The Hispanic Development Fund (HDF), a regional affiliate of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, was founded in 1983 to improve the quality of life of Latino families in Greater Kansas City by engaging the Latino community in philanthropy to build stronger communities through grantmaking and scholarship support. Today, HDF oversees several successful community programs and in 2020 alone awarded …
Our 2020 Annual Report is Now Available
In an unprecedented year, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation donors used their charitable funds to respond to a myriad of needs and causes in 2020. Our newly released 2020 annual report details how individuals, families and companies gave back when it mattered most. Donor-Advised Funds In April of 2020, donors granted 170% more dollars over April 2019 from donor-advised funds, …
Building Healthy Communities: A Conversation with Jeron Ravin and Emmet Pierson Jr.
NaTika Rowles, Executive Director of the Black Community Fund, sits down with two Kansas City leaders to discuss how Black-led organizations continue to serve the Black community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Jeron Ravin, CEO of Swope Health, and Emmet Pierson, Jr., President and CEO of Community Builders of Kansas City share how their organizations have partnered to address the disparities …
How You Can Support Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities
The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation is committed to advancing racial equity. We recognize the long and disturbing history of systemic and interpersonal racism against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, and we condemn the recent rise in anti-Asian racism and violent acts across our country. If you are interested in using your philanthropic dollars to support AAPI communities, …
Mutual Aid: Beyond Traditional Philanthropy
Philanthropy can encompass many activities—financial donations through a donor-advised fund, volunteering, using a company’s matching gift program, or even dropping off a hot meal to a sick neighbor. Most of the time, our role at the Community Foundation is to ensure our donors’ charitable activities follow IRS guidelines. But we know that granting to 501(c)(3) public charities is often just …
A Deep Culture of Generosity: A Conversation with Nancy Phelps of JE Dunn Construction
On a recent episode of the Grow Your Giving podcast, Nancy Phelps, Director of Community Impact at JE Dunn Construction shares how the construction company’s corporate giving program has created a culture of generosity throughout the business. Listen in as LaVon Colhour, the Community Foundation’s Director of Corporate Services, and Nancy discuss JE Dunn’s philanthropic efforts in the communities where …
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Arts: A Conversation with Randy Cohen
On the most recent episode of the Grow Your Giving podcast, Whitney Hosty, Senior Philanthropic Advisor, hosts Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research at Americans for the Arts. Whitney and Randy discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected arts organizations and artists across the country. Listen to Whitney and Randy’s conversation online, in the iTunes store and on Google …
How to Support Systemic Change for Racial Equity
The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation’s leadership work centers on racial equity, specifically focusing on addressing systemic and institutional racism through philanthropic investments. If you are interested in donating to organizations that are working to advance systemic change, here are some options you can consider. Local Organizations ACLU of Kansas Foundation “We work in the state legislature, the courts, and …
Moving Forward for Change
I have a long title, Vice President of Grantmaking and Inclusion Initiatives. The first part of my title is self-explanatory. I work alongside an amazing team of professionals dedicated to providing best-in-class grantmaking services to our donors and foundation partners. The second part, “and inclusion initiatives” refers to the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation’s leadership work, which centers on racial …
Integrating Arts in Education: A Conversation with Susanne Shutz and Martin English
Senior Philanthropic Advisor Whitney Hosty sat down with Community Foundation donor Susanne Shutz and Kansas City Young Audiences (KCYA) Executive Director Martin English on the most recent episode of the Grow Your Giving podcast. They discussed the latest trends in arts education and integration and explored how philanthropy plays a role in engaging students of all backgrounds in the arts. Susanne …