Kansas City’s United Way CEO to retire at end of 2020

On Friday, the United Way of Greater Kansas City announced that president and CEO Brent Stewart will retire at the end of this year, Dec. 31 2020.

Stewart has served as president and CEO of United Way of Greater Kansas City since 2008, serving a total of 12 years in leadership with the organization.

Stewart work during his time at United Way includes unifying the organization regionally and helping create an $18 million COVID-19 pandemic response fund this year.

“Through his tireless service to Kansas Citians, Brent Stewart has distinguished himself as a leader, mentor and champion of people in need,” John Murphy, board chair of United Way of Greater Kansas City and founder of J. Murphy Strategies, said. “Our work at United Way is never finished, but Brent has positioned our organization to connect people who need help with organizations and donors who are willing to help. We are ready for whatever the future may bring because of Brent’s visionary leadership.” 

Set to continue as president and CEO through the end of the year, Stewart’s successor will be determined in the remaining months of 2020.

Before arriving in Kansas City in 2008, Stewart was president and CEO of the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette in the Portland, Ore. area. In total, Stewart has spent almost 35 years working at local United Ways across the U.S.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to become part of the civic community in Kansas City,” Stewart said. “The generosity of Kansas Citians is legendary, and I have seen their giving spirit firsthand. It is humbling to witness people across the region rising to the occasion to support one another. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic is a case in point. Never have I seen a community respond so quickly to give and to serve. It is just one example of how Kansas City responds when United Way asks.”