Charlie Bentley

Charlie Bentley is an impact officer for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where he manages a diverse grant portfolio, outreach initiatives, and community relations to foster financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity for under-resourced communities in the Kansas City region.

Prior to joining the Kauffman Foundation, Bentley was a diplomat with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). During his tenure with USAID, he served in Eastern Europe, Central Africa, and West Africa, managing more than $200 million in humanitarian aid and socioeconomic development programs. He was awarded the State Department’s Meritorious Honor Award in 2021 and 2023.

Bentley earned his undergraduate degree from Carleton College, and his master’s degree from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. He started his career in social and economic development as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow, spending a year living with deaf communities in developing countries.