The Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey has been awarded the $375,000 grant from the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation. Tyrone Aiken, the group’s executive director, says the grant announced Friday is a milestone.

The Kansas City Star reports (http://bit.ly/14rH9iv) the money will be used to implement a strategic plan that includes an arts festival at 18th and Vine and a series of annual symposiums focused on diversity in the arts.

The gift is a “challenge grant” that the Friends of Alvin Ailey will receive in three annual payments. Aiken says the organization has to match it through “new or increased gifts.” That translates into $750,000 for the group, which has an annual budget of between $900,000 and $1.3 million.