Kauffman Foundation revises funding priorities to three key areas, sharing first public details of its new strategic focus
April 30, 2024 | Startland News Staff
A refreshed vision for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation aims to make Kansas City a national model for equitable economic mobility, dismantling systemic barriers and setting generations of historically under-resourced communities on the path to prosperity, according to just-released details from the influential organization.
Updates to the Kauffman Foundation’s strategy come after the summer 2023 arrival of Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, president and CEO; a slew of leadership changes; and interviews with hundreds of the foundation’s grantees and internal stakeholders, as well as civic leaders.
The goal: re-center the Kauffman Foundation’s future around the intent of its namesake, the iconic Kansas City entrepreneur Ewing Kauffman.
“True community planning is a collaborative effort, where the steps are guided by the rhythm of the community input, ensuring that each detail reflects the shared goals and challenges of the entire community,” said Burns-Wallace. “By using our collective wisdom, we can advance our shared commitments to inclusivity and sustainable progress.”
Unveiling the Kauffman Foundation’s “Vision for 2035 and Refreshed Strategic Plan,” the organization’s future work will focus on fostering greater community transformation through:
- College access and completion — equitable opportunities for all
- Workforce and career development — at every stage
- Entrepreneurship — supporting and sustaining business ownership
New grant funding from the organization has been paused amid the restructuring of the Kauffman Foundation and its strategic plan.
[Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom.]
The Foundation is expected to share more about partnership and funding opportunities — including specific types of initiatives and approaches helping to drive economic prosperity — in early fall 2024.
Click here to learn more about the Kauffman Foundation’s new strategy and goals.
“Kauffman should and can be a convener; we need a really powerful champion,” said Nia Richardson, managing director of KC BizCare, as part of the community input portion of the Foundation’s process. “Kauffman has power to put pressure on these larger organizations to share the wealth.”
More than 50 national foundations, partners and Kansas City-based organizations were interviewed in individual and group listening sessions through the Foundation’s initiative to gather such insights about its potential place in the community.
“We heard their desires, needs and hopes for the Foundation’s role and designed our plan with their input,” the Kauffman Foundation said in a news release.
“For Kansas City to thrive, we must focus on economic development that doesn’t just create opportunities but makes them accessible to all – ensuring that prosperity is shared by everyone in our community,” said Tracey Lewis, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, a key organization providing input as part of the refocused strategy.
“We’ll achieve this by collaborating among agencies, developing deliberate policies and inclusive strategies to uplift historically marginalized voices and addressing systemic barriers to prosperity,” he continued.
Click here to learn more about the legacy of Ewing Kauffman.
Featured Business
2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Latest Digital Sandbox startups: Connecting solutions on climate change, supply chain, child therapy and voter education
Four new companies welcomed this week into the fold at Digital Sandbox KC help showcase the ongoing success of the 6-year-old proof-of-concept program, said Jeff Shackelford. “We’ve now provided project development funding for 118 area startups, and this group has raised over $70 million in add-on investment and created nearly 700 new area jobs,” said…
Q&A: Founder Jy Maze on the industry that runs the world (and delivers the toilet paper)
Everything has to ship, said Jy Maze. From the microphone in her hand to the stool where she sat to the shoes on the Maze Freight Solutions founder’s feet, it all comes with mileage and a cost, she said. Her woman-owned, Overland Park-based, third-party freight logistics startup itself was packed in 2017 when Maze decided…
AI smart sensor startup Particle Space earns ‘Top 50 Tech Companies’ distinction
A virtually hardware-free property and building management platform from Particle Space earned the Kansas City-based startup high honors this month at Intercon in Las Vegas. “The future is bright, all buildings will communicate every interworking detail,” said David Biga, founder of Particle Space, which uses artificial intelligence and smart sensors for its residential and commercial…
Got ideas for real-world events? Global Entrepreneurship Week accepting 2019 submissions
A weeklong event elevating the doers, dreamers and makers at the heartbeat of Kansas City small business needs the community’s help, Jenny Miller said. Organizers of Global Entrepreneurship Week — set for Nov. 18-22 in Kansas City — are now accepting event submissions for this year’s celebration, said Miller, network builder at KCSourceLink and chair of…