About Purpose Works KC
Founded in January 2024 by RubinBrown as the CEO Think Tank, Purpose Works KC is a first-of-its-kind collaborative of leading nonprofit organizations committed to working together to transform the sector.
Our Goal: Attract and retain a dynamic, mission-driven workforce for the Greater Kansas City area nonprofit sector.
It’s time to rebrand nonprofit work, showcasing why Kansas City nonprofit jobs are worth considering - and staying around for.
Steering Committee Member Agencies
The Steering Committee is just the beginning. We are actively engaged in developing opportunities to engage other nonprofit organizations in this work.
A History of Collaboration
Purpose Works KC FAQ
What is Purpose Works KC?
Purpose Works KC is a first-of-its-kind coalition of 17 nonprofit organizations across greater Kansas City that came together to strengthen the local nonprofit sector’s shared future. It was formed by a group of nonprofit leaders who recognize that some challenges are too big to solve alone.
Why does Purpose Works KC Exist?
Amidst a long list of mounting challenges across nonprofits, including rising demand and increasing complexity amid constrained and shifting resources, one shared challenge continued to rise to the top: talent recruitment and retention.
Recognizing that no one organization can solve this challenge alone, Purpose Works KC exists to attract and retain a strong, mission-driven workforce for the Greater Kansas City nonprofit sector.
Why is talent critical to the future of the nonprofit sector and our community?
The Kansas City nonprofit sector has always depended on the people who power it: the employees, leaders, and purpose-driven professionals who show up every day to serve this community.
Sustaining that workforce, attracting new talent to it, and making sure it reflects the needs of the community it serves is critical to the nonprofit sector’s ability to deliver the services the community needs most.
Why is a coalition needed to solve the talent challenge?
A strong nonprofit sector doesn't happen by accident. It requires organizations to do the immediate, urgent work of serving their communities and to invest in the shared infrastructure that makes that work sustainable over time. One cannot exist without the other.
Purpose Works KC exists in that second space, focusing on the longer-range, collective work so that direct service organizations can focus on what they do best. This is not about any single organization. It is about making sure the whole sector is stronger, more visible, and better resourced to serve Kansas City for years to come.
My nonprofit is interested in becoming part of Purpose Works KC. Who do I talk to?
If you are interested in learning how you can support or join this effort, please fill out this form.