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Six coalitions awarded Collective Impact funding

Collective Impact grantees

Funding supports organizations with systems-change strategy to close economic mobility gaps in the Kansas City region.

Systemic change happens when communities come together to drive transformation through collaboration. Recognizing this, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has awarded Collective Impact planning funding to six local coalitions working to close economic mobility gaps in the Kansas City region.

Our new Collective Impact funding pathway is designed to support coalitions in laying a strategic foundation that helps them move forward with purpose and create lasting change.

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

With 68 organizations applying for funding, the strong response highlights a shared commitment to advancing collaborative solutions. This funding is designed to empower high-potential coalitions to plan for the creation of lasting, system-level impact.

“These organizations are tackling deep, complex challenges in our community – work that requires trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to change,” said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, president and CEO. “Real progress happens when organizations come together, align their efforts, and build strong relationships. Our new Collective Impact funding pathway is designed to support coalitions in laying a strategic foundation that helps them move forward with purpose and create lasting change.”

The coalitions represent a diversity of focus areas including technology, entrepreneurship credentialing, and aligned workforce pathways; each offering a community-centered focus and geographic reach across Kansas City. 

“We are truly inspired by the number of local organizations and institutions that are interested in working together to think and act differently in solving some of our regions’ most pressing systems-level challenges,” said Allison Greenwood Bajracharya, chief impact and strategy officer. “These coalitions will now have the space to lead boldly, innovate thoughtfully, and create impact that resonates far beyond their immediate neighborhoods. Together, their work is a testament to the power of collaboration.”

The Foundation’s new Collective Impact funding pathway offers funding in two stages – planning and implementation. These initial six coalitions have nine months to finalize a plan to work together to create a clear action plan aimed at narrowing the economic mobility gap. These projects may be considered for longer implementation support in the future. More information can be found here.

“Hope grows when we come together with a shared purpose,” said Dr. Burns-Wallace. “Through Collective Impact funding, we are harnessing the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change – addressing root causes, not just symptoms – and inspiring hope through impactful work that creates lasting opportunities for all.”

Hope grows when we come together with a shared purpose. Through Collective Impact funding, we are harnessing the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change – addressing root causes, not just systems – and inspiring hope through impactful work that creates lasting opportunities for all.

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

Meet the Collective Impact coalitions

Coalition for Equity and Opportunity

Coalition members include Phoenix Family (lead), Economic Mobility Pathways, Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas, Great Jobs KC, KC Digital Drive, Pete’s Garden, and United Way of Greater Kansas City.

Entrepreneurship Education Initiative

Coalition members include Kansas City Kansas Community College (lead), Piper Schools, Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, University of Missouri – Kansas City, Babson College, The Porter House KC, and The Toolbox KC.

KC Tech Council

Coalition members include KC Tech Council (lead), Garmin, H&R Block, Panasonic Energy, JE Dunn, and Burns and McDonell. They also include training partners such as Per Scholas, Goodwill, WeCodeKC, i.c. Stars, and Apprenti, among others. Educational collaborators include the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Rockhurst University, Metropolitan Community College, and the University of Saint Mary.  

Regional University Research Collective

Coalition members include KC Digital Drive (lead), the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

The Teach KC Collaborative: From Education to Economic Mobility

Initial coalition members include BLAQUE KC (lead), Teachers Like Me, The Educator Academy, Starting Early, Parent Power Lab, Urban League, Greater Kansas City LINC, Brothers Liberating Our Community (BLOC), 3rd District Kansas City Housing Accelerator, and The Latinx Education Collaborative.

Workforce Partnership

Coalition members include Workforce Partnership (lead), Kansas Department of Corrections, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Kansas Chamber of Commerce, Reaching Out from Within, Starting Early, and Goodwill Industries.

The five conditions of the Collective Impact model:

  1. Backbone Support – Creating and managing collective impact requires a separate organization with staff and a specific set of skills to serve as the backbone, or intermediary, for the entire initiative and coordinate participating organizations and agencies. 
  2. Common Agenda – All participants must have a shared vision, or North Star, for change including a common understanding of the problem and a joint approach to solving it through agreed-upon actions. 
  3. Mutually Reinforcing Activities – Participant activities must be differentiated while still being coordinated through a mutually reinforcing plan of action. 
  4. Shared Measurement – Collecting data and measuring results consistently across all participants ensures efforts remain aligned and participants hold each other accountable. 
  5. Continuous Communication – Consistent and open communication is needed across the many players to build trust, assure mutual objectives and create common motivation. 

Learn more about our Collective Impact grant

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

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