The RP Group
The RP Group is a nonprofit founded in 1992 that provides research, evaluation, professional development, and survey services to Institutional Research professionals across California's 116 community colleges, operating through conferences, academies, and grant-funded research.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersSan Rafael, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The RP Group does
The RP Group is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1992 and headquartered in San Rafael, California, that serves the 116 colleges of the California Community Colleges system. Its mission is to advance equitable student success through research, planning, and professional development targeted at Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness (IRPE) professionals working at those institutions. The organization operates as the de facto sector body for IRPE practitioners in California, providing research and evaluation services, capacity-building academies, leadership programs, and two flagship annual conferences.
The RP Group's product portfolio spans four categories: (1) consulting services including Research, Evaluation, and Capacity-Building engagements and the Community College Survey Solutions survey-facilitation service; (2) professional development programs such as Leading from the Middle, the IRPE Summer-to-Summer Institute, Capacity-Building Academies, and webinars/workshops; (3) major annual events including the RP Conference (April 15-17, 2026 in Garden Grove, CA) and the Strengthening Student Success Conference (October 7-9, 2026 in Garden Grove, CA); and (4) research initiatives including the Open for Antiracism (OFAR) project, Multiple Measures Assessment Project (MMAP), African American Transfer Tipping Point study, and Rural Transfer Study, all disseminated through a public Resource Library. The organization also offers an IRPE Onboarding Course delivered via Canvas LMS.
The RP Group is not a technology company; it has no app, API, or software platform. Its core capabilities are research methodology, survey design and administration, data analysis, and professional development programming. The organization employs 11-50 staff and is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Erik Cooper and Vice President (Board Development) Jake Kevari. Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring membership fees for IRPE professionals and institutions, sponsored work and grants (including a disclosed $405,000 grant from ECMC Foundation in December 2024), and professional development event revenue. Geographic scope is restricted to California.
The RP Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The RP Group
- Legal name
- The RP Group Inc.
- Website
- https://rpgroup.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The RP Group is a nonprofit founded in 1992 that provides research, evaluation, professional development, and survey services to Institutional Research professionals across California's 116 community colleges, operating through conferences, academies, and grant-funded research.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The RP Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Research and Professional Development Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Research, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Partnerships (EDADALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI)
Keywords
Where The RP Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Rafael
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The RP Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: The organization operates a membership program that provides IRPE peers with relationships and resources to support day-to-day research and planning needs.
- Sponsored Work and Grants: The organization generates revenue through sponsored work and grants to conduct research, evaluation, and capacity-building projects for California community colleges and other educational institutions.
- Professional Development Services: Revenue generated from professional development events, workshops, academies, and conferences including the RP Conference, Strengthening Student Success Conference, Leading from the Middle, and IRPE Summer-to-Summer Institute.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
The RP Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The RP Group provides research, evaluation, and capacity-building consulting services to California community colleges, alongside survey facilitation through Community College Survey Solutions and a suite of professional development programs and conferences (RP Conference, Strengthening Student Success Conference, Leading from the Middle, IRPE Summer-to-Summer Institute, Capacity-Building Academies, webinars/workshops) for institutional research, planning, and effectiveness (IRPE) professionals. The organization also offers the IRPE Onboarding Course delivered through Canvas LMS and disseminates research reports and resources focused on student success, equity, transfer, and Guided Pathways.
Product overview
The RP Group is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of professional development and research services for California community colleges. The core offerings include Research, Evaluation, and Capacity-Building consulting services, Community College Survey Solutions, and the IRPE Onboarding Course delivered via Canvas. The organization also delivers multiple annual conferences (RP Conference, Strengthening Student Success Conference) and professional development programs (Leading from the Middle, IRPE Summer-to-Summer Institute, Capacity-Building Academies, Webinars/Workshops). Research outputs are disseminated through a Resource Library containing reports, briefs, and infographics. Major research initiatives include the Open for Antiracism Project, Multiple Measures Assessment Project (MMAP), African American Transfer Tipping Point study, and Rural Transfer Study. The organization does not offer a technology product or software platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IRPE (Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness): A professional community and focus area for IRPE practitioners in California community colleges
- Through the Gate
- Open for Antiracism (OFAR)
- Community College Survey Solutions
Products and services
- Research, Evaluation, and Capacity-Building Consulting and support services helping California community college institutions conduct research, perform evaluation, and build internal capacity for data-driven decision making and equitable student success initiatives.
- Community College Survey Solutions Survey facilitation services providing community college-centric surveys to support institutional action planning and assessment.
- IRPE Onboarding Course An onboarding course delivered through Canvas LMS that introduces new Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness (IRPE) professionals to core concepts and practices.
- RP Conference Annual professional development conference for institutional research, planning, and effectiveness professionals in the California Community College system.
- Strengthening Student Success Conference Annual conference bringing together California community college professionals to explore strategies for improving equitable outcomes, strengthening institutional effectiveness, and building leadership capacity.
- Leading from the Middle Leadership development program designed to cultivate middle leadership skills among California community college professionals.
- IRPE Summer-to-Summer Institute Intensive summer professional development institute for Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness professionals in the California community college system.
- Capacity-Building Academies Structured professional development programs designed to build institutional research and planning capacity among community college practitioners.
- Webinars and Workshops Shorter-format professional development offerings including webinars and workshops on topics relevant to community college research, planning, and effectiveness.
- Resource Library Digital library of research reports, briefs, infographics, and other resources on topics including student success, equity, transfer, guided pathways, and institutional effectiveness.
Quantifiable outcome
- Research reports and briefs on corequisite support showing impact on transfer-level English and math completion for students with low placement profiles
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The RP Group
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The RP Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The RP Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Student Senate for California Community CollegescoreThe RP Group developed the 'Students: Taking Charge of Your Transfer Success' resource in partnership with the Student Senate for California Community Colleges. This partnership leverages student voice to inform research and resources for transfer capacity-building.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The RP Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The RP Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe RP Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The RP Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The RP Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The RP Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The RP Group
What does The RP Group do?
The RP Group provides research, evaluation, and capacity-building consulting services to California community colleges, alongside survey facilitation through Community College Survey Solutions and a suite of professional development programs and conferences (RP Conference, Strengthening Student Success Conference, Leading from the Middle, IRPE Summer-to-Summer Institute, Capacity-Building Academies, webinars/workshops) for institutional research, planning, and effectiveness (IRPE) professionals. The organization also offers the IRPE Onboarding Course delivered through Canvas LMS and disseminates research reports and resources focused on student success, equity, transfer, and Guided Pathways.
Is The RP Group a public or private company?
The RP Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The RP Group founded?
The RP Group was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The RP Group based?
The RP Group is headquartered in San Rafael, United States, in the North America region.
How does The RP Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are sponsored Work and Grants and professional Development Services.
Does The RP Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The RP Group.
What industry is The RP Group in?
The RP Group's product category is Higher Education Research and Professional Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADALAK, Research, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Partnerships, with a secondary code of EDALAOAI, Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships. Its NAICS code is 54172 and its SIC code is 8600.