The RP Group

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.

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

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

• Higher education research
• Institutional effectiveness services
• Professional development programs
• Community college consulting
• Survey solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

San Rafael

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Student Senate for California Community CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTRM3sAuTLPAvcJESdl1JQQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheRPGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-rp-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/the.rpgroup
• Xx.com/TheRPGroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The RP Group