Kauffman Foundation Renews Kansas City Focus Under New CEO

A year into Kansas City business leader Tom McDonnell’s tenure as chief executive of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the $2-billion philanthropy is altering local perceptions that it had shifted focus away from its hometown, The Kansas City Star writes.

The foundation, which supports initiatives in education and entrepreneurship, continued to direct three-quarters of its grant funding to local and state causes under former CEO Carl Schramm, but some civic leaders viewed his priority as burnishing Kauffman’s national reputation at the expense of community projects. Mr. McDonnell, then chairman of the foundation’s board, led a move to oust Mr. Schramm in January 2012, according to the Star, and was named to replace him 11 months later.

The Star article profiles Mr. McDonnell and his work to reconnect the foundation with local institutions. “Kauffman again is involved in the community,” said Steve Roling, a former foundation executive. “That focus went away for a few years and Kauffman wasn’t a real player on the Kansas City scene, even if it was doing good work.”