The Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) hosted a day of site visits to three landmark local performing arts institutions on Feb. 13, together with JCF fundholder and Theater League founder Mark Edelman.
The site visits were part of the Foundation’s Connecting Our Giving Community series, which brings together JCF fundholders for a variety of philanthropic education and engagement opportunities. During the site visits, participants have the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes of organizations’ operations and see their missions in action.
The day began at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The group toured the building and learned about the vision and philanthropic leadership that brought the Center to life. The tour included backstage access where JCF fundholders got a look at the coordination of stage design, lighting and acoustics that go into each performance.
After lunch at Crown Center, the group visited The Coterie Theatre, a cornerstone of youth-focused performing arts in Kansas City. The Coterie’s leadership shared about the organization’s mission, which centers on engaging young audiences with high-quality productions that entertain, while also addressing meaningful themes relevant to children and teens.
The afternoon concluded at the Unicorn Theatre, a performance space known for producing bold, contemporary plays that challenge audiences and spark conversation. The group learned about Unicorn Theatre’s commitment to presenting new works and thought-provoking stories that explore complex social issues.
“As someone who has long loved and supported theater, the in-depth visits to the Kauffman Center, The Coterie and Unicorn Theatre gave me a deeper appreciation for the remarkable work happening in our city,” participant Alice Jacks Achtenberg said. “Seeing the care, creativity and commitment behind each production only strengthened my admiration for these organizations. I’m grateful to JCF and Mark Edelman for making these site visits possible. It reaffirmed how vital these entities are to our community.”
“Getting a behind the scenes look at the Kauffman Center, The Coterie, and Unicorn Theatre moved me,” participant Ilana Silverstein said. “As a performing artist, I loved seeing the Jewish community rally around organizations inspiring creativity for all ages in Kansas City. I’m so grateful to JCF for making this special day possible. Experiences like this strengthen our connection to these institutions and remind us how the arts teach us about ourselves and the world around us.”
Attending site visits is one of many benefits of having a donor advised fund at JCF. Donor advised funds (DAFs)are personal charitable giving accounts that enable donors to support the Jewish and secular charities of their choice on their own timetable. DAFs may be established with $5,000 or more ($2,500 for those age 35 and younger) and are flexible, efficient and offer tax advantages, especially if donors contribute long-term appreciated stock.
Future site visits this year are planned for The J, Truman Library’s White House Decision Center, SAVE, Inc., JFS Brookside East, Kansas City Hospice House and Village Shalom.
For more information about site visits or how the Jewish Community Foundation can help one achieve their philanthropic goals, those interested can contact Suzanne Galblum Dicken, director of philanthropy, at or (913) 327-8286.
