The Legacy of Ewing Kauffman

Throughout 2016, the Kauffman Foundation has marked the 100th anniversary of Ewing Kauffman’s birth. The Foundation has recalled Mr. Kauffman’s passions for education and entrepreneurship that guided a new style of philanthropy that sought to invest in bold approaches to address the root causes of complex social problems.

Ewing Kauffman energized people around him, rallied his hometown of Kansas City and challenged everyone around him to do more. Mr. K lived a remarkable life and left us all with a lot to live up to. During this centennial celebration, the Foundation pledged to honor its past by continuing to work with the community to shape the future.

Mr. Kauffman’s philanthropic legacy continues. The Kauffman Foundation, along with 70 community partners, is rolling out a new scholarship and college savings program, KC Scholars, to help low- and modest-income students, as well as adult learners, finance and complete a college education. KC Scholars is a three-tiered scholarship program developed by people throughout the Kansas City community who have worked together for more than a year to make the program a reality. To ensure KC Scholars’ success, the Kauffman Foundation will invest $79 million in the program over the next 10 years.

“KC Scholars is a true community collaboration, driven by the belief that all students – regardless of income, age or ethnicity – deserve an opportunity to earn a college education, a core value of the Kauffman Foundation,” says Wendy Guillies. “We are honored to work with so many passionate groups to help launch KC Scholars, and to be able to announce this significant investment in the program”.

Ewing Kauffman saw himself as a common man who achieved uncommon things. This year, in celebration of his 100th birthday, the Kauffman Foundation challenged itself and others to live up to Mr. Kauffman’s expectations, to give back and be “Uncommon”.

Read more and see video about celebrating the life of Ewing Kauffman.