Kauffman unveils six finalists for its new Visionary Award; winner revealed live Sept. 24

A half-dozen Kansas City nonprofit executives have earned their flowers, the Kauffman Foundation said Thursday, announcing finalists for the organization’s inaugural award honoring leaders who create lasting change that can inspire others to build even more.

“When we shine a spotlight on this kind of leadership, we do more than celebrate it,” said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, in April when applications for the new honor first opened. “We create the opportunity to learn from it, and for others to carry it forward.”

The Kauffman Uncommon Leader Visionary Award is designed to honor an executive leader from a 501(c)(3) public charity in the Kansas City region whose work has created lasting impact across the Kansas City region.

Finalists’ work also must align with the foundation’s mission to advance economic mobility and demonstrate significant contributions to the region. They include:

• Brennan Crawford, executive director and CEO, Build Wyco — Under Crawford’s leadership, the organization has built, renovated or repaired more than 800 homes and helped nearly 1,000 families become homeowners. Its growing toolkit also includes a community land trust and community lending programs designed to expand access to ownership and capital.
• Alana Henry, executive director, Ivanhoe Neighborhood Association — Henry is particularly passionate about building systems that allow residents to shape and benefit from their community’s future. She created the KC Farmers Market Passport to connect more people with local farmers and fresh food while directing dollars to growers. Her advocacy has also helped advance a dedicated city food-systems planner position and new investment in urban agriculture.
• Micheal Lawrence, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of KC — Lawrence has also broadened what mentoring can make possible, extending support beyond high school into career exploration, internships, workforce development and postsecondary planning. Investments in trauma-informed care, family engagement and youth voice respond to the fuller realities of young people’s lives.
• Tysie McDowell, co-founder and superintendent, Crossroads Charter Schools, Inc. — McDowell helped make the city itself part of the Crossroads learning experience. Students connect with libraries, arts organizations, colleges, employers and community institutions, while real-world learning provides internships, entrepreneurial experiences, industry credentials and other pathways into life after graduation.
• Kar Woo, founder and program director, Artists Helping the Homeless — Woo developed Artists Helping the Homeless’s respite housing model after recognizing the value of providing a stable bridge between services and longer-term housing. Residents receive housing, transportation, peer support and connections to community resources while working toward individually defined goals.
• Heidi Wooten, president and CEO, Safehome — Wooten has paired a survivor-centered approach with a commitment to making Safehome strong, accessible and prepared for the future. Under her leadership, the organization has invested significantly in capital improvements, expanded accessibility and telehealth, strengthened financial sustainability and developed new approaches to housing assistance.

Click here to read full bios of the finalists.

A winner is expected to be announced Sept. 24 at a celebration honoring the finalists.

The new Visionary Award is the second of two Kauffman Uncommon Leader honors. It builds on the Impact Award, which debuted in 2025 and spotlighted non-C-suite leaders in nonprofit organizations across Kansas City.