Lacy Gordon recently joined Kansas City Ballet’s Philanthropy team as Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager. A Missouri native with deep roots in Kansas City arts nonprofits, she brings extensive experience in fundraising focused on expanding arts access in underserved communities locally and internationally. She served as Chief Program Officer at the HALO Foundation for more than 12 years, helping establish funding strategies and develop programs across seven countries, and has since consulted for nonprofits on capacity building, strategic partnerships, and operations. She attended Columbia College on a vocal scholarship, graduating in 2006 with a bachelor of fine arts, and also studied French at Aix-Marseille University in France.
Corporate sponsorship is as much about value exchange as it is philanthropy. How do you approach articulating the brand benefits of aligning with an organization like Kansas City Ballet to prospective partners?
I believe corporate sponsorship works best when it feels like a genuine partnership. When I speak with prospective partners, I focus on our shared values and how those qualities reflect on their brand: the meaningful connections they can build with our engaged audience, and the powerful experiences we can create together, from unique performances to behind-the-scenes moments that deepen client and employee relationships. I want partners to see that supporting the Ballet isn’t just philanthropy. It’s an opportunity to tell their own brand story in a more inspiring way, one that fosters human connection and community impact.
Beyond corporate partners, you’ll also be deepening relationships with foundations and identifying new grant opportunities. How do you approach prospecting and cultivating funders in a way that positions Kansas City Ballet for long-term foundation support?
Foundation fundraising starts with listening. Before pursuing an opportunity, I want to understand what our partners care about and find authentic alignment between those priorities and Kansas City Ballet’s work on stage and in the community.
Joining an organization with such a prestigious reputation comes with a real responsibility to steward the relationships that already sustain us. At the same time, I see tremendous opportunity to build new partnerships by spotlighting the incredible range of programs Kansas City Ballet offers. Many companies and foundations in our city share our belief that the arts should be accessible to all. My goal is to connect those shared values to meaningful investment so we can keep expanding access and impact.
You studied art history and photography, lived in the south of France, and helped build a membership arts space for women creatives, so clearly the arts have always been personal for you. Do you have a favorite moment in a ballet or performance that still gives you chills?
There is something truly magical about music and dance coming together. I still get chills watching The Nutcracker, particularly when Tchaikovsky’s score and the dancers’ performance align so beautifully in the Grand Pas de Deux. Because the arts have had such a profound impact on my own life, I’m passionate about ensuring they’re accessible to everyone, which is a mission Kansas City Ballet executes exceptionally well through programs like R.O.A.D. and its community partnerships. I’m excited to contribute to those efforts.
What has been the most exciting part of working with Kansas City Ballet so far?
Working at the Bolender Center is inspiring. Being immersed in a building where dancers rehearse and classes are held every day creates a unique environment that genuinely feels like family. Hearing rehearsals in the background is a constant reminder of our mission: to inspire and engage through the beauty, power, and passion of dance. You can feel that everyone here is deeply dedicated to what they do.
Contact Lacy directly at 816.451.8757 or lgordon@kcballet.org.
Header image: Kansas City Ballet’s Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager Lacy Gordon. Photo by Beeh Moynagh.
