$11.2M+ awarded: 53 orgs tapped for first-ever tranche of Kauffman capacity building grants
November 11, 2024 | Startland News Staff
A new grantmaking strategy from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is manifesting through an inaugural round of funding to local and outside organizations whose work supports the priorities of college access and completion, workforce and career development, and entrepreneurship.
The Kauffman Foundation on Monday announced its first tranche of grants — totaling more than $11.2 million in support — since a massive overhaul within the influential Kansas City-based philanthropic organization.
Fifty-three groups are set to receive funding to strengthen their individual capacities, primarily focused on sound leadership, strong boards, professional development for staff, technology, evaluation, strategic planning, communications, and sustainability.
With 85 percent of grantees based in the Kansas City area and nearly one-third of them receiving Kauffman funding for the first time in five years, the grants — slated for organizations ranging from social ventures BikeWalkKC, Pawsperity and The Sewing Labs to more established groups like AltCap, Ennovation Center, Prospect Business Association and even Teach for America — are a testament to the Foundation’s dedication to equitable growth in the region, said Allison Greenwood-Bajracharya, chief impact and strategy officer for the Kauffman Foundation.
Allison Greenwood-Bajracharya, chief impact and strategy officer for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
“We heard loud and clear that grantees needed funds to grow their reach and achieve impact – and we responded,” she said. “This is just the first of many awards we are announcing, but we’re excited to offer a grant program that is so directly in response to a community request.”
Click here to view the full list of just-announced capacity building grant awardees.
Individual funding totals for organizations were not released. Funds are expected to be released in mid-December.
Capacity building grants are intended to support an organization’s focus on internal effectiveness and long-term stability. These one-time, short-term grants are awarded to charities that demonstrate a specific capacity gap and that are aligned with the Kauffman Foundation’s strategic priorities and focus areas.
Grantees demonstrated a specific capacity need and an ability to generate impact, according to the Kauffman Foundation. Examples of needs include: staffing, program enhancement, operating systems, IT planning and digital security, or communications and marketing.
The grantmaking strategy was informed by community feedback that was gathered through interviews, surveys, and meetings in late 2023 and early 2024.
From the archives: Here’s what we know about the revised funding priorities
Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace speaks during the Sept. 19 Spark event at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
Key elements of the new path forward: measuring progress, learning from the communities served regarding successes and failures, and adapting the Kauffman Foundation’s grantmaking approach to achieve the most impact in supporting our strategic priorities.
“Our communities know their challenges and opportunities best,” said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, president and CEO. “Our capacity building grants support well-positioned organizations to grow solutions they know work best. We’re excited to collaborate with these organizations in moving forward our commitment to make Kansas City a national model for equitable economic mobility. The work of these organizations will drive change in Kansas City for years to come.”
Among the just-announced successful grant applications, those targeting workforce and career development changes reflected the largest area of emphasis with 68 percent of grantees indicating it will be their primary focus area.
Another round of capacity building grants will become available in April 2025.
Applications for the Kauffman Foundation’s collective impact grants already have closed, but the windows for project grants and research grants remain open through Jan. 10.
Previously funded organizations that are not aligned with Kauffman Foundation’s new priorities may apply for sunset grants through March 31, 2025.
Featured Business
2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Humanizing text analysis, Stride marches to international growth
Computers can do a lot these days, but they can’t process feelings. After all, that’s what sets humans apart from machine — right? Not necessarily it seems, as one Kansas-City based artificial intelligence firm is challenging that notion with its text-analyzing tech that not only identifies subjects but also a writer’s sentiment. A graduate of…
Idle Smart earns $125K in national clean energy program
Idle Smart recently was dubbed a top clean-energy firm and won some substantial investment capital for its technology. Based in Kansas City, Kan., the company was voted by its peers as the top firm in the Energy: US 2016 program, nabbing $125,000 for its smart thermostat device for fleet vehicles, such as semi-trucks. The company’s…
With KC startup Edcoda, students learn as wizard saviors
Across the U.S., student engagement is declining. By the time students reach high school, 2 out of 3 them will become disengaged, according to Gallup’s 2015 figures. But one Kansas City-based startup is working to change that by making fun a top priority. Edtech startup Edcoda created the 3D, online role-playing game Coda Quest, which…
KCK opens up data portal for transparency, ‘public good’
In an effort to increase transparency and improve services, the City of Kansas City, Kan. is offering access to large swaths of public data via a portal that makes the information more digestible. Thanks to a new open data administrative order, KCK launched its new data portal Thursday for residents to see such information as…