Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in the growth of the U.S. economy as well as local economies. They spur industry transformations, create entirely new markets, and build resilient communities. So it’s crucial that we support our entrepreneurial ecosystems and help them rise up against challenges and crises. From linking and leveraging assets across organizations to facing complex challenges to building a cross-sector regional coalition, see how these communities allied together to successfully strengthen their entrepreneurial ecosystem. https://bit.ly/3z2hDVT #community #entrepreneurship #entrepreneurialecosystem #economicdevelopment

A trusted voice for advancing Native women in business and leadership, Vanessa Roanhorse, CEO, Roanhorse Consulting, LLC, challenges systemic barriers and reframes systems through an equity lens. "We cannot fall back into the practices of accepting it has always been this way or that we do not have the innovation to work through the barriers. If anything, we have seen how easy it is for us to adjust and make changes to these systems with hard work and the willingness to dream beyond it. We need everyone to double down and do the hard work, have the hard conversations, and push past the fears of failure." https://bit.ly/3HOLsMR #equity #community #entrepreneurship #innovation

The 2022 Knowledge Challenge RFP launches Jan. 18. Grants will fund research on entrepreneurship with a focus on systems and structures to support inclusive prosperity and equitable opportunities and the future of work. https://bit.ly/3HhOrNP

Economies are powered by innovation, and we have much to gain when we learn from each other. That’s why we’ve created our Ecosystems in Action series. Designed for and informed by practitioners, this series helps build skills and add ideas and tools to their ecosystem building repertoire. Our series of instructional briefs combines storytelling with practical examples of entrepreneurial ecosystem building to help practitioners build skills and add ideas and tools to their ecosystem building repertoire. Each brief focuses on a single policy, program, or practice from the perspectives of community leaders. Explore the briefs: https://bit.ly/3i2TwiD #entrepreneur #communityleader #innovation #businessstartups #economicdevelopment

Navigating uncharted change is not new to Dred Scott, president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. He partnered with a collaboration of youth and family organizations during the pandemic to design new ways to best serve the community. Those partnerships and lessons are providing a valuable resource as he looks to making permanent changes to the inequitable systems now exposed. I cannot imagine a more opportune time for rallying around efforts for effective and permanent change, says Scott. In order for true and real change to occur, the system must be influenced by those who are impacted the most, but often have the least amount of power. https://bit.ly/3qtczpM #equity #education #kansascity #community

When Seth Levine talks about a tipping point, he isn’t referring to the innovations he supports in his work at the Foundry Group helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into thriving businesses. He isn’t talking about the next generation of founders he writes about in his recent book, The New Builders. He’s talking about how the drive for greater equity is necessitating a new look at the role capitalism plays in the economy. This is a unique opportunity to reconsider the role capitalism and capital plays in our economy and to create a more equal, equitable, and sustainable economy, says Levine. If the last 40 years has been characterized by the idea of ‘I,’ my hope is that the next 40 will be characterized by the notion of ‘we.’ https://bit.ly/32rWmJp #equity #thenewbuilders #community #entrepreneurship

Dr. Lateshia Woodley is familiar with the challenges of inequity in education. From her position as the assistant superintendent of student support in Kansas City Public Schools, she believes for real systems change to happen, a shift in mindset must occur. That includes the belief that the community has the resources to heal itself. The pandemic brought to the surface what we who have been in the trenches have known forever that the system is not designed to get the ultimate results for all, says Dr. Woodley. For real system change to happen, we have to shift our focus. We must lift up the power of student voices as a medium for systems change. https://bit.ly/3HewHme #equality #kansascity #community #education

Exciting news: Applications are now open for the Kauffman Foundation’s 2022 paid summer internship program! We’re seeking individuals who are passionate about our mission and want to work with us to eliminate systemic barriers so that all people regardless of their background have the opportunity to achieve economic stability, mobility, and prosperity. The positions are open to all students who are post-high school and currently completing credentials, certificates, unde...rgraduate, and/or graduate programs. We seek students with diverse perspectives and life experiences. Deadline is Jan. 28, 2022. Explore the positions, eligibility requirements, and how to apply: https://www.kauffman.org/careers/2022-internship-program/ #internship #summerinternship #nonprofitinternship #nonprofit #2022internship #paidinternship #kansascity

