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Funding from the Kauffman Foundation aims to deepen understanding of wealth gaps

Research grants

More than $5.8 million in research funding will be disbursed during the next three years.

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has awarded eight research grants for projects aimed at catalyzing the research and data field and deepening understanding of how to close wealth gaps. The work of the grantees is aligned with the Foundation’s commitment to grow equitable economic mobility in Kansas City, regionally, and nationally.

We’re proud to support this cohort of researchers working on the urgent and complex challenge of expanding equitable economic mobility. This funding is an exciting opportunity to expand understanding of the forces driving wealth gaps, which are persistent and expanding locally and nationally.

Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, President and CEO, Kauffman Foundation

During the next three years, grantees will deliver high-impact research focused on increasing economic opportunity. For example, researchers will investigate how to improve access to occupational licensing in the Kansas City region, bring viable approaches to community wealth building from St. Louis to Kansas City, and broaden our understanding of how student debt affects entrepreneurship and innovation across the country.

“These research grants will generate knowledge on a deeper level of how wealth gaps are built and sustained, and what is required to dismantle them,” said Dr. Yvonne Owens Ferguson, chief research, learning, and evaluation officer at the Kauffman Foundation. “We are thrilled to support projects that will deliver powerful tools and insights to drive meaningful and lasting change.”

Across the portfolio, grantees will produce a range of high-impact deliverables, including interactive tools such as a scalable wealth gap simulation for Kansas City and a state-level visualization of the effects of opportunity hoarding. All projects will generate written products such as policy briefs and peer-reviewed articles, and will engage the public through presentations, podcasts, and convenings. Additionally, tailored workshops will bring insights directly to stakeholders.

This funding concludes the first full round of grants in the Kauffman Foundation’s new grantmaking strategy rolled out in 2024. The research grant opportunity will reopen with a call for proposals in summer 2025.

Media inquiries can be directed to Julie Scheidegger via our media contact form or by calling (816) 932-1180.

Meet the inaugural Research grantees

Organizations & Descriptions


The Data Center logo

Nonprofit Knowledge Works Inc.

Support for the research and development of a scalable wealth gap simulator.


Reinvestment Fund logo

Reinvestment Fund

Support for research exploring small business groupings and economic wellbeing outcomes for entrepreneurs and surrounding neighborhoods across five cities.


United WE logo

United WE

Support for research exploring occupational licensing barriers.


University of Illinois logo

University of Illinois

Support for research exploring the impact of clustering economies.


University of Michigan logo

University of Michigan

Support for research exploring the impact of student debt on entrepreneurship and innovation.


Urban Institute logo

Urban Institute

Support for a mixed-methods research project to examine the state-level costs of opportunity hoarding in education, including monopolization of resources and exclusionary practices.


Washington University logo

Washington University

Support for research exploring the community wealth-building model in the Kansas City area.


Washington University logo

Washington University

Support for research evaluating how the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP), which provides professional work experience and college preparation, impacts social mobility.

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