About
The KIPP Foundation is the national nonprofit that supports and oversees the KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) network of public charter schools, the largest public charter school network in America and among the top 20 largest school systems in the country. KIPP began more than 25 years ago as a college-prep program for fifth graders in Houston and today serves 120,000 students across 21 states and Washington, D.C. The Foundation is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, and is a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 94-3362724).
Mission
KIPP describes its work as proving what is possible when high expectations meet real support, operating joyful, academically excellent, college-preparatory public schools. The KIPP Foundation's role within the network is to set the bar of excellence for the network, build capacity to support that bar, and drive accountability, overseeing the growth, quality, and sustainability of the entire network of public charter schools.
What they do
- Supports a national network of KIPP public charter schools spanning early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school.
- Sets network-wide standards of excellence and drives accountability across KIPP regions and schools.
- Builds capacity across the network, including K-12 academic excellence and leadership development programs for educators.
- Publishes national results and independent reports on student outcomes.
History
The KIPP Foundation was established in 2000 by Doris and Donald Fisher, founders of the Gap, who provided philanthropic support to expand the model of the original KIPP schools, which started as a college-prep program for fifth graders in Houston.
Scale and impact
- 120,000 students enrolled across the U.S.
- More than 85,000 KIPP alumni nationwide.
- Schools in 21 states plus Washington, D.C.
- KIPP reports that its students are nearly three times as likely to earn a bachelor's degree as their peers.
Financials
Per ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for the fiscal year ending June 2025 the KIPP Foundation reported revenue of $145.5 million, expenses of $107.3 million, and net assets of $153.3 million. Contributions made up 92.5 percent of revenue, with program services providing 5.6 percent and investment income 1.2 percent. The IRS issued its tax exemption in November 2007 under EIN 94-3362724.
Governance
The KIPP Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors composed of field experts committed to educational equity, which provides guidance and oversight for the growth, quality, and sustainability of the KIPP network.