Editor’s note: The following is a paid message from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Allison Greenwood Bajracharya, a fourth-generation Kansas Citian, is chief impact and strategy officer for the Kauffman Foundation.
In communities around the country, people are doing uncommon things in the most common places — parks, food pantries, classrooms, soccer fields, and church basements. On evenings and weekends, it’s the work that isn’t seen. It’s done without big budgets or job titles, without media attention, without anyone saying thank you. The Kauffman Uncommon Leader Award is our way of saying thank you.
Celebrating the unseen, uplifting the uncommon
Allison Greenwood Bajracharya, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
This award is not just a recognition — it’s a celebration of individuals who show up consistently and give generously, even when no one is watching. It honors the unpaid hours, the energy poured in after long workdays, the meetings held between school drop-offs and daycare pickups, and the effort made when partners are away, and children are tagging along. It acknowledges the quiet strength and unending hope of those who put their communities first, time and time again. We know who these people are — we see them every day and silently salute them in the distance.
These are the very people who reflect the spirit of Ewing Marion Kauffman, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who believed in the power of common people to do uncommon things – changing the trajectory of their lives and the lives of those in their communities. The Uncommon Leader Award is a tribute to that legacy and a recognition that leadership can be found in people all around us.
Real impact, real support
This year, one awardee will be selected to receive a $50,000 personal award and an additional $100,000 in funding for the nonprofit organization they serve. This is real support for the people and organizations doing the work that drives meaningful change.
As Mr. Kauffman said, “All of 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.”
The Uncommon Leader Impact Award specifically highlights non-C-suite employees at 501(c)(3) public charities. These individuals are often the backbone of their organizations, spearheading programs, cultivating partnerships, and building bridges to the community – all in alignment with the Kauffman Foundation’s mission to advance economic mobility and contribute to a more equitable Kansas City.
Nominate an Uncommon Leader today.
Tracey Lewis, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, joins in a community conversation at Big Brothers Big Sisters; photo courtesy of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Who do you know that is doing uncommon work in Kansas City? The quiet leaders? The passionate advocates? The ones who don’t seek the spotlight but change lives every day?
We invite you to recognize them and their tireless work. Nominate someone who embodies what it means to be an Uncommon Leader — someone who exemplifies humility, service, innovation, and heart. Someone whose dedication shows others what’s possible in our community.
Let’s honor the work that matters – especially when it happens behind the scenes. Let’s thank those who never ask for it. Let’s show up for the people who never fail to show up for us.