As principal consultant on the Future of Work team at ADP, Giselle Mota has a front row seat to inequities in the workplace. The pandemic triggered what she calls an awakening across the globe to long-time disparities that must now be addressed. Simply put, economies, education, and other systems will not change unless we understand and thus respond to the systems and people who represent those systems, says Mota. The best source of hope I see is in the inclusive conversations being had, sometimes uncomfortable and new conversations at that. It’s been inspiring to see people of all types and backgrounds giving each other grace and space to have the types of conversations that consider each other and lead to real change. https://bit.ly/3FGNFt2 #pandemic #education #community #futureofwork #equity

Elizabeth MacBride believes the growing diversity in America is giving rise to a new generation of entrepreneurs substantially unlike the previous generations, making systems change essential to provide these founders with the infrastructure they need to succeed. When people are equipped with connections and information they can trust, they make systemic change. They start companies, change laws, and donate in different ways. They will change education and economic systems, explains MacBride, founder, Times of Entrepreneurship; co-author, The New Builders: Face to Face With the True Future of Business. https://bit.ly/3enhqTR #entrepreneur #connection #community #equity #thenewbuilders

Ella Livingston, founder of Cocoa Asante and a former educator, feels exhausted and overwhelmed with the outsized work and expenses women face when managing career and family. She believes the past few years have revealed how damaged our current systems are and why it’s so important now to identify the root of our nation’s problems. A better life is possible for us. One filled with love, togetherness and community, says Livingston. This is by no means a complete solution, but for real systematic change to occur, our mindset must radically shift to be one that desires the progress of all people, regardless of our differences. https://bit.ly/3pqzIKk #community #equity #learning #innovation #entrepreneurship

As 2021 comes to a close, we are focused on the unique opportunity of this moment in the belief that now is the time to make positive, generational changes, to focus on equity, and to create an economy that works for everyone. We can’t rely on one person, institution, or government to create the change we need to see. Change happens when we work together. Join us as we celebrate a few uncommon voices: individuals who have invested time, energy, and funds to create impact. https://bit.ly/3GTSdNc

Working to empower students to achieve their greatest potential with the support of mentors and access to equitable opportunities, Eunice Mitchell, regional director at Big Picture Learning, says there’s no turning back to the days before the social justice lessons during the pandemic. Mitchell believes now is our opportunity to double-down on equitable learning by creating learning environments that see, honor, and empower learners fully, intellectually, socially, and emotio...nally. We have a responsibility to act, from whatever seat we are in and whatever influences we have, to end inequity and injustice by investing in equity and justice, says Mitchell. We can challenge traditions that are outdated and exclusive by supporting and amplifying approaches that seek to bring folks into the fold to wrestle with realities and build collaboratively. https://bit.ly/3Htdm15 #socialjustice #equity #learning #education

The jurors have reached a decision and justice is served for George Floyd. But, we cannot celebrate what led us to today. Our journey toward racial equity and justice is long.... Our systems need to be rebuilt at every level. America needs to reconcile its past for a better future. We can and should have hope, but we also have to work. Let’s get to it.

Program officers from the Kauffman Foundation, Ashlei Spivey, Melissa Roberts Chapman, and Nathan Madden will answer your questions about the 2021 Heartland Challenge RFP. Questions will be taken during the livestream, but you can also submit them to [email protected]. Application window opens Feb. 10 and closes March 10

"Rather than defining rural communities by the progress that is believed to have stopped, we can instead choose to define them by the progress they’ve made despite massive disinvestment and, perhaps, by the progress they could make if they had the support," Chris Harris, Kauffman senior program officer in Entrepreneurship. https://bit.ly/34ePOf9

