Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet

 Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet (SKC) is an advocacy group that provides left-of-center organizing and activist training within the Kansas City area. 1 SKC is named after the late U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus. 2

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Website: www.shirleyskitchencabinet.org
Formation:

2018

Founder:

Michele Watley

Location: Kansas City, MO View on map
Tax ID: 82-4463445

Contents

    Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet (SKC) is registered as a charitable nonprofit with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). However, SKC’s donation page links to the website of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. 3

    Activities

    Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet (SKC) provides left-of-center organizing and activist training within the Kansas City area while advocating that African-American female activists be more involved within nonprofit  organizations. 1 SKC previously operated a blog on its website to discuss politics and other policy topics on health care, education, and “eradication of violence.” 4

    SKC founder Michele Watley has appeared on several podcasts to promote left-of-center policies on issues like health care, discrimination, and voting rights. 5 6

    SKC “successfully led the charge to pass” the CROWN Act in Kansas City, Missouri and Lawrence, Atchison, and Wichita, Kansas. These local bills were based on the 2022 Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act passed in the U.S. Congress. The bills prohibited discrimination on the basis of natural hair styles or textures, and was designed to combat alleged discrimination against Black women. 7

    Leadership

    Michele Watley is the founder of Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet. Watley is also the founder and political consulting agency Griot Group. She previously worked as an adjunct professor of communications at Avila University. From 2013 to 2016, she served as the director of the Kansas City Office of then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander (D). From 2011 to 2012, Watley was appointed to the Engage KC Leadership Board by Kansas City Mayor Sly James (D). Earlier in her career, Watley worked at Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri. 8 9 10 11

    Funding

    In 2021, the REACH Healthcare Foundation donated $20,000 for “technical assistance” to Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet as part of the foundation’s “Centering Black Voices” Fund.” 12

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $442,931
    • Number of Grants: 16
    • Number of Funders: 11

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $90,0002021 Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationSUPPORT TO EQUIP BUSINESS OWNERS, PRIMARILY FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI, WITH ADVOCACY SKILLS. 202104-10457
    $60,0002022 Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationSUPPORT TO EQUIP BUSINESS OWNERS, PRIMARILY FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI, WITH ADVOCACY SKILLS. 202104-10457
    $50,0002022 Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationSUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILIDNG FOCUSED ON COMPETENCY AROUND FUNDRAISING AND THE CREATION OF A STRATEGY OUTLINING ADVOCACY LADDER OF ENGAGEMENT TARGETED TO BLACK ENTREPRENEURS. 202208-12890
    $47,7502020 Community ChangeREINVESTMENT
    $31,1362021 Missouri Foundation for HealthAmplify Health and Vitality ST. Louis will work to spread the word about the benefits and need for our community to get vaccinated by working with trusted Black led entities, hosting information events and providing resources to those looking to get vaccinated.
    $30,0002021 Civic NationCovid-19 vaccine outreach
    $25,0002021 Solidaire Network, IncUrgent Protection Grant
    $20,0002022 The Reach Healthcare FoundationClose Health Equity Gap
    $20,0002022 Civic NationCOVID-19 VACCINE OUTREACH
    $15,0002021 Community ChangeBLACK LED ORGANIZING
    $14,0002022 Community ChangeBLACK LED ORGANIZING
    $10,0002022 Amalgamated Charitable Foundation IncGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    $10,0002021 Community Change ActionBLACK LED ORGANIZING
    $5,0002022 Groundswell Fundto educate and mobilize their community for direct action and to hold law enforcement and media accountable for their actions in the aftermath of the discovery of a potential serial killer targeting Black women in Kansas City
    $452022 Amazonsmile FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. “About Shirley’s KC.” Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.shirleyskitchencabinet.org/about.
    2. “bryngreenwood.” Threads. March 1, 2025. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.threads.com/@bryngreenwood/post/DGq6SJdygse.
    3. “Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet Fund.” Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://gkccf.kimbia.com/shir00.
    4. “Amplify Your Voice.” Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.shirleyskitchencabinet.org/blog
    5. “Women’s Equality Day.” LISC National. August 26, 2022. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.lisc.org/kansas-city/regional-stories/womens-equality-day/.
    6. “Your Voice, Your Vote: Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet’s Michele Watley on the 56th Voting Rights Anniversary – and Voting Rights Now.” HOT 103 JAMZ. August 6, 2021. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.kprs.com/2021/08/06/your-voice-your-vote-shirleys-kitchen-cabinets-michelle-watley-on-the-56th-voting-rights-anniversary-and-voting-rights-now/.
    7. McBride, Melonne. “Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet celebrates National CROWN Act Day.” KCTV 5. July 3, 2024. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.kctv5.com/2024/07/03/shirleys-kitchen-cabinet-celebrates-national-crown-act-day/.
    8. [1] “REACH Announces New Initiative Highlighting Black-Led Organizations.” REACH Healthcare Foundation. February 11, 2021. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://reachhealth.org/2021/02/11/reach-announces-new-initiative-highlighting-black-led-organizations/.
    9.  “Michele L. Watley.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelelwatley/.
    10. “The Griot Group.” X. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://x.com/thegriotgroup.
    11. “About Michele.” We’re Not In Kansas Anymore. Accessed May 13, 2025.  https://michellelwatley.wordpress.com/about/.
    12. “REACH Announces New Initiative Highlighting Black-Led Organizations.” REACH Healthcare Foundation. February 11, 2021. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://reachhealth.org/2021/02/11/reach-announces-new-initiative-highlighting-black-led-organizations/.