KIPP Foundation

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
943362724
IRS 990 coverage
2009–2024
Official website data refreshed
Sep 2026
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Chicago, IL, US
Phone
312-291-0838
Rating
85
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Education N.E.C.

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$145,514,165
Expenses
$107,251,535
Assets
$181,579,072
Liabilities
$28,296,497

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

24 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • SHAVAR JEFFRIES (CEO AND BOARD MEMBER)
  • KINNARI PATEL-SMYTH (PRESIDENT)
  • SHAKIRA PETIT (CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE CEO)

Highest reported compensation

  • SHAVAR JEFFRIES (CEO AND BOARD MEMBER): $917,921 total reported compensation
  • KINNARI PATEL-SMYTH (PRESIDENT): $478,606 total reported compensation
  • JAMES MANLY (CHIEF SCHOOLS OFFICER): $478,043 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

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 just world.

What it reported doing in 2024

One kipp: the foundation partners with kipp schools & regions to deliver joyful, academically excellent education by building systems that promote equity, establish healthy school culture, and support teachers in expanding content knowledge and culturally responsive pedagogy.the foundation provides kipp schools & regions with:- curriculum, assessment, and instructional resources with implementation support;- regional superintendent coaching and support;- professional development, training, and shared tools for executive directors and school leaders;- strengthened college counseling and alumni advising to prepare graduates for their chosen educational and career paths;- national initiatives supporting local kipp forward programs, including: - alumni support on college campuses;- career exposure and exploration opportunities;- college partnerships.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 85% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Hybrid. The nonprofit split its reported program spending across 59% for direct work, and 41% for grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown and reported officer compensation is a large share of total spending, which may reflect staffing concentration.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 81
  • Transparency & Controls: 87
  • Accountability: 92
  • Sustainability: 71
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 71.6%; rating input score 72
  • Program expense ratio: 96.1%; rating input score 96
  • Fundraising efficiency: $70.74 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Pass
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 85.7%; rating input score 86; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 26.3%; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.69; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.16; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 4.4%; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 5.5% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 7% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 8.7% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • What they do: 4 programs and campaigns described on the official site · 1 operating location identified
  • Where the money goes: 71.6% of revenue deployed · 96.1% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 12 of 14 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $103.1M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $918K · 24 people listed · 4 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 5 contractors listed · $10.7M reported
  • Consistency: 36 of 36 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 7 filed schedules · includes major donors, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 16 filing years from 2009 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 39 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 28 filed related-organization links
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Review — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 58/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 21/100.