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.

What We Do Every Day

Insights

  • Benno C. Schmidt, Jr.

    On May 4, 2012, Benno Schmidt, interim president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation, delivered the commencement address to the Henry W. Bloch School Management at the University of Missouri—Kansas City. He offered brief words of wisdom based on his life experiences.

The Kauffman Foundation 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