Brian Henke
Executive Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Brian Henke is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, bringing a wealth of expertise in financial management, operations, human resources, and strategic planning. As the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Administration at KCAI, Brian plays a pivotal role in overseeing the institution’s financial health and operational strategy. He manages a $100M+ endowment, leads teams across finance, human resources, development, and marketing, and collaborates closely with the Board of Trustees on key initiatives. Under his leadership, KCAI successfully navigated the development and implementation of a comprehensive Strategic Plan in 2024.
Prior to joining KCAI, Brian held significant leadership positions at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, including Director of Operations and Director of Finance and Operations for the Kauffman Scholars, Inc.
His strategic approach to operational efficiency and financial oversight helped drive substantial growth and impact for the foundation’s nonprofit programs. Brian also served as Director of Finance and Operations for the Missouri Charter Public School Association and Outreach International, where he managed multimillion-dollar budgets and secured significant grant funding to support organizational growth.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Missouri – Columbia and completed the prestigious Leadership Certificate Program at Harvard University in 2023 and received the honor of CFO of the year in 2022 from the Kansas City Business Journal. His commitment to excellence has earned him recognition for driving operational transparency and efficiency, including elevating KCAI rating to the highest level with the Gold Transparency Award from Candid in 2024.