Community Builders of Kansas City

Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC) was at a crossroads. The organization had experienced early success as an impactful community development corporation, but in recent years, it had relied on a parent company that forgave debt and financed its operations and projects. When that parent company decided to cease operations, CBKC faced a harsh realization: it needed to become more market-driven and sustainable.

At the time, the CEO was highly skilled at managing debt and had successfully managed the organization’s real estate portfolio well enough to support critical operations. However, the need for consistent and secure funding loomed, and different skill sets were needed from executive leadership.

SGA Strategies engaged the board, staff, and CEO simultaneously to facilitate succession planning and strategic planning. The result? The planned retirement of the current CEO, the onboarding of a new CEO, and the completion of the organization’s new strategic plan. This organizational transformation resulted in more than $45 million in new investments within the first 18 months of the new CEO’s tenure.

SGA Strategies also helped CBKC secure an $800,000 federal grant to acquire a grocery store that was at risk of closing. Had the store closed, it would have created a significant food desert for the Kansas City community.