The Visit KC Foundation is a 501(c)3 entity associated with the region’s destination management organization. Through programming such as Kansas City Restaurant Week and other initiatives, the Foundation enhances the quality of life for the Kansas City region through tourism advocacy and workforce development.

Below are a few of the Foundation's recent initiatives and the impact they've made.

Kansas City Restaurant Week

Dining out while doing good

Held each January, Kansas City Restaurant Week is a 10-day event showcasing the region's diverse dining scene, offering Kansas Citians and visitors the opportunity to directly support Kansas City’s restaurant industry—including many small, family-owned businesses. A portion of all proceeds also benefit local charities with missions to feed or nurture communities of need.

Since its inception in 2010, the event has raised more than $2.7 million for Kansas City causes, including critical support for the following groups:

Harvesters: The Community Food Network (2010-2014)
BoysGrow (2015)
Children's Center for the Visually Impaired (2016)
Cultivate KC (2017)
Kansas City Community Gardens (2018)
Boys & Girls Clubs of Kansas City (2019)
The Don Bosco Centers (2020-2021)

The Community Meals Project

Serving KC's Food Insecure

The Visit KC Foundation was a core launch partner for this project, collaborating with Chef Collective KC, Bank of America, Charlie Hustle and other regional entities to turn some of the region's most popular restaurants into community kitchens. With an eye towards workforce preservation and food insecurity during the pandemic, the coalition fed more than 7,000 Kansas Citians in need every week during its peak.

DEI within Hospitality

Ensuring a welcoming destination for all

DEI
Through dynamic workshops led by the experts at Sophic Solutions, the Visit KC Foundation helped facilitate a five-part series of informal community conversations about race among Kansas City tourism professionals. Spanning 2021, these virtual discussions are helping to equip community members with a common understanding of historical and current data trends, a shared language, and the ability to identify policies and practices that need to be addressed, both inside and outside the tourism industry.

Thank you to our co-sponsors in this endeavor, the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association and Heartland Coca-Cola.

Other Past Initiatives & Projects:
WaterFire Kansas City
Tour of Missouri
Futuralia

For proposals on future projects or community partnerships, contact Jenny Wilson.