Chief Advancement Officer

Company Description

KIPP Texas Public Schools is a network of 54 public charter, open-enrollment, pre-k-12 schools educating nearly 32,000 students across Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Together with families and communities, our mission is to create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose - college, career, and beyond - so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more fair world.

Founded in Houston in 1994 and operating as KIPP Texas since 2018, we are looking to hire a team of dynamic, collaborative, and dedicated individuals with an unyielding belief that every child will succeed. Join a Team and Family with an unwavering commitment to creating classrooms, offices, and communities rooted in belongingness, academic success and joy. If you are passionate about joining a mission and values-driven community who wants every child to want to run to school, the KIPP Texas Team and Family is for you!

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of public charter schools that prepares students with the skills and confidence to create the future they want for themselves, their communities, and us all. We are a network of 278 schools with nearly 16,500 educators and 190,000 students and alumni.

Job Description

About the Role

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) is a strategic executive leader responsible for overseeing all aspects of KIPP Texas’s advancement efforts, including fundraising, advocacy, community partnerships, marketing, communications, and regional boards. As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CAO plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the organization’s long-term vision, ensuring that KIPP Texas remains financially sustainable, well-positioned in the education landscape, and deeply engaged with external stakeholders. Additionally, the CAO will oversee marketing and communications efforts including brand management, digital marketing, crisis media, and internal communications. 

This leader will drive strategic advancement initiatives that align with KIPP Texas’s mission and multi-year strategic plan, while fostering a strong internal culture of collaboration and accountability. The CAO will be a key external representative of the organization, strengthening relationships with donors, policymakers, community leaders, and the broader KIPP Texas network. Additionally, the CAO will mobilize community leaders, including regional boards of directors, to provide strategic counsel to advance the organization’s goals.

The CAO will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and oversee a team of senior leaders across development, advocacy, community partnerships, communications and marketing, ensuring that these teams work in concert to elevate KIPP Texas’s impact and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership 

• Serve as a member of KIPP Texas’ executive leadership team (Team Texas) and collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer and other Chiefs to advance the mission of KIPP Texas.

• Collaborate with Team Texas to oversee day to day organizational operations, ensuring fiscal sustainability, efficiency and excellence.

• Identify strategic opportunities and risks, and partner with the Chief Executive Officer and Team Texas to develop organizational wide solutions.

• Assist in planning and implementing organizational change management initiatives.

• Attend and participate in internal and external meetings related to KIPP Texas Public Schools

• Serve as a key thought partner to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team and provide expertise on fundraising, external positioning, community relations, communications and marketing.

• Provide high-level insights and recommendations on fundraising, advocacy, community partnerships and regional boards.

• Engage with the state and regional  Boards of Directors to provide updates on advancement initiatives and mobilize board members in fundraising, community partnerships, and advocacy efforts.

• Foster strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including donors, policymakers, community leaders, and partner organizations.

• Represent KIPP Texas at public events, industry conferences, and high-profile meetings to elevate the organization’s brand and impact.

Oversee the Advancement Division

• Establish a vision, direction, and strategy for the advancement division, comprising fundraising, community partnerships, advocacy, marketing and communications.

• Manage a team of senior leaders overseeing fundraising, community partnerships, advocacy, and marketing and communications departments.

• Establish key performance metrics, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement a