Jaclyn Fierro
Jaclyn F. is an accomplished nonprofit leader and strategic fundraiser currently serving as the Managing Director of Development at KIPP Miami Public Schools. With over a decade of experience advancing equity-focused missions through philanthropy, grant writing, and community partnerships, Jaclyn brings both vision and execution to every initiative she leads. Her work has spanned national and international settings, including significant impact in Latin America, where she lived and worked on gender equity and social justice initiatives.
Prior to joining KIPP Miami, Jaclyn held leadership roles at LEARN Charter School Network and Erie Elementary Charter School, where she led high-performing development teams, secured transformative funding, and built lasting relationships with donors, foundations, and corporate partners. Known for her collaborative approach, she aligns fundraising strategy with organizational priorities to drive sustainable growth and increase student opportunity. Jaclyn is also bilingual, bringing cultural fluency to her work with diverse communities and stakeholders.
Jaclyn holds a graduate degree in International Relations from UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy and has completed executive education through Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Her values-driven leadership is grounded in the belief that lasting change is possible when people work together toward a shared vision of justice, access, and opportunity. She is passionate about mentoring emerging leaders and cultivating philanthropic ecosystems that center impact and inclusion.
• Honored Listee
• Northwestern University
• UC San Diego
• UC Santa Barbara
• Deans Honor List 2014
What do you attribute your success to?
For me success means that my work is aligned with my life's purpose and would enable me to buy a house to raise a family. Pursing education, leadership through authenticity, and ensuring I also have time and space my hobbies have been the key factors to where I am today. Ultimately I put in a lot of hard work, educated myself in and out of the classroom and refused to settle for the ordinary in all aspects of my life.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I once had a colleague in recruiting stress to me the importance of negotiation when getting hired. You may not have much wiggle room for negotiating a lot in jobs but you can and should always negotiate your salary - do not accept the first offer. I think women and people of color miss a lot of opportunities because they don't know that they can ask for more and should.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
First, take your education into your own hands. Fundraising has a lot of best practices and those best practices back sound strategies - so if something isn't working go back to the basics, identify the status, the goal and pivot to play the long game. Second, people can sense your authenticity and that goes a lot further than you realize. Be true to yourself and come to work with an attitude that holds the expectation of being your true self. We spend so much time in the workplace and we are responsible for creating open and honest relationships with colleagues, supporters and new folks. Third, keep your eye on the goal and get creative. Strategies should align from what the current status is and be clear on how it will get you to the goal - don't be afraid to think outside the box and learn to differentiate strategies for different audiences and their motivations.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I have this sense that people today are looking for community, are looking to feel connected and our society is craving opportunities to get to know people outside their normal social circles. I think that there is a lot of opportunity to bring like minded people from lots of different life experiences together to have a much larger impact on our communities and societies across the cultural and socio-economic spectrum.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I have done a few different values exercises as part of my personal and leadership development. I find that several values that resonate deeply with me. ( 1 ) integrity (2) authenticity (3) growth & solution mindset
Locations
KIPP Miami
3000 Northwest 110th Street, Miami, FL, 33167