Allison Kupfer

Allison Kupfer leads a national search practice that spans philanthropy at all levels, direct service providers, and a range of nonprofits advancing solutions through policy, advocacy, evaluation and learning, and other innovative approaches to social change. She brings a particular interest in the talent dimensions of bringing evidence-based program models to scale, particularly with respect to issues of equity, access, and opportunity, and the use of technology and data to drive impact.  At NPAG, she leads strategic business development efforts, refinement of best practices and systems to support excellence in all aspects of our work, and internal talent development functions.

Allison began her career in policy evaluation as an analyst in the education practice of Abt Associates, a global research and evaluation firm, where she focused on measuring the effectiveness of early literacy interventions in low-income urban and rural settings across the United States.  Pursuing an interest in the role of leadership, in combination with what science tells us is effective in addressing systemic inequities, she began her career in search as a Senior Associate at Isaacson, Miller.  She was drawn to join NPAG in 2009 because of the firm’s commitment to serving a broader spectrum of organizations in a flexible and responsive way.

Allison received a B.A. in American Studies from Skidmore College and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has been active in local, statewide, and national political campaigns, with a particular interest in promoting increased representation of women, people of color, and a diversity of lived experience in the ranks of public service. She serves as treasurer of the board of directors for Island Readers & Writers, a nonprofit that provides innovative author and illustrator-driven programs designed to foster a love of reading and experiential learning among children in rural Maine, where she is based on the southern coast.