Real change is uncommon

Mr. Kauffman wanted to see his philanthropy have a significant positive effect on the Kansas City community.

• In the past 3 years, the nominee has actively engaged in initiatives or projects that have led to improvements in the Kansas City region, such as increased access to resources, education, or opportunities.
• Evidence of long-term or sustainable benefits resulting from the nominee’s work in the Kansas City region.

Mr. Kauffman aimed to ensure that opportunities were accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status or background.

• The nominee actively involves and uplifts underrepresented voices within the community.
• The nominee provides individuals and communities with the support and resources they need to succeed – recognizing that different people start from different places and need different kinds of support to achieve fair outcomes.

Mr. Kauffman strongly believed in collaboration as a key to sustainable change and community impact. He emphasized that, “No one person, organization, or institution can solve complex social problems alone. Real progress comes from people working together – sharing ideas, resources, and responsibility to achieve common goals.”

• The nominee collaborates within their organization as well as with other organizations and community members to achieve collective goals.

Mr. Kauffman encouraged the Foundation to explore new approaches and innovative solutions to tackle complex problems.

• The nominee demonstrates leadership by inspiring others to take action or by leading successful initiatives.
• The nominee uses innovative approaches to solve community challenges or improve existing programs.

Mr. Kauffman was deeply committed to economic mobility and systems change, particularly through entrepreneurship and education. He believed that everyone should have the opportunity to achieve success, regardless of their background. Mr. Kauffman worked to change the systems that created inequality in the first place: “You don’t fix problems by patching symptoms – you change the system so the problems don’t happen in the first place.”

• The nominee demonstrates a visionary and systems-level approach to economic mobility.
• The nominee works to dismantle systemic barriers.

The Kauffman Uncommon Leader Awards are a portfolio of awards – the Impact Award and the Visionary Award – to recognize regional nonprofit leaders at 501(c)(3) public charities who are making a lasting impact within their nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve. These awards honor individuals whose work aligns with the Kauffman Foundation’s mission and exemplify the visionary leadership of our founder, Ewing Marion Kauffman, through innovative, generous, and meaningful work in the community.

The awards will be offered annually on alternating years. The Impact Award will be offered in 2025 and the Visionary Award in 2026.

The process includes three steps: a nomination is made, the nominee completes the application, and two references submit recommendations.

A non-C-suite employee is anyone who does not hold a position at the highest executive level of a company. Roles that would not be qualified would include Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), etc. It would also not include any executive that reports directly to the CEO/Executive Director and is considered a part of the executive leadership team.

A public charity is a specific type of 501(c)(3) organization that generally provides a service to a group of people.  The requirements to be a public charity are most generally described in section 509(a) of the tax code.

GuideStar is one site that can confirm charitable status.

We define the Kansas City region as Cass, Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Platte, and Wyandotte counties.

The payment associated with the award may be taxable and recipients should consult their tax advisor on reporting requirements or specific impact.

We recommend someone who can evaluate you based on the following criteria.

• Knows your impact: Choose someone who can speak to your qualifications, contributions, and why you’re deserving of the award.
• Professional or academic relationship: Ideal references include supervisors, mentors, professors, community leaders, or collaborators who have worked with you in a meaningful capacity.
• Relevant to the award: Select individuals who understand the values or goals of the award and can highlight how you embody them.
• Recent and specific: A reference who can provide recent, concrete examples of your achievements is more compelling than someone who speaks in general terms.
• Avoid personal references: Do not use family members or close friends, as their perspective may be seen as biased.
• Confirm willingness: Always ask your reference beforehand and ensure they are comfortable providing a thoughtful and timely endorsement.

Current employees of the Kauffman Foundation are not eligible, neither are employees who have worked at the Foundation as an employee since June 2020.

To ensure fairness and uphold the integrity of the Kauffman Uncommon Leader Awards, immediate family members of associates or Board members of the Kauffman Foundation are not eligible to participate in or receive awards. This ensures all judging and prize decisions remain fair and free from personal influence.

Any community member can nominate an individual for the Impact Award during the open nomination period. The recommended person must be a full-time non-C-Suite employee from a 501(c)(3) public charity in the Kansas City region who demonstrates a commitment to Kansas City through nonprofit service. Individuals should be nominated based on their alignment with the criteria for the award. Learn more about the nomination process and award criteria.

An external committee will review nominees based on the award criteria and make a recommendation to the Foundation on finalists.

The members of the external review committee remain anonymous during the selection process. This allows the members to operate without pressure or persuasion from others. Committee members are identified and selected through an internal search process to secure a group of community leaders with experience and connection to the greater Kansas City nonprofit community.