Jay Banfield '86

Bridging opportunity and equity through innovation in education, employment, and housing across the Bay Area and beyond.

Turning Ideas Into Opportunity

Jay Banfield has spent his career helping people reach their potential. A leader in both business and social innovation, he has brought together the private, public, and nonprofit sectors to open doors for those who need them most. After graduating from Stanford University and earning a master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, Banfield built a career that blends strategy, creativity, and service. He has managed budgets of more than $400 million, raised millions in new funding, and partnered with companies like Salesforce, Workday, and Kaiser Permanente to expand access to education and employment across the country.

Scaling Opportunity Through Year Up

Banfield helped launch the San Francisco office of Year Up, a national program that connects motivated young adults without college degrees to professional careers. He later became Chief Officer of Innovation and Scale, guiding Year Up’s growth to major cities including San Jose, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Through classroom learning, mentorship, and internships at top companies like Google, Facebook, and Tesla, students gain the technical and professional skills to succeed. Under Banfield’s leadership, Year Up became one of the most successful workforce training programs in the nation, helping thousands of young people find meaningful careers and a pathway to stability.

Building Economic Mobility at All Home

Today, Banfield serves as Chief Officer of Economic Mobility at All Home, a Bay Area organization focused on reducing homelessness and poverty through collaboration across sectors. He works with leaders in government, business, and philanthropy to create jobs, housing, and programs that give people a fair chance to succeed. His work centers on one goal: helping individuals and families achieve long-term stability and independence. From his start at Austin Prep to his leadership in social innovation, Banfield has dedicated his life to building systems that make opportunity possible for everyone.

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Be Featured in Alumni Spotlight

We love to highlight Austin Prep alumni who have built meaningful careers and made a difference in their fields and communities. If you or someone you know has a story worth sharing, we’d love to feature it in our Alumni Spotlight series.

To be considered for a future feature, please contact Director of Alumni Engagement and Giving, Darren Stewart at darren.stewart@austinprep.org or 781.944.4900 x4862.