Paul Carttar, whose job at Kansas University was reorganized out of existence, said he planned to remain in Lawrence and work as an independent consultant for nonprofit organizations.

“We don’t want to leave,” said Carttar, who grew up in Lawrence and has deep family roots here. “Lawrence is a fantastic place to live.”

Carttar was executive vice chancellor for external affairs from 2004 until last July. He was then reassigned to special assistant to the chancellor as part of a reorganization, although he retained his $202,000 per year salary.

His new position had a one-year time limit, which expired last month. Now Carttar, 53, who is married and has three children, says he will work out of his home helping nonprofits achieve their goals, which he described as his “real passion.”

He has a lot of experience in the field. He was chief operating officer of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Mo., for about a year, and helped start a Boston-based consulting firm, The Bridgespan Group.

Since leaving KU, he said he had already signed up a couple of clients. He said he doesn’t believe he has to relocate to the East or West Coast to be successful in this venture.

“I see no reason to believe I can’t have my cake and eat it, too,” he said.

Carttar praised his former employer, KU.

“The university is one of the most critical assets the state of Kansas has, and there are a lot of incredibly smart, committed people at KU,” he said.