Amanda Davis (MPA ’02) has been named the new University of Missouri-Kansas City chief advancement officer and president of the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Foundation beginning Nov. 2. Davis has extensive experience in university fundraising, including the creation of advancement infrastructure and the development and execution of a comprehensive $2 billion campaign.
Davis began her fundraising career in Kansas City in 2002, generating more than $600,000 annually for Genesis School. She has extensive knowledge of ÐÔÊӽ紫ý and the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Foundation through her work as director of advancement for the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Law Foundation from 2009-2011.
Continuing to build her career in university advancement, her most recent role was assistant vice president for campaign leadership at the University of Oklahoma Foundation, where she developed programs and policy to accelerate advancement outcomes. Her focus on identifying gift opportunities and prospects contributed to more than $300 million in annual fundraising results.
Davis brings a deep understanding of the Kansas City and ÐÔÊӽ紫ý communities. She will have dual reporting responsibilities to ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Chancellor Mauli Agrawal and the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Foundation Board of Directors. She will also serve on the university Executive Council and have broad authority to shape and build an advancement program supporting ÐÔÊӽ紫ý and ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Athletics through annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, major gifts and gift planning programs, endowment, capital campaigns, stewardship and advancement services.
“Amanda has significant experience and success at large universities that will be key to taking our ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Foundation to the next level,” Chancellor Agrawal says. “She has a passion for cultivating new donors and bringing advancements in technology to improve the way we do business. In addition, we are thrilled that she knows and understands our Kansas City community and we will be excited to incorporate her ideas here at ÐÔÊӽ紫ý.”
She is ready to leverage the existing strengths of the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Foundation for long-term university and community growth and success.
“With the successful staff that is already in place, and the support of the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Foundation board members who are passionate about the community as a whole and the accomplishments of individual students, I know we can execute the vision for accelerating student success, generating significant growth in research and the commitment to further healthcare delivery for the region,” Davis says.
Jerry Reece, chair of the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Foundation Board, says he has high expectations for Davis.
“We are confident that under Amanda’s leadership the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Foundation will continue to be a trusted community partner and exceed its goals for the development of the university,” he says. “We look forward to her engagement with the university and Kansas City communities.”
Co-chairs for the search were Warren Erdman, executive vice president Kansas City Southern Railway and ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Trustee and Sheri Gormley, chief of staff, office of the chancellor at ÐÔÊӽ紫ý.
Davis is excited to be back in Kansas City and ready to reestablish her community ties.
“One of my favorite quotes is from Horace. ‘Begin, be bold, but venture to be wise.’ This corresponds with my view of ÐÔÊӽ紫ý. There’s a vision and an opportunity to be exceptional,” she says.