The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri at 4801 Rockhill Road. Established in 1966 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on expanding access to opportunity through grantmaking and direct operating programs. The foundation's work is grounded in the founder's commitment to Kansas City and his aspirations for the community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$95.0M
+4.5% YoY
Grant Count
364
-9.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$261K
+16.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to help individuals attain economic independence by advancing educational achievement and entrepreneurial success. The foundation identifies opportunities where its people, ideas, and capital can benefit society in significant and measurable ways, develops innovative research-based programs leading to practical sustainable solutions, treats the Kansas City region as a program incubator where new approaches can be tested before national dissemination, and partners with others to leverage resources while avoiding dependency.
The foundation's work is grounded in principles of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Strategic Priorities:
- College access and completion
- Workforce and career development
- Entrepreneurship
Focus Areas:
- Education
- Research & Innovation
- Economic Development
Grantmaking
The foundation's grantmaking philosophy is shaped by research, community-informed feedback, and the founder's legacy. It operates within a four-pillar framework of proximity to community, getting uncomfortable, achieving impact, and creating hope.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation works in Kansas City, the surrounding states of Missouri and Kansas, and shares learnings nationally. Primary grantmaking focuses on Missouri, Kansas, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- $2.45 billion (2024)
- $2.737 billion (2022)
- $1.795 billion (2013)
Annual Giving & Revenue:
- Total revenues: $196.86 million (2024)
- Annual giving: $125.128 million (2022)
- 2024 revenue: $197 million
Expenses:
- Total expenses: $154.53 million (2024)
- 2024 expenses: $155 million
Staffing:
- Approximately 100-103 employees (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: Sponsorship Grant
EWING MARION KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION
Amount
US $1,000 - US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Kauffman Foundation: Capacity Building Grant
EWING MARION KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION
Amount
US $100,000 - US $250,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Kauffman Foundation: Collective Impact Grant - Planning
EWING MARION KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $500,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Great Jobs Kc ($20,475,583), Great Jobs Kc ($9,634,064), School Smart Kc Inc ($5,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GREAT JOBS KC KANSAS CITY, MO | SUPPORT FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, FINANCIAL INCENTIVES AND SERVICES TO PROMOTE COLLEGE SAVINGS FOR LOW- AND MODEST-INCOME STUDENTS AND ADULTS NEEDING SUPPORT TO PURSUE AND COMPLETE A POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIAL OR DEGREE. 201607-0836 | $9,634,064 |
| SCHOOL SMART KC INC KANSAS CITY, MO | PROVIDE SUPPORT TO CLOSE THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE GAP BETWEEN STUDENTS ATTENDING DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOLS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL DISTRICTS IN MISSOURI. 202206-12579 | $5,000,000 |
| THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA, MO | SUPPORT FOR NEW AND EXISTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION AND RESOURCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY. 202204-12330 | $2,600,000 |
| REAL WORLD INITIATIVES KANSAS CITY, MO | SUPPORT TO INCREASE REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS FACING BARRIERS RELATED TO INCOME, AND GEOGRAPHY, AND TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE 2025 PROX SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. 202410-17317 | $2,000,000 |
| COOPERATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF GREATER KANSAS CITY FOUNDATION INC KANSAS CITY, MO | SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EXECUTION OF STRATEGIES TO CONTINUE GROWING REGIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS' USE OF PERSONALIZED, COMPETENCY-BASED CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. 202401-14668 | $700,125 |
| MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL KANSAS CITY, MO | SUPPORT FOR A LOCAL FUNDING MATCH TO LEVERAGE $4.7 MILLION IN FEDERAL US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FUNDING TO SUPPORT A NETWORK OF AT LEAST 25 NONPROFITS TO BUILD CAPACITY TO REDUCE OPERATING EXPENSES VIA ENERGY CONSERVATION. 202312-14616 | $150,000 |
| KANSAS CITY STARTUP FOUNDATION KANSAS CITY, MO | SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP CURRICULUM FOR CLASSROOM EDUCATORS. 202404-14988 | $90,000 |
| CENTRAL AVENUE BETTERMENT ASSOCIATION KANSAS CITY, KS | SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING BY IMPLEMENTING A SYSTEM TO TRACK FUNDRAISING, COMMUNICATIONS, PROGRAMMING AND VOLUNTEERS. 202205-12454 | $112,500 |
| RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK ALBANY, NY | SUPPORT FOR COMPARATIVE COMMUNITY AND ACTION-BASED RESEARCH THAT WILL EXPLORE HOW SOCIAL NETWORKS AND LEVELS OF DEMOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY AFFECT RETENTION, AND OUTCOMES FOR, MARGINALIZED ENTREPRENEURS IN TWO UNIVERSITY TOWNS. 202304-13765 | $64,127 |
| EWING MARION KAUFFMAN SCHOOL INC KANSAS CITY, MO | SUPPORT FOR THE KAUFFMAN SCHOOL'S CONTINUED OPERATIONS AND LEASE DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR TO MANAGE AND OPERATE A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS LEADING TO POSTSECONDARY PATHWAYS AND GOOD JOBS. 202405-15041 | $4,646,698 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace serves as President and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation.
Kristin Bechard is listed as a key contact for the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRISTIN BECHARD | TREASURER | 40 | $412,700 |
| MARY SUSAN CHAMBERS | TRUSTEE | 8 | $60,000 |
| MATT CONDON | TRUSTEE | 8 | $60,000 |
| KAREN DANIEL | TRUSTEE | 8 | $60,000 |
| ESTHER GEORGE | TRUSTEE, CHAIR | 12 | $100,000 |
| DEANGELA BURNS WALLACE | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $729,167 |
| CARLOS RANGEL | TRUSTEE | 8 | — |
| ANITA NEWTON | TRUSTEE | 8 | $60,000 |
| EARL MARTIN PHALEN | TRUSTEE | 8 | $60,000 |
| MIRIAM RIVERA | TRUSTEE | 8 | $15,000 |
| PAUL SCHOFER | TRUSTEE | 8 | $60,000 |
| JOHN E TYLER III | GENERAL COUNSEL & SECRETARY | 40 | $534,434 |
| CARMEN TAPIO | TRUSTEE | 8 | $60,000 |
| MAURICE WATSON | TRUSTEE | 8 | $60,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to help individuals attain economic independence by advancing educational achievement and entrepreneurial success. The foundation identifies opportunities where its people, ideas, and capital can benefit society in significant and measurable ways, develops innovative research-based programs leading to practical sustainable solutions, treats the Kansas City region as a program incubator where new approaches can be tested before national dissemination, and partners wit…
How do I apply for a grant from Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation?
The foundation's grantmaking philosophy is shaped by research, community-informed feedback, and the founder's legacy. It operates within a four-pillar framework of proximity to community, getting uncomfortable, achieving impact, and creating hope. **Grantmaking Approach:** • Committed to a focused, coherent, research-informed strategy • Seeks projects that ignite potential and drive uncommon results through bold innovation, collective impact, transparency, and accountability • Supports local, r…
Where does Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation make grants?
The foundation works in Kansas City, the surrounding states of Missouri and Kansas, and shares learnings nationally. Primary grantmaking focuses on Missouri, Kansas, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation award?
In 2024, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation awarded 364 grants totaling $95.0M — an average of about $261K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's EIN?
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6064859. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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