Bringing projects to scale is in the Fisher family’s DNA. Co-founders of the Gap retail chain, Don and Doris Fisher knew how to take a seed and make it grow. So, when it came to their philanthropy, they went looking for another great idea they could help cultivate and scale.
They found that idea in the form of KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program), which in 2000 was made up of a couple of charter schools that were getting great results and looking to expand. At the time, it felt like a risky proposition—even for a family of risk-takers. Indeed, in their first meeting, KIPP co-founder Dave Levin admitted to Don that he had “no idea” if they could succeed with their proposed program. A dozen years and 107 more schools later, the risk has paid off many times over.
Though Don passed away in 2009, Doris and her son John, who now leads the KIPP Foundation board, have stayed heavily involved and committed to KIPP’s growth. And while its brand name is unparalleled and the expansion figures are impressive, John emphasizes that success is proven one school at a time. Both Doris and John look forward to the daily joys of working with KIPP, and both believe their involvement with this transformative organization has allowed them the opportunity to engage meaningfully in the broader education reform movement.
More Remarkable GiversDoris and John Fisher's Videos
- Advice to couples: Doris Fisher advises new philanthropist couples to work together
- Best part: John Fisher likes working with Mom
- Carrots and sticks: John Fisher values the pressure philanthropy can place on public schools
- "Critical to our success": The Fishers say it's having the right leadership at KIPP schools
- Daily brew: Doris Fisher takes KIPP with her morning coffee
- Do a few things really well: John Fisher explains his family’s focus on charter schools
- Doris and John Fisher compare scaling the Gap and KIPP
- Doris Fisher is in it for KIPP students
- Follow the leader: The Fishers see KIPP as a model for what’s possible in public education
- Getting them hooked: How Doris and Don Fisher got their children involved in philanthropy
- Give it a shot: John Fisher advocates for taking risks
- “Going to the Hill”: John Fisher says the trick to advocacy is, you can’t stop
- It works! John Fisher explains his family’s decision to stick with KIPP over the long-term
- John Fisher understands the challenges of U.S. education, but is motivated by its potential to improve
- Long line of sight: John Fisher expects to be working on education for the rest of his life
- More than writing checks: Like his father, John Fisher gives his time to the charter school movement
- People pipeline: Doris and John Fisher see the link between Teach for America and KIPP’s success
- Report card: Doris and John Fisher keep their eyes on KIPP’s numbers
- Right time: John Fisher sees an education revolution on the horizon
- Seeing is believing: Doris Fisher brings potential supporters to visit KIPP schools
- Simple math: John Fisher explains how public and private dollars add up to success
- The Fisher Fellowship: Doris and John Fisher invest heavily in future leaders of KIPP schools
- The most important thing to give: John Fisher advises new philanthropists to lend their time
- The next big thing: Don and Doris Fisher went looking for their next scalable project—and found KIPP
- Think big, act small: John Fisher says success is proven one school at a time
- What makes a KIPP school? Doris and John Fisher agree, it’s the leadership
