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Thirty-seven local and regional organizations receive Capacity Building grants to strengthen community impact

Capacity Building grantees

Grants support nonprofits advancing college access, workforce development, and entrepreneurship.

Thirty-seven nonprofit organizations have been selected to receive Capacity Building grants aimed at strengthening their internal operations and long-term sustainability. These nonprofits, most of which are based in the Kansas City area, are advancing economic mobility through programs focused on college access and completion, workforce and career development, and entrepreneurship.

The grants will support specific capacity needs such as leadership development, staff training, information technology (IT) infrastructure, evaluation, communications, strategic planning, and more. Each grantee identified a targeted area for growth that will enhance their ability to serve communities more effectively and sustainably.

Capacity building isn’t a one-size-fits-all; it’s a continuous process of trust, iteration, and responsiveness. We’re learning from organizations on the ground and working to remove barriers so they can focus on driving change in their communities.

— Allison Greenwood Bajracharya, Chief Impact & Strategy Officer, Kauffman Foundation

This is the second round of Capacity Building grants awarded under a refreshed philanthropic strategy launched in 2024. That strategy was informed by community feedback through surveys, interviews, and listening sessions as well as learnings from the first round of applicants.

Among the latest grantees:

  • 43% are focused on workforce and career development
  • 38% are advancing entrepreneurship
  • 11% are working to expand college access and completion
  • 8% are pursuing systems-level or intersectional impact aligned with Foundation strategies

Nearly one-third of these organizations are receiving funding from the Kauffman Foundation for the first time in five years or more. In total, $8.5 million is being distributed in this round of Capacity Building grants.

Feedback from applicants helped shape this grant process, and we’re grateful for their insight. These investments reflect a shared vision for a more resilient, inclusive ecosystem that supports economic opportunity for all.

— Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, President & CEO, Kauffman Foundation

Applications for a third round of Capacity Building grants are expected to open in late summer 2025. The Foundation will continue to assess progress, gather community feedback, and refine its approach to maximize impact in alignment with its strategic priorities.

Media inquiries can be directed to Lauren Aleshire via our media contact form or by calling (816) 932-1105.

Meet the Capacity Building grantees

Organizations & Descriptions

2Gether-International, Inc.

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal to strengthen capacity for an organization seeking to help more people in the disabled community in KC launch and grow technology or innovation-led businesses.

Alliance for Decision Education, Inc.

Support for a college access and completion proposal to enhance programming, collaboration, and evaluation to scale a skill-building program in Kansas City Public Schools focused on college and career decision-making.

Association of Missouri Charter Schools

Support for a college access and completion proposal to continue and expand the McKinney Vento Collaboration’s support of families facing houselessness to increase student attendance and success in regional public charter schools.

Black Excellence

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to strengthen organizational capacity to provide leadership training to working professionals and entrepreneurs.

Catholic Charities of Kansas City – St. Joseph, Inc.

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to enhance information technology systems, invest in staff development and training, and strengthen a workforce development program.

Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, Inc.

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to build capacity of an organization offering and enhancing services designed to strengthen individuals and families through a holistic approach to education and employment.

Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City Foundation

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal to help small businesses prepare for the increase in economic activity with translation to support and culture awareness training in the lead up to and through FIFA World Cup 2026.

City of Kansas City, Missouri

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal to implement a public/private partnership, Project Vine, providing small businesses and artists with technical assistance and short-term commercial leases in advance of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

City of Kansas City, Missouri

Support for a proposal to increase the capacity of their nonprofit Empowerment Grant awardees and to improve the implementation of their grantees’ activities.

Civic Council of Greater Kansas City

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to conduct financial and strategic planning and coordinate an industry-led regional strategy that will include Talent Pipeline Management framework training.

Community Builders of Kansas City

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal to develop and expand staff and to invest in succession planning, so that the organization can continue to provide entrepreneurship and capital access programs.

