Manager, Development Research and Operations

Company Description

About the Organization 

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of tuition-free 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 279 schools, nearly 16,500 educators, and nearly 210,000 students and alumni.

Our mission: Together with families and communities, we 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 just world. 

Our vision: Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. 

The KIPP Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports KIPP public charter schools across the country. The KIPP Foundation helps to develop outstanding educators to lead KIPP schools; provides tools and resources for excellent teaching and learning; promotes innovation; and facilitates the exchange of insights and ideas across KIPP and other public schools and organizations. 

About Our Values: 

Excellent Results for Students: We value results over effort and know that our work is not finished until all students thrive. We maintain high expectations for self, team, and students. We drive outcomes by operating with agility, removing barriers, differentiating support, and prioritizing student-centered solutions—especially for those at the margins. 

Collective Impact: We are one team. We win together. We embody a one-team mindset by working collaboratively across teams, aligning goals, and leveraging the strengths of all teammates. We build trust-based relationships and ensure inclusive decision-making by engaging those closest to the work. We provide clarity through simple, repeatable systems and goals that enable transformational outcomes. 

Courageous Action: Our belief in what we can achieve is unwavering, fueling our optimism and commitment to overcome any challenge. We demonstrate an unwavering belief in students' potential and a commitment to addressing systemic inequities. We approach challenges with resilience, a solutions-focused mindset, and adaptability. We foster a psychologically safe environment centered on trust and accountability where feedback is encouraged. We leverage data to reflect on progress, own setbacks, celebrate successes, and continuously improve to maximize impact. 

Job Description

About The Position 

The KIPP Foundation raises funds to support tens of thousands of students from Black and Latinx communities coast-to-coast so they will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to live choice-filled lives. Expanding the set of champions invested in and engaged with KIPP, at the national and regional level, is critical to deliver our ambition. Reporting to the Senior Director, Development Operations, the Manager, Development Research and Operations will play an important role in fueling our plans and advancing educational opportunity. 

The Manager is responsible for identifying and researching potential individual and institutional donors to invest in KIPP at the national and regional levels. They will also manage data surfaced through research, annual campaigns at the Friends Donor Level (Up to $25,000), and other projects within Development Operations.  

Development Operations is a collaborative, service-oriented group within the Development team, focused on providing the front-line fundraisers with the data, analytics, reporting, research, systems, processes, and training needed to do their jobs effectively. 

Responsibilities 

Prospect Research 

• Conduct comprehensive fundraising research to identify individuals, corporations, and foundations with the capacity to make major and principal gifts to KIPP Foundation. Utilize various resources including internal and external databases, wealth screening tools, AI, and publicly available information to gather prospect data. 

• Work closely with the frontline fundraising team to align prospect research efforts with fundraising goals and priorities. As requested, provide support to fundraising staff in prospect identification and cultivation strategies. 

• Assist with meetings and events preparation, including creating well-written and researched profiles, event bios, and briefs that are provided to Foundation fundraisers and senior leadership. 

• Support fundraisers in tracking donor interactions, solicitations, and outcomes to measure portfolio progress. 

• Proactively suggest targeted wealth screening to