CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

SEARCH FOR THE

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

KIPP FOUNDATION

Remote, with the ability to travel

“No organization is better suited to demonstrate how the country – across diverse communities, regions, and political environments – can deliver educational excellence and equity in the midst of the daunting challenges we now face. It will not be easy; fighting the injustice of intergenerational poverty never is. But, together, as a KIPP network of schools, we will deliver on the boundless potential of our children and, in doing so, change the nation and our world.”

– Shavar Jeffries, CEO

THE SEARCH

The KIPP Foundation, which supports a national network of KIPP Public Schools dedicated to preparing students in educationally underserved communities, seeks an experienced, creative, and aspirational Chief Development Officer (CDO) to join the Foundation during an exciting moment of transformational growth. Guided by the new leadership of CEO Shavar Jeffries, the CDO serves as a key member of the senior leadership team that sets strategic direction for the KIPP Foundation as the organization embarks on an ambitious strategic plan to significantly influence K-12 student success and outcomes. This is a unique leadership opportunity for an innovative development professional to partner with Jeffries at the outset of his tenure, together defining strategies to enhance the fundraising capacity of the KIPP Foundation and maximizing its ability to provide KIPP schools with the resources to ensure more students across the country receive the high-quality education they deserve.

The KIPP Foundation trains and develops outstanding educators to lead KIPP Public Schools, a network of 280 schools across 27 regions educating more than 120,000 students, the majority from low-income communities, and preparing them for success in college and life. KIPP schools are part of the free public school system and enrollment is open to all students. Founded in 1994 as a middle school program, KIPP has since expanded to enroll students at all grade levels from PreK through high school. Nationwide, KIPP students complete their bachelor’s degree at three times higher rates than the average for students from low-income communities.

A vital leadership role within the KIPP Foundation, the CDO joins as the organization unveils a bold strategic vision to become the best K-12 system in the country, centered on KIPP’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence and grounded in joy and identity affirmation. Early in its inception and dissemination across the network, the “One KIPP” vision aspires to achieve life-changing outcomes by moving toward a more unified, aligned network that sets a standard for excellence across the school experience; defines a core set of practices; encourages moving together with shared ownership; outlines the measures that matter most; and keeps one another accountable to deliver on shared progress. Critical to success in achieving these long-term objectives is a best-in-class development enterprise that champions “One KIPP” and maximizes the philanthropic growth opportunities this new vision presents. To that end, the CDO has a unique opportunity to reimagine the KIPP Foundation’s potential for fundraising and engagement, thereby playing a critical role in realizing organizational vision.

Reporting directly to the KIPP Foundation’s CEO, the CDO will oversee all areas of fundraising and engagement including major, principal, annual, and institutional giving; donor engagement and alumni impact; development communications; and development operations. By aspiring to new levels of excellence and possibility, the CDO must build upon the existing program to continuously improve and evolve the development function into a philanthropic enterprise of unsurpassed effectiveness through the implementation of creative fundraising tactics; innovative engagement strategies; robust donor pipeline development, including the diversification of funding sources; clear and achievable goals; and data-informed decision making. The CDO will also demonstrate success in personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gifts from individuals and foundations, as well as the ability to guide and support senior leaders in their own fundraising efforts, serving as an advisor and co-strategist for soliciting transformational gifts.

The ideal candidate must have a minimum of 10 years of proven development leadership experience, preferably in an organization with a federated model and of a similar complexity to that of the KIPP network. As a leader and manager, the CDO will promote a culture of excellence, collaboration, and professional growth and set clear direction, priorities, and measurable goals for the development team. The CDO will also provide the highest level of support to the KIPP Board of Directors and its Development Committee, with an emphasis on continuously cultivating and stewarding the philanthropic generosity of the Board and assisting the CEO in the identification and recruitment of new Board members. With superior written and oral communication skills, the CDO will demonstrate the ability to champion the impact, priorities, and vision of the KIPP Foundation, adopting the Foundation’s message and voice, and translating it to diverse audiences. To this end, the CDO must also demonstrate an ability to fully immerse themselves in the life of the KIPP Foundation in order to effectively serve as a chief spokesperson to prospective and existing donors. Attention to detail; a sense of humor; an appreciation for candor and the fluid exchange of feedback; and, most importantly, a deep connection to and passion for the KIPP Foundation’s mission are critical to success.

To Apply

Jack Gorman is leading this search with Nicole Poe and Sandeep Kaur. For more information, to submit a nomination, or to apply for this role, please visit:

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/kipp-foundation/chief-development-officer

The KIPP Foundation provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer, the KIPP Foundation hires without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.