Cultivate Kansas City Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GROW FOOD, FARMS AND COMMUNITY IN SUPPORT OF A SUSTAINABLE, HEALTHY AND LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 53%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 435
- Highest pay
- $104,673, executive director
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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 74% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $476,114 spent. JUNIPER GARDENS TRAINING FARM OPERATES THE NEW ROOTS FOR REFUGEES PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF NE KANSAS. CULTIVATE KC PROVIDES LAND, INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT TO HELP REFUGEE FAMILIES START AND RUN THEIR OWN SMALL FARM BUSINESSES. CULTIVATE KC MANAGES COMMUNITY GARDENS ON SITE AND PROVIDES KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO OTHER NEARBY GARDENS AND FARMS. EACH YEAR, 16-17 PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE TRAINED. BY INCREASING FARMERS, VEGETABLE FARMS, AND HEALTHY FOODS IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, THE TRAINING FARM HELPS TO CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT TO MAKE HEALTHY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES READILY AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS OF THESE COMMUNITIES.
- $412,345 spent. FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM - FOOD ACCESS IS AN INNOVATIVE, DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR NUTRITION ASSISTANCE MATCHING PROGRAM HELPING OVER 2,500 LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ACCESS TO HEALTHY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN INCENTIVE MATCH FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) AND SUPPLEMENTAL DOLLARS TO THE SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM (SFMNP).
- $392,501 spent. METRO FARMS & FOOD SYSTEMS - METRO FARMS & FOOD SYSTEMS HELPS DEVELOP URBAN FARMS AND COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD PROJECTS THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, GROWERS NETWORK DEVELOPMENT, COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS AND POLICY/SYSTEM CHANGE.
- $165,411 spent. WESTPORT COMMON FARMS: THER FARM CONTINUES TO GROW INTO A FOOD AND FARMING EDUCATION HUB AS WELL AS A RESOURCE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY GROWERS, STUDENTS, BUSINESSES AND VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL AROUND THE CITY CONNECT WITH THEIR FOOD AND WITH EACH OTHER.
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
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 October 21, 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.