Dr. Burns-Wallace’s first 100 days: At home, in community

I walked through the front doors of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as its next president and CEO on Aug. 7. By mid-November, I reached my first 100 days.

I said early on – my first week – that, “This moment is different for me because I’m home, and I get to do this here.” And I can’t tell you how true that is, and how it has been reinforced time and again since that first day.

One of my favorite quotes from our founder, Ewing Kauffman, (although I have many) is, “All the money in the world cannot solve problems unless we work together. And, if we work together, there is no problem in the world that can stop us.”

We put that quote on the invitation to our “Rolling Out the Blue Carpet” event in September. As I shook hands with everyone in attendance on the blue carpet that evening, and made my way through the event, I was filled with optimism that his words were indeed true.

Still, folks love a dollar amount. The Foundation’s spend through Nov. 20 this year, was $113 million; with a forecasted $129 million to close the year. Major investments included payment on 390 grants, of which were additional funding in the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, which allocated $500,000 to KC Uncornered, $3.2 million to the Research and Entrepreneurship Federal Match Fund, and scheduled payments to the Great Jobs KC scholarship grant ($8 million) and Real World Learning High School grant ($2 million). Of the $34 million in new grants awarded so far this year, 90% ($30.5 million) was invested in Kansas City. 

While it’s humbling to consider the continued impact of the Foundation’s endowment, for me, the millions aren’t the headline. The headline is that these first 100 days in community with our partners, grantees, leaders, advocates, and innovators have been amazing. Thank you for your calls, cards, and emails, and for welcoming me to your events and into your work. And, as I said at our event in September, we’re just getting started.

So, here’s a quick look at my first 100 days as the New Year approaches, and we continue this next chapter for the Kauffman Foundation.

Grants and program events

This year, 166 new grants were awarded in 2023, totaling $34 million.

• 70 program grants, totaling ~$33 million 
• 96 sponsorship grants, totaling ~$700k

Check out our grants database to learn more about our programmatic and sponsorship investments.

KC Credit Enhancement Fund and the new participants

The Kansas City Credit Enhancement Fund creates greater access to capital for small businesses in the Kansas City metro area by providing incentives for banks, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and other lending institutions to invest in businesses owned and operated by entrepreneurs in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, especially those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

• The Foundation awarded LOCUS Impact Investing $9 million in 2022 to administer and manage the KC Credit Enhancement Fund.
  • As a community development financial institution (CDFI), LOCUS impacts community-led projects that support racial equity, small business growth, housing affordability, climate and resiliency, and healthy food access. It employs a community-centered approach that puts people first in pursuit of financial inclusion and prosperity for all.
• In August, the KC Credit Enhancement Fund welcomed Holy Rosary Credit Union, Community America Credit Union, and Commerce Bank to enhance access within Kansas City’s capital ecosystem.

Learn more about KCCEF >

ProX Summer

ProX is a regional collaborative that pairs Kansas City students with area businesses for paid professional work summer experiences. The program expanded this year to meet the outstanding demand from student applicants and employers.

• 589 students participated in Summer 2023.
• 130 employers partnered to provide internships and projects.
• Students participated from 97 different schools, 10 school districts, and various charter schools.
• Students are compensated with a $1,250 stipend and one school credit hour.
• The majority of ProX participants surveyed (62%) said they plan to attend a four-year college after high school.

Amplify: Empowering educators of color for student success

Amplify, hosted by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Amplify Community Advisory Committee, is now in its seventh year engaging and supporting educators of color in the Kansas City community.

• Amplify hosted 350 attendees.
• $60k direct-to-educator grants – EduTank winners each received $15,000 grants, plus a $10,000 Donors Choose gift cards.
• EduTank winners included Hogan Prep Elementary, North Kansas City High School, Brookside Charter, and KC Girls Preparatory Academy.

In community

• I attended more than 250 community meetings and events, including several 1Million Cups-Kansas City and Global Entrepreneurship Week KC events.
• I met with more than 200 education leaders during the Real World Learning Communities of Practice event.

Around the Foundation

• Kicked off strategic planning with a community survey in September.
• Welcomed three new board members: Carlos Rangel, Carmen Tapio, and Maurice Watson.
• Hired Chief of Staff, Susan Klusmeier, Ed.D. and Chief People Officer, Brandy Johnson.
• Continued Foundation Matching gift program: Associate and trustee contributions this year totaled $265,000, with the Foundation matching $1.2 million (holiday contributions were matched 10:1; year-round associate contributions were matched 5:1; and trustee contributions were matched 3:1).
• Hosted “Rolling Out the Blue Carpet” open house with close to 300 community members on nearly 100 feet of blue carpet!
• All-associate Harvesters service day.

Style and fun

• I wore two pairs of custom sneakers by One Pair KC Designed by students at Central High School, I wore my “Be Uncommon” pair to GEWKC and my Kauffman icon pair to the “Rolling Out the Blue Carpet” event.
• Another part of my “Rolling Out the Blue Carpet” outfit was a jacket from Michael’s Clothier. In business in downtown Kansas City since 1905, Mr. Kauffman bought many iconic looks from owner Keith Novorr and from his father, Eugene Novorr, before him. It seemed right to have Keith provide that piece for me that night.
• I was inducted into National Academy of Public Administration.
• I was named to Ingram’s Power 250.
• I was named to Kansas City Magazine Top 50 Power People list.

Living the legacy

• This year we celebrated the planned sunset of the Kauffman Scholars, Inc., program and the installation of Kauffman Scholars Legacy Wall in the Foundation Conference Center. “The Kauffman Scholars program spanned two decades to be a groundbreaking model across the nation. It would carry Mr. K’s dream to more than 90 higher-ed institutions around the world and graduate more than 850 scholars who are transforming community to this day.”
• Celebrated Great Jobs KC and Kansas City Scholars on national TV.
• We marked the 50^th anniversary of Kauffman Stadium. Owners of the Kansas City Royals, Mr. and Mrs. Kauffman opened then Royals Stadium April 10, 1973. It was July 2, 1993 when Mr. Kauffman reluctantly agreed to ballpark’s name change. Kauffman Stadium is the only stadium in the American League named in honor of a person.