"We will continue to work alongside others to push for changes needed to dismantle the broken systems of inequity that hold too many back and that prevent America from fulfilling its promise," Wendy Guillies, Kauffman president and CEO. https://bit.ly/3sA374m

When Jackie Robinson took the field with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, it was: a year before Truman abolished racial segregation in the U.S. Military seven years before the Supreme Court struck down segregation in public schools eight years before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery city bus, and... 16 years before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led the March on Washington. The Negro Leagues were bigger than baseball. https://bit.ly/3md21qW

People say, "‘If we could only fix the schools, everything would be all right.’ That never sat well with me Kids don’t live in schools they live in communities and if we don’t see the entire community, then we’re making a big mistake," says educator, journalist, and scholar, Andre Perry. REGISTER NOW for a virtual conversation with Andre Perry with KC Public Library Nov. 12. https://bit.ly/354VB7P

We're pleased to announce a Kauffman grant to Living Cities to fund research, development, and the launch of an investment vehicle focused on financing fund managers of color who will invest in underrepresented entrepreneurs. Eighty-three percent of entrepreneurs and small business owners do not access bank loans or venture capital. The inequity in financing is only further aggravated by the global pandemic, disproportionately impacting Black-owned businesses. Nearly 41% of B...lack-owned businesses, 32% of Latinx business owners, and 26% of Asian business owners have closed their businesses during the pandemic. To eliminate the systemic barriers related to how capital flows, the Kauffman Foundation and Living Cities are looking to strengthen and invest in fund managers of color who will in turn invest in entrepreneurs of color. This will support the creation of an environment without roadblocks to success for entrepreneurs of color. https://bit.ly/3kd9pCp See more

Ewing Marion Kauffman was born Sept 21, 1916, on the family farm in western Missouri. His foundation, his most-enduring legacy, was directed to be innovative to dig deep and get at the roots of issues to fundamentally change outcomes in people’s lives. He said, 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, as we seek to develop people to their highest and best potential. We work together as associates and trustees of this Foundation to meet that legacy every day. Learn more about his life and legacy. https://bit.ly/2EjFzfB

The time is long past due for the kind of change at scale that benefits more of us, for all of us. Now is our collective opportunity to reinvent, repair, reimagine, and rebuild better. Read a message from Kauffman President and CEO Wendy Guillies. https://bit.ly/3jpDsG8

#BlackOutTuesday

"There's a lot of pieces to the puzzle that are causing this inequity, but really what it comes down to is that we've failed communities in the past this current challenge is just the next iteration of how it's playing out," Awais Sufi, CEO SchoolSmartKC. "What are we going to do for COVID-21, the next snow storm that keeps students out a week? How are we going to be prepared based on our learnings right now? The gaps that we have? If we get caught like this again shame o...n us," Sherman Whites, Kauffman Foundation director in Education. I will tell you the divide is economic, which does end up manifesting in it being a digital divide, Dr. Marla Sheppard, deputy superintendent Kansas City Public Schools. Watch the full conversation with this panel of experts as they discuss how the school shutdowns caused by the pandemic is only making it more difficult for vulnerable students to receive a quality education. https://bit.ly/3e45jZw

New and small businesses form the heart of every community. Policymakers need the voice of entrepreneurs at the table as they debate how to stabilize the economy. Be heard. Let them know how we can rebuild better. #StartUsUpNow https://p2a.co/89bfTZ5

Policymakers talk about stabilizing the economy, but when entrepreneurs don’t have a voice in policy, we get policies that privilege big business and leave behind the women, minorities, and rural residents who most need the support. Let's change that. #StartUsUpNow https://p2a.co/89bfTZ5

The new and small businesses at extreme risk during this crisis are the same businesses at the frontlines in the battle to restore our economy. Policymakers have prioritized big business long enough. It's time to rebuild better. Start here. #StartUsUpNow https://p2a.co/89bfTZ5

There's nothing easy about it, so let's work together to help small businesses navigate and recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Start with this resource guide, by Ross Baird founder of Village Capital and Blueprint Local. https://bit.ly/2WVwIYm