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Show-Me Institute

EIN 20-1957878 · Saint Louis, MO

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RESEARCH, DEVELOP AND ADVANCE PUBLIC POLICIES THAT ENHANCE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF MISSOURI.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
21.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
13
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$283,770, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $963,916 spent. SHOW-ME INSTITUTE PUBLISHED FIFTEEN (15) STUDIES, ESSAYS, AND REPORTS BY STAFF, TWENTY-ONE (21) COMMENTARIES, AND 179 BLOG POSTS, RELATED TO VARIOUS TOPICS INCLUDING EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, STATE TAXES, AND MISSOURI'S ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE STUDIES, ESSAYS AND REPORTS WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN PRINT FORM, COMMENTARIES WERE PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS, AND ALL STUDIES, ESSAYS, REPORTS, COMMENTARIES, AND BLOG POSTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ONLINE.
  2. $309,944 spent. DRAFTED AND DISSEMINATED NEWSLETTERS, REPORTS AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING INSTITUTE RESEARCH AND EVENTS.
  3. $94,402 spent. IN AND THROUGHOUT MISSOURI, SHOW-ME INSTITUTE HOSTED LECTURES BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL, PARTICIPATED IN PUBLIC EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS EITHER IN-PERSON OR THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING, AND APPEARED IN NUMEROUS MEDIA OUTLETS, I.E., RADIO AND TELEVISION, TO PRESENT ITS RESEARCH FINDINGS TO LOCAL AND STATE NONPROFIT, LEGISLATIVE, MEDIA, AND CITIZEN GROUPS. WITH RESPECT TO LECTURES AND SEMINARS, THE INSTITUTE SPONSORED OR CO-SPONSORED FOUR (4) EVENING LECTURES, THREE IN ST. LOUIS AND ONE IN KANSAS CITY, AND TWO (2) VIRTUAL TOWN HALLS WITH NOTED SCHOLARS AND STAFF, ALL OPENED TO THE PUBLIC. THE INSTITUTE ALSO SPONSORED OR CO-SPONSORED EIGHT (8) IN-PERSON FORUMS IN MISSOURI, SIX IN ST. LOUIS, ONE IN SPRINGFIELD AND ONE IN COLUMBIA; ALL OPENED TO THE PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, THE INSTITUTE PARTICIPATED IN THE CREATION OF FORTY-FIVE (45) PODCASTS RELATED TO ITS RESEARCH TOPICS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.