Philanthropists, Corporations Step Up in Coping With COVID-19

Local philanthropists, corporations and nonprofit organizations have joined forces to help the city’s most vulnerable population.

“Our region is pulling together in an extraordinary way,” explained David Warm, executive director of Mid-America Regional Council, one of the organizations involved. “This fund is a powerful tool to combine philanthropic generosity, the capacity of vital community service providers and the goodwill of the public at large to help everyone in Kansas City endure this challenge.”        

The group has established the Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund and plans to focus its resources on the most pressing health and human service needs in the community. Specifically, 27 founding funders have set an initial $10 million goal, with the Hall Family Foundation and the Sunderland Foundation partnering on a challenge grant to match donations up to $5 million.

The fund’s coordinating organizations: the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation; United Way of Greater Kansas City; and Local Initiatives Support Corporation Greater Kansas City and MARC, are hoping that the “potential grant will be a catalyst for the community to give, and strongly encourage everyone who has the means to donate to the fund.”

“As we work to meet the challenge grant, generous givers throughout the Kansas City region will play a vital role in addressing unprecedented needs in our community,” explained Debbie Wilkerson, President and CEO, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, which will host the fund. “The Community Foundation is prepared to lead the philanthropic response alongside United Way of Greater Kansas City,” she continued, “and asks donors of all levels to give what they can to help our community’s most vulnerable populations affected by COVID-19.” 

Fund leaders say they may expand their scope as “community needs are met, even as new needs surface.”

“We all are fortunate to live in a community that has consistently proven its generosity to those in need,” said United Way of Greater Kansas City President and CEO Brent Stewart.  “At United Way of Greater Kansas City, we call this ‘Kansas City taking care of its own.’ That need for caring for our people – our community – has never been more acute than as a result of this pandemic. We reach out to all in this community to give so that those in need and affected by COVID-19 are provided for during this very difficult time.”

A diverse, 15-member Advisory Board comprised of foundation and civic leaders and community representatives will be established to oversee the fund and quickly approve grants. In the spirit of promoting trust, accountability and transparency, the Advisory Board will release reports to both donors and to the community as its work goes forward.

Founding funders include: Black & Veatch, Bukaty Companies, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, George K. Baum Family Foundation, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, H & R Block Foundation, Hall Family Foundation, Health Forward Foundation, JE Dunn Construction, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Southern, Mallouk Family Foundation, Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation, Mazuma Credit Union, Menorah Heritage Foundation, Mike and Linda Lyon, Patterson Family Foundation, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Richard and Annette Bloch Family Foundation, Sherman Family Foundation, Sosland Foundation of Kansas City, Stanley H. Durwood Foundation, Sunderland Foundation, UMB Bank, United Way of Greater Kansas City, and William T. Kemper Foundation.

For more information about the fund visit www.growyourgiving.org.