultant, university fundraiser, and researcher at the Duke and Harvard centers for social enterprise.

Trained and certified by the Noble Story Group, he is a leadership coach for U.S. and international C-level nonprofit executives.

A 2024 Pahara Fellow, John is a graduate of Tufts University, Harvard Business School, and the National Outdoor Leadership School. He lives in North Carolina with his wife Karen and daughter Becca.