The Foundation

Leading Through Leverage

The Kauffman Foundation is often referred to as one of the largest foundations in the United States—or as the world's largest foundation devoted to entrepreneurship. Both are true, thanks to Ewing Kauffman's generosity and foresight. However, these "largest" factoids may give the false impression that we can influence society just by virtue of our size or spending power.

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Carl Schramm, president and CEO

Insights

  • Schramm UI thumbnailIn his commencement address to the University of Illinios Urbana-Champaign, Kauffman Foundation CEO and President Carl Schramm told graduates: "We need an army of the smartest, most passionate young people to try their hand at building a business–people who will take their heads and their hearts into the market, founding companies that will bring forth new products and services that will help humankind."

The Kauffman Conference Center

  • The Kauffman Conference Center is a nationally recognized convening site. The Center attracts local to international thought leaders and decision makers to an atmosphere of candor and purpose, where innovative thinking and dialogue lead to action.


Our Founder Ewing Kauffman

  • Ewing_Kauffman

    Born on a farm in Garden City, Missouri, Ewing Kauffman's entrepreneurial spirit led him to found a pharmaceutical company that grew into a global giant with nearly $1 billion in sales and employing 3,400.


    Read Ewing Kauffman's story and hear his own words