At The Beacon, we are focused on building something that lasts. That means not only producing strong journalism, but also creating the systems and partnerships that sustain it.
This month, we took a big step in that direction by welcoming Amanda Jackson as our first chief advancement officer.
Amanda brings more than 16 years of experience leading development, marketing and communications for mission-driven organizations across Kansas City. She has managed multimillion-dollar fundraising portfolios, led teams through major rebranding efforts and built relationships that have strengthened community health, education and family well-being.
Before joining The Beacon, Amanda served as vice president of development and communications at CAPACares, where she oversaw all fundraising and external relations. She increased annual revenue, led a 50th anniversary campaign that boosted individual giving by 75% and secured new funding that expanded the organization’s reach, including hiring three new staff positions and undergoing a full agency rebrand. Prior to that, she served as the executive director at the Love Fund for Children, directing the overall strategy and operations to provide programs and direct support to more than 13,000 children across the region.
I first met Amanda in the halls of the William Allen White School of Journalism at KU. We are both alumni, and while we have a few wonderful MU people in our world, I am thrilled to bring another Jayhawk onto the team.
What makes Amanda such a strong fit for The Beacon is her authenticity. She approaches her work the same way we approach ours, with honesty, curiosity and care for the people we serve. As she puts it: “I see fundraising as relationship-building, rooted in transparency, clarity and genuine trust. Collaboration is central to how I lead, promoting spaces where new ideas are welcomed, challenges are learning opportunities and every step forward is celebrated.”
Our ability to bring Amanda on is partially supported by the American Journalism Project, which deeply understands what it takes to build sustainable local news. Their investment helps us strengthen the systems behind our journalism so we can grow in a way that lasts.
For our community, this means stronger and more consistent reporting on the issues that shape daily life. For our journalists, it means greater stability and room to focus on what they do best.
Amanda brings heart, experience and optimism to everything she does. I could not imagine a better person to help carry this work forward.
