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      Kauffman Foundation

      Engaged employer

      Kauffman Foundation Reviews

      3.3

      57% would recommend to a friend

      (56 total reviews)

      Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace

      Not enough data to show CEO approval

      61% positive business outlook

      Kauffman Foundation has an employee rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars, based on 56 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Kauffman Foundation employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Non-profit and NGO industry (3.7 stars).

      Reviews by job title

      56 reviews
      3.0
      9 Mar 2020

      Great resume builder if you can take the politics

      Program officer
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business outlook

      Pros

      I had the opportunity to work with some of the smartest, most innovative people that you will find. The Foundation, due in large part to its reputation, draws incredible talent. It is very energizing to work in an environment with literally some of the smartest people around. The benefits are also a big plus. The retirement is generous and heads above any other organization. If you can manage to survive at Kauffman for at least five years, and contribute all you can to your retirement, you will definitely see huge financial reward. They are also very generous with time off and other meaningful rewards.

      Cons

      The best way I can describe this is as such... Working at Kauffman is like being the children of very well off parents. You have the beautiful house, the finest education, and all the other things money can buy. Except your parents love and attention. Specifically, the culture is dismal. You can walk the halls of the Foundation and hear no laughter, no joyfulness. It is frankly depressing, which is a shame. Some of the hires at the Executive level four years ago were a train wreck that ultimately left the Entrepreneurship team a shell of its former self. So much interesting and impactful work was being done but once there was a leadership change all that changed. Bottom line is that this organization, despite it's stellar reputation and incredible benefits, has higher turnover than it should.

      avatar
      Kauffman Foundation Response
      6y
      Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I agree that the talent here is outstanding and this is one of the most energizing places I’ve ever worked as well. Thanks for noting those aspects of our work. I’m struggling on other aspects of your review because while they definitely sting, they don’t align with what I see here and don’t match our data. One example – our turnover rate is under 10%. In my experience, there is joy, laughter and caring across our teams and culture. I’m sorry that wasn’t your experience. You mention the entrepreneurship team and here’s what I see on that front. I see a team that’s doing some of our most practical – and powerful – work yet. Whether that’s the applied research that puts data in the hands of people who need it most, the work in the heartland to support more thriving and inclusive economies or America’s New Business Plan– I see passion, expertise and a commitment to partnering with communities to increase opportunities for all people to take risks and own their success. I’m happy to talk any of this through and welcome an opportunity to better understand your perspective. Kathleen Boyle Dalen
      1.0
      19 Jul 2023

      Chance to make an impact, but it requires your career to be sacrificed

      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business outlook

      Pros

      If you really care about an issue that aligns with the Foundation's focus, you have a real opportunity to make an impact, and at least some autonomy in designing how you want to make grants. Beware, however, when that focus changes (every 2-3 years or so) because you are very likely to be laid off. You have to be dedicated to the issue enough to make that sacrifice. If you are, you will be rewarded with a short period of time when you can make a big impact.

      Cons

      Salary - Pay is not good. I made almost $50k more the moment I left the Foundation. When you benchmark salaries to the average in a conservative metro area, what you get is pay that's below average. I couldn't afford to stay very long when I knew I could make a lot more elsewhere. Benefits - They would like to think that benefits are great. They are not--just average. The holiday break is great and retirement matching is very good, but the rest are average or below average. Leadership - I had a number of bad bosses while at the Foundation, including one that was openly abusive to me and others. Many team members including some leaders made reports to HR that went ignored, exit interviews were ignored. There was no leadership accountability for years. Now there is no team left. Strategy - The Foundation has an inability to see a strategy through. Leadership is constantly "pivoting", undergoing a "strategy change", or a "reorg" every couple of years, so no plans are ever finished. This is so destructive to grantees that depend on Kauffman funding and are constantly having to navigate strategy whiplash.

      avatar
      Kauffman Foundation Response
      2y
      Thank you for sharing your experiences and observations about your time with the Foundation. We value the role that honest feedback plays to help us improve. We can build on the strengths you note in your review and work to improve the areas you found frustrating. We have grown through a series of transitions that have changed our structure and approach. We have leaders in place and our associates are working together to gain momentum and align with our vision and mission. It won’t be easy, and it will never be perfect, but we can always do better. Your review will help us get there. We are happy to hear you landed in a good place. Thanks again for taking time to write.
      1.0
      22 Aug 2019

      Used to be a great place to work and share ideas - not so much anymore.

      Anonymous
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business outlook

      Pros

      It was wonderful being a part of the Kauffman Foundation. The work that is done and the legacy that it stems from makes working there a true honor. Being a part of something so iconic and impactful. With deep pockets, the idea of "money is no object and doesn't hinder us" is real, and allows the Foundation to support their employees with great benefits and work environment. Everything you need to do the job is given. Also the on-site cafe, on-site gym, 401k w/match, vacation, and holiday break are great.

      Cons

      The Foundation, including management, used to be full of amazing people who were passionate, intelligent, kind, listeners, hard workers, and just down to earth nice people who believed in the vision of Mr. K. Not so much anymore. The last management change seems to have been chosen for their ability to be managed/controlled. There was a time where you were listened to and encouraged to speak up, disagree, have a conversation and discuss differences; collaborate on the way forward. Now it's the opposite. Don't rock the boat. Management places themselves on a pedestal and are unreachable. HR is now there for the employer, not the employee. Employees are afraid to disagree with management or speak up, and if you do - well - watch out. The Board President is a woman, the CEO is a woman, and many key management positions are held by women, and yet they reduced maternity leave from 12 weeks paid to nearly nothing.

      avatar
      Kauffman Foundation Response
      6y
      Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. I’d very much like the opportunity to talk with you to better understand your perspective. It sounds like the collaborative work groups, fail fests and “open door” practices we have didn’t do enough to create an experience where you felt you could be heard. I’m sorry to hear that and I’d like to know more so that we can improve. I have to disagree on maternity leave – we prioritize associate wellness – which includes family leave. Our leave for parents— moms and dads - provides 4 weeks paid at 100% and 7 weeks paid at 60% as well as additional time supported through PTO. Our benchmarking shows that this is competitive nationally and in Kansas City. I hope you’ll connect with me at kbdalen@kauffman.org. Best, KBD
      Viewing 1 - 3 of 56 Reviews
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      ReviewsKauffman Foundation reviews

      Glassdoor has 84 Kauffman Foundation reviews submitted anonymously by Kauffman Foundation employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Kauffman Foundation is right for you.