United WE Selected by Kauffman Foundation to Lead Groundbreaking Research on Occupational Licensing Barriers
(Kansas City, MO) – United WE is honored to be named an inaugural grantee of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s new research initiative focused on closing wealth gaps and advancing equitable economic mobility. United WE will lead a multi-year research project examining how occupational licensing barriers limit economic opportunity – particularly for women and underrepresented communities in the Kansas City region.
This effort aligns with United WE’s ongoing work to eliminate structural barriers to women’s economic participation through data-driven research, policy reform, and civic engagement. The research will investigate how current licensing requirements affect career mobility, entrepreneurship, and workforce access, and will propose policy solutions that increase equitable access to licensed professions.
“We’re grateful to the Kauffman Foundation for investing in this critical research,” said Wendy Doyle, president & CEO of United WE. “Occupational licensing can be a hidden barrier that keeps talented individuals–especially women–from advancing economically. This grant enables us to examine those barriers closely and develop actionable solutions for state and local leaders.”
The grant is part of the Kauffman Foundation’s first full round of funding under its new research strategy launched in 2024. The initiative aims to deepen understanding of the structural drivers of wealth gaps and generate practical tools, data, and policies to address them. Projects in this inaugural cohort explore a range of themes including student debt, community wealth building, and opportunity hoarding.
“The urgency of closing wealth gaps demands bold ideas and data-driven action,” said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation. “We are proud to stand alongside this group of researchers who are not only asking hard questions but also working toward practical, scalable change in communities across the country.”
Over the next three years, United WE will produce research publications, convenings, and policy briefs, and will engage key stakeholders—including occupational boards, employers, and workforce organizations—to ensure findings are translated into tangible impact. The project will also explore how reforms in occupational licensing can boost entrepreneurship and economic mobility in Missouri, Kansas, and beyond.
