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West Central Missouri Community Action Agency

EIN 43-0838410 · Appleton City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WEST CENTRAL HELPS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL BY CULTIVATING AND COORDINATING RESOURCES, BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS, AND ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE.

Income
$15.9 million
Spending
$15.2 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 57%
Employees
119
Volunteers
490
Highest pay
$153,909, chief executive officer (thru 02/25)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 August 31, 2025, 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. $8.8 million spent. WEST CENTRAL'S HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (HCV) PROGRAM: PROVIDED OVER 1,080 HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN DECENT, SAFE, AND SANITARY HOUSING OF THEIR CHOICE. PARTICIPANTS OF THE HCV PROGRAM ARE OFFERED THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HOUSING FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY (FSS) PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS APPROXIMATELY 141 FAMILIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON REMOVING BARRIERS TO THEIR SUCCESS IