Dayton Moore, Unite KC Founder and Board President
Dayton Moore
Founder & Board President
Dayton Moore is the Founder & Board President of Unite KC. (Read that story)
Background Highlights:
Moore served as General Manager of the Kansas City Royals starting June 8, 2006.
Later became President of Baseball Operations with the Royals, then Senior Advisor for the Texas Rangers.
Beyond baseball: Founded the “C You In the Major Leagues” Foundation (youth, education, families, faith).
Why He Launched Unite KC:
Moore’s passion for unity, for seeing people value one another and communities thrive, translated beyond sports. According to Unite KC’s website, his call for racial reconciliation and community transformation in Kansas City became a catalyst for the movement.
Major Efforts & Milestones:
Moore helped bring together churches, nonprofits, community leaders around the concept that Kansas City couldn’t ignore its history of racial division—and that “the only way was through.”
Through Unite KC, initiatives were launched to empower individuals and neighborhoods: programs like “Do One Good Thing” and the BLESS App aimed at practical neighbor-engagement.
Under Moore’s board leadership, Unite KC emphasises that unity is built both in heart and in action: uniting people, neighborhoods, and the city.
Personal Note:
Moore’s leadership style is rooted in faith, mission, belief in the inherent value of every person—and the conviction that real change happens when we engage our neighbors meaningfully, not just talk about it.
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Dayton Moore was named Senior Advisor to the Texas Rangers in November 2022. Previously, he served as the Royals' sixth general manager in franchise history, starting on June 8, 2006, and was later named President of Baseball Operations/General Manager in 2021. Moore also founded Unite KC, where he serves as President of the Board of Directors. His passion for people, unity, and raising the next generation ignited a meaningful conversation among Kansas City leaders, leading to the birth of Unite KC. This grassroots, faith-based movement is committed to pursuing racial reconciliation in the greater Kansas City area.
From the start of his tenure with the Royals, Moore set out to bring a World Championship back to Kansas City—a goal realized in 2015 when the Royals defeated the New York Mets in five games to claim their first World Series title in 30 years. This triumph came on the heels of the team’s 2014 run to the Fall Classic, where they fell just short against the San Francisco Giants. The Royals were one of only four teams since 1997 to reach the World Series in consecutive seasons. Even during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Royals made progress in their rebuilding process under first-year manager Mike Matheny, finishing strong with a 12-6 record in their last 18 games and showcasing the potential of young, homegrown talent.
Moore's tenure in Kansas City has been among the most successful in franchise history. Under his leadership, the Royals earned 18 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, 28 All-Star Game selections, five Silver Sluggers, and a Cy Young Award. Since 2006, Kansas City has led Major League Baseball in Rawlings Gold Gloves and holds the American League's longest active streak of consecutive seasons with at least one Gold Glove winner. The 2015 season was historic, with the Royals claiming their first American League Central Division title, achieving an AL-best 95 wins, and setting franchise records in attendance, television ratings, and All-Star Game selections.
Moore's achievements have garnered numerous accolades. He was inducted into the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame and named Kansan of the Year in 2014. He was also honored as Major League Baseball’s “Executive of the Year” by the GIBBY Awards in 2014 and 2015 and received the same recognition from the Kansas City Sports Commission in 2015. Additional awards include the John J. “Buck” O’Neil Diamond MVP Award from the Boys & Girls Club and the Negro League Baseball Museum’s Rube Foster Award for AL Executive of the Year in 2016. That same year, Moore was a featured speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast Leadership Luncheon in Washington, D.C., an event established under Kansas native President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
In 2017, Moore oversaw the opening of the Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy. This $21 million facility serves as a model for youth baseball and softball development while emphasizing character building and educational advancement for urban youth. Moore’s vision for the Academy integrates it into the Royals' minor league system while breaking down economic and social barriers within the community.
Moore’s impact extends far beyond baseball. In 2013, he founded the “C” You In the Major Leagues Foundation to support youth baseball, education, families in crisis, and faith-based initiatives. The foundation’s mission is to provide hope and support while developing character-driven leaders. In 2018, the foundation launched the C-10 Mentoring & Leadership program, which pairs high school students from diverse backgrounds with mentors, offering life skills, leadership training, service opportunities, and scholarships. To date, 27 students have participated in the program, and the foundation has granted over $1 million to more than 60 organizations, including City Union Mission, Higher M-Pact, and Turn the Page KC.
In 2014, Moore authored the book More Than a Season (updated in 2016), with proceeds benefiting the foundation. Before joining the Royals, Moore built an impressive resume with the Atlanta Braves, serving as Director of Player Personnel during their streak of 14 consecutive division titles. He began his career with the Braves as an area scouting supervisor before moving to their front office in 1996. Moore also served as an assistant baseball coach at George Mason University, his alma mater, where he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Moore and his wife, Marianne, live in Leawood, Kansas. They have two daughters, Ashley and Avery, and a son, Robert, who was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022. Moore remains a dedicated leader in the Kansas City community and continues to inspire through his vision and commitment to excellence on and off the field.
