LISC Greater Kansas City

10/27/2026

LAST CHANCE to register for Thrive (Wed, Oct. 28)!

We were honored to have been recognized by the City of Kansas City, MO with a Resolution celebrating our 45th Anniversary in the region. Thank you to Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw, for introducing the Special Action and to Mayor Quinton Lucas and the entire City Council for their support and partnership. Please see a short highlight video below of the moment.

Part of Resolution 260933 included declaring Wednesday, October 28th as "LISC Greater Kansas City" Day in honor of our annual event, Thrive.

If you haven't already done so, please register to attend this free community celebration where we host a reception and brief program to honor five difference makers in our community. Click below for more information.

https://www.lisc.org/kansas-city/regional-stories/thrive-2026-celebrating-45-years-community-development/

Geoff Jolley
Amanda Wilson
Carlie Turner
Kelli Hearn
Daniel Serda
Holly Long
Jon Hartner

10/02/2026

Our team was pleased to be able to support the Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation at their annual breakfast. Congratulations to Executive Director, Jon Hile, for his leadership and championship of our KCPS system. Kansas City Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Collier, shared some inspiring information about the continued progress of KCPS as well as the trajectory towards a destination school district. Our friend, Toni Talley, did a wonderful job of hosting the event (with a shout out to our own Holly Long), which was closed out with a number of beautiful songs by the KCPS Honor Choir. As Dr. Collier shared, our future healthcare workers, engineers, civic leaders, policymakers, and workforce are sitting in our schools today. Let's collectively invest in them so our community will continue to thrive in the future.

09/23/2026

LISC Greater Kansas City's Executive Director, Geoff Jolley, has been named one of Ingram's Kansas City's Business Magazine's “50 Missourians You Should Know for 2026.” From his service as a firefighter and congressional staffer to his leadership at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Jolley has built a career dedicated to public service, collaboration and expanding opportunity throughout the Kansas City region.

Learn more about the experiences and community leaders who have shaped his commitment to making Kansas City a place where everyone can thrive.

https://www.lisc.org/kansas-city/regional-stories/geoff-jolley-named-one-of-ingrams-50-missourians-you-should-know/

09/18/2026

We’re honored to share that LISC Greater Kansas City has been selected as a 2026 Bank of America Neighborhood Builder!

As part of this recognition, LISC Greater Kansas City received a $200,000 award to help strengthen our work and expand our impact across the Kansas City community. Through the Neighborhood Builders program, Bank of America invests not only in nonprofit organizations, but also in the people leading them. In addition to this generous funding, our team will benefit from leadership development opportunities and join a nationwide network of nonprofit leaders working to help communities thrive.

We’re grateful to Matthew Linski, Linda Lenza and the entire Bank of America team for this investment in LISC KC and the communities we serve. We look forward to continuing our work to create greater opportunity for all throughout the Kansas City region.

Congratulations as well to our fellow Neighborhood Builder recipient, Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City! We’re proud to share this recognition with another organization committed to strengthening our community.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
Geoff Jolley Holly Long Kelli Hearn

09/09/2026

Congratulations to St. Joseph Catholic School - Shawnee, KS on today's dedication and ribbon cutting of the new St. Joseph Athletic Facility. Through our partnership with the NFL Foundation, The Kansas City Chiefs, and the Hunt Family Foundation, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) was pleased to have been able to support this effort last year with a $250,000 NFL Foundation Grassroots Field Grant. The Chiefs organization and Hunt Family Foundation have invested nearly $3.5 Million in 17 different projects around our community thru this partnership.

Today marked the culmination and celebration of many different community members, organizations, and supporters coming together. During his remarks, our Executive Director, Geoff Jolley referenced the old proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together". This project was a demonstration of that collaborative spirit. It was a pleasure to see Lamar Hunt Jr., Ernie Straub III, Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer, Patrick Regan, John McGoldrick and so many other community leaders in attendance.

With nearly 28 million children lacking access to safe recreation spaces within a 10-minute walk from home, it is crucial to support community efforts to create safe and well-maintained areas for children to gather, play, and exercise. In partnership with the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), Special Olympics Kansas, and others, the St. Joseph field already has 100 events scheduled and may see as many as 30,000 visitors in its first year.

Thank you to everyone who played a role in helping create this opportunity for future generations, including Jeremy Staab, on our LISC KC team, as well as Anne Scharf, Straub Construction, McAnany Construction Inc, Libby Knox, and many more. A great team effort!

08/03/2026

DEADLINE EXTENDED to Aug. 5th

Do you know a Community Champion that should be recognized?

Please act now to help uplift some deserving individuals, organizations, or initiatives in our community. Our annual Thrive honoree nomination deadline has been extended to 11:59 pm on Wednesday, August 5th.

Learn more at

Reminder: THRIVE 2026 Award nominations close Wednesday, Aug 5th—submit your nomination today to recognize an individual or organization making a lasting impact in Greater Kansas City's communities.

07/29/2026

Strong communities are built on more than jobs and housing. They're built on places where people can meet their everyday needs, celebrate their culture, support local businesses, and create opportunities for future generations.

What does economic independence look like at the community level? In our latest story, UMB Bank's Shaneè Kimber shares why every neighborhood needs both the essentials people rely on and the unique character that gives a community its heartbeat.

Read more about how community development creates neighborhoods where people want to live, work, and thrive: https://www.lisc.org/kansas-city/regional-stories/finding-heartbeat-what-economic-independence-looks-community-level/

07/01/2026

We're hiring!

If you are looking for a new opportunity, and have experience as a lending professional, come join us at LISC Greater Kansas City, as we work to create communities of opportunity for all in our region.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)




Click below to see the job description and to apply.

https://www.lisc.org/kansas-city/regional-stories/join-our-team-lending-2026/

04/22/2026

Our very own Amanda Wilson is doing Earth Day right! Earth Day Cleanup at Kessler Park, Gate 4. Had groups from Lincoln Prep school, OneOK, and Ervin Cable Construction plus a handful of neighbors come out. Got 14 bags of trash, 3 bags of glass to recycle, a bumper and removed a bunch of honeysuckle

04/20/2026

What Were You Like in the 90's?

Holly Long (Holly Jenkins) striking a pose between church services, her mom’s expression full of curiosity and her dad proudly saying, “She’s being herself.”