Community Capital Fund

Support to build capacity for staffing and communications and marketing related to entrepreneurship.

Community Initiatives

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal for Entrepreneurship Funders Network to build marketing and communications capacity, launch a network platform, and strengthen measurement systems for collaboration and engagement.

Community Services League of Jackson County

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to enhance their Bridges to Career Opportunities program by connecting program graduates to interviews, job fairs, and direct referrals to KC metro area employers.

Council on Foundations, Inc.

Support for an intermediary to engage in systems-level, field-building work within the philanthropic sector.

The Curators of the University of Missouri

Support for a capacity building intermediary proposal for the grantee’s Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership to increase career advancement for nonprofit employees in the Kansas City region.

Donnelly College

Support for a college access and completion proposal to build capacity for registered/practical nursing to Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program for low-income students.

Drumm Center for Children, Inc.

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to expand a workforce initiative for young people facing significant barriers due to unstable housing and assist them on their journey to self-sufficiency.

Educator Academy, Inc.

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to invest in its evaluation and data collection capacity to evaluate its impact and produce key learning outcomes.

Elevate Metro KC

Support for a college access and completion proposal to strengthen staff capacity and engage with an external research partner to evaluate programmatic outcomes with participating Center High School students.

Employee Ownership Expansion Network

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal to help MOCEO build capacity to expand employee ownership in the KC metro area by increasing KC-based staff and leadership, engaging in collaborative research, and implementing a CRM system.

Enterprise Center in Johnson County

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal for general operating funds for the Kansas City Women’s Business Center to continue delivering services to entrepreneurs in the Kansas City area.

Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

Capacity building support for an intermediary, the Black Community Fund, administering grants and providing technical assistance for grassroots nonprofits focused on economic mobility.

Greenline Foundation, Inc.

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal to strengthen capacity of an organization seeking to create a small business incubator on the east side of Kansas City, MO.

Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce Inc

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal to host entrepreneurship education classes to prepare economically disadvantaged KC metro businesses to compete for contracts related to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom Inc.

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to strengthen organizational operations to provide pro bono representation to low-wage workers seeking equitable treatment in their workplaces and homes.

Inner-City Computer Stars Foundation

Support for a workforce and career development proposal collaborating with the Center for Bioethics on learning pathways focused on ethical AI skills and a series of pilot initiatives strengthening support for non-traditional learners.

Jerusalem Farm

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to expand the Dignified Workforce Program, which trains low-income Northeast KC residents in basic home repair, providing EPA and OSHA certifications.

Jewish Vocational Service

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to strengthen capacity of an organization offering comprehensive employment services helping job seekers with skill assessment, barrier removal, job search, and placement.

Job One

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to invest in fundraising efforts, improve cybersecurity, and formalize governance structures to serve more individuals in the IDD community seeking job opportunities.

Kansas City Medical Society Foundation

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to strengthen a coalition that intends to increase the healthcare workforce in the Greater Kansas City Metro from low-income communities.

Kiva Microfunds

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal to deploy capital to underserved entrepreneurs, partnered with technical assistance.

Mid-America Arts Alliance

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal to expand facilitator development and conduct program research to understand and expand the impact of 16 years of programming of Artist INC, a cohort-based artist entrepreneur training program.

Reconciliation Services

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to increase internship opportunities, staff development, and HR planning for an organization providing services to reduce barriers and increase readiness for employment.

Union Station Kansas City, Inc.

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal to prepare Union Station to serve as a hub for FIFA World Cup 2026 visitors, including translation services, enhancing safety, and directing visitors to local small and mid-sized businesses.

WeCode KC

Support for a workforce and career development proposal to strengthen organizational capacity to provide technology training and career readiness skills for Kansas City youth.

West Central Community Development Corporation

Support for an entrepreneurship proposal to strengthen internal capacity to expand microenterprise lending to food and farm businesses across the Kansas City metro.

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