Through Project grants, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation seeks proposals that will contribute to closing the economic mobility gaps in the Kansas City region.
Donor Name: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
State: Missouri
City: Kansas City
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/10/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Details:
Projects should be focused on scaling existing approaches in the Kansas City region and/or launching new approaches that have a strong research basis or success in peer cities.
Focus Areas
The grant opportunities focus on the following areas:
- Essential competencies and skills: Growing the mindsets, behaviors, knowledge, and skill sets essential for success in school and career.
- Education and employer connection: Strengthening the ties between education and employers to create a more relevant and prepared workforce.
- Participation and belonging: Cultivating an environment where everyone can participate and feel seen and valued, regardless of background.
- Equitable access: Making learning pathways affordable and capital accessible to all learners, workers, and entrepreneurs.
Strategic Priorities
The grant opportunities align to the following strategic priorities:
- College access and completion: College completion remains an important stepping stone – or barrier – to prosperity. They strive to make college affordable, high quality, and attainable for all.
- Workforce and career development: Innovative and unexpected pathways are essential to entering the workforce. Beyond that, career growth relies on continued learning and skill development. They seek to expand these opportunities for all Kansas Citians.
- Entrepreneurship: Research shows that entrepreneurship is highly effective at closing economic gaps, despite an uneven playing field. Minority and women business owners need equitable access to capital, resources, and peer networks. They are committed to supporting and sustaining business ownership for people of every background.
Funding Information
$250,000 or more, per year, multi-year.
Project Examples
Similar to the areas of interest examples above, these projects are not intended to be exhaustive or prescriptive.
- Integrate durable skills framework, instructional content, and coaching into education and training programs.
- Establish or grow communities of practice that support entrepreneurs of color.
- Support high school students to leverage federal and state aid to ensure access to college.
- Integrate work-based learning, internships, and apprenticeships through job training programs.
- Leverage the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to close economic mobility gaps in the Kansas City region.
Eligibility Criteria
Foundation makes grants to organizations that are not 501(c)(3) public charities, including to social welfare organizations [501(c)(4)], trade associations and chambers of commerce [501(c)(6)], and for-profit enterprises, among others.
For more information, visit EMKF.