Gary Borden

Gary Borden is a Partner at City Fund, where he collaborates with city leaders and state officials to expand access to high-quality public school opportunities for all children, particularly those historically underserved. In his role, Borden focuses on driving state policy changes to create conditions for transformative improvements in urban education.

Before joining City Fund in 2019, Borden led policy and political initiatives for the charter public school community in California. As Executive Director of CCSA Advocates and Senior Vice President for Civic Affairs at the California Charter Schools Association, he managed a multi-million-dollar political program targeting state and local government. His work included advancing legislation and initiatives that elevated educational opportunities for California’s students. Previously, as Deputy Executive Director of the California State Board of Education, Borden played a pivotal role in shaping the state’s standards, assessment, and testing framework, establishing clear and ambitious quality measures for public schools statewide.

A licensed attorney, Borden began his career by providing legal and governance support to emerging school leaders. He holds a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University. Borden resides in Oakland, California, with his wife and son, where they embrace the vibrant culture and natural beauty of Northern California.