Kansas City’s historic tradition of giving and of volunteering is continuing to flow strongly. Like our storied fountains, the community involvement is one of our city’s most identifiable treasures, a singular resource that adds quality to each of our lives.

We hear about, and sincerely appreciate, the efforts of local foundations. Truly, the impact of the Kauffman Foundation, the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, the William T. Kemper Foundation and so many others is significant and difficult to quantify. Innumerable corporate foundations add to that impact. Numbers don’t really do justice to the sum total of these institutions. Far beyond fin-ances, these organizations create a “multiplier effect,” in which giving is simply expected as a part of business, of success, of a well-rounded life.

As with so many of life’s vital endeavors, institutions can only do so much. The most powerful philan-thropy still comes from one person wanting to help another person—a quick look at national statistics reinforces that axiom.

According to the Conference Board, U.S. companies and corporate foundations are responsible for a total of $7.8 billion in giving. Charitable foundations are responsible for another $33.6 billion, according to The Foundation Center. Total amount of individual giving, however, adds up to a whopping $248.5 billion, according to Giving USA.

If that’s not enough good news, figures from the Independent Sector reflect that 89 percent of households donate dollars. Those dollars add up to an average annual contribution of $1,620.

In addition to their treasure, Americans are giving arguably something more valuable—their time and talent. According to the same study, 44 percent of adults volunteer. That’s a phenomenal total of 83.9 million American adult volunteers, the equivalent of more than nine million full-time employees. The financial value of that time and talent? More than $239 billion.

Numbers are tracked nationally as well as by state. Locally, Kansas City, as we all know,is one of the more generous cities in the country when it comes to personal philanthropy. Extensive evidence exists that this tradition will continue, as community pillars prepare to pass the torch to a new generation of civic leaders.

Established three and a half years ago, the Young Leaders Society is a group of community-oriented professionals, affiliated with the United Way, that has experienced phenomenal growth. Made up of area professionals in their 20s, 30s and 40s, the group has more than 650 members, each of whom commits an annual gift of at least $1,200 to the United Way. Members work on volunteer projects, meet other civic and business leaders and become acquainted with prominent area philanthropists.

“This group represents the emerging leaders in Kansas City,” says Andy Martin, director of Leadership Giving at the United Ways of Greater Kansas City. “We are elated with the response so far, and we believe there is even more potential in the city. It’s gratifying to connect people with a shared interest in the community.” Through this group, as Martin explained, members are able to develop their individual leadership skills as well as their community leadership skills.

Dollars and doing aside, perhaps the true value of this group is that it captures the knowledge, experience and wisdom of existing community leaders and passes it along to the civic leaders of tomorrow, ensuring the continuation of community and caring in Kansas City.

“The group also reflects a new style of leadership, one that reflects the need to find ways to balance volunteerism with what are already very busy lives,” says Martin. “Volunteers become active not for prestige, but to assist their community and for their own personal fulfillment.”

When Dan Stalp moved to Kansas City from Omaha in 1994, he knew he wanted to get involved, but wasn’t sure what he was passionate about. “I didn’t want to wait around for something to turn up, but there was no history of something like heart disease or Alzheimer’s that would be an automatic passion,” he says. “I heard someone say once that you can tell a lot about a person by looking at his checkbook and his calendar. That was humbling to me and I wanted to get involved.”

Since he wasn’t sure which cause he would most connect with, Stalp approached the United Way and volunteered through its community review program. He was exposed to the workings of small agencies, large organizations, and a host of groups with a variety of missions. “My first big lesson was how much non-profit agencies are able to do with so little,” he says. “Coming from the business world, I realized there’s a way to accomplish goals and objectives without all the things
that I take for granted.”

Although he did not identify a singular passion, his involvement in United Way led Stalp to the Council on Philanthropy, whose work dovetailed with his consulting business. In a quirk of fate, he learned about Solace House, a center for grieving children and their families.“I had lost loved ones at a young age and I was really jazzed to work with this organization,” he says. “It taught me not to wait for the perfect opportunity; that one thing can be a stepping stone to another.”

Methodical in his ap-proach, Stalp decided to volunteer first in a very hands-on position. After completing 30 hours of training, he served as a group facilitator for children ages 5 through 8. After only four months did he decide to join the board of directors. In volunteer leadership, this method is a bit backward—often board duty comes first.

“All of that training and experience really allowed me to hit the ground running when I joined the board,” says Stalp. He has also been involved with Catholic Charities, TLC for Children and Families and the United Way of Johnson County.

With a list that lengthy, how does he avoid volunteer burnout? Stalp offers another rule: “I limit myself to no more than two boards at a time.” Even if that means passing up doing something he might be interested in, Stalp sees the value of knowing one’s limits. “Before you can take on something new,” he adds, “you have to let go of something else.”

To Jennifer Haile, community involvement is no chore. “To me it’s as natural as breathing,” she notes. “Getting involved rejuvenates me and leaves me feeling fulfilled.”

Haile discovered her passion at a young age—in the first grade as a Girl Scout. She has continued to stay involved in Girl Scouts as a board member of the Mid-Continent Council. “My passion is building and preparing young women to be leaders,” she says. Haile has also recently served as a division leader for the United Way.

But how do such busy people, at the pinnacle of their professional activities and often with young children, find the time to actually get involved? As in so many situations, it’s the busiest people who get the most done. “I schedule volunteer and charity work as part of my calendar,” says Rick Kahle, who is involved with Oper-ation Breakthrough, Centurions, his children’s activities and Ingram’s own CEOpen. “It’s a priority in my life.”

Bucky Brooks shares that attitude. “Setting priorities and staying organized are the keys,” he says. “My volunteer activities are a priority.” He views them, in fact, much as others might view their regular exercise regimen. “Actually,” he adds, “volunteering provides a very necessary balance in my life.” As vice chair and secretary of the Truman Medical Center hospital board, co-chair of the New Frontiers capital campaign for Truman Medical Center Behavioral Health Network, and city councilman for Mission Hills, Brooks certainly has an abundance of balance.

Being able to get others involved is probably the most difficult—but the most necessary—aspect of community leadership. Haile mentions a very simple, but overlooked, piece of advice: “Remember to ask if people want to come along,” she says. “It’s not just about yourself, it’s about getting others involved and jazzed!”

A belief in the kindness of others, which comes easily in Kansas City, also helps. “Like me, I believe most people want to help others, especially the dis-advantaged, to help themselves,” says Brooks.

Each volunteer leader mentioned the importance of learning to give back at an early age. In addition to colleagues, many leaders focus on making sure to get their children involved as well. “My daughter, wife and son have been able to share time and fun experiences together,” says Kahle.

Stalp is a bit more blunt. He makes a rule of “never leaving home without one.” The “one” in question refers to his own children. “They might put up a fuss,” he observes, “but they always end up enjoying the experience.” In bringing his children along Stalp communicates the attitude that “volunteering is an integral part of being in our family.”

No matter the reasons or motives for involvement, volunteers at all levels—donors, drop-ins, board members, pillars—always say they receive far more than they give.

“It’s Emerson’s Law of Compensation,” says Stalp. “Essentially, if you want more, give more.”

Brooks agrees. “Too many of us fear the loss of self through serving others. Actually, it’s the only way to find yourself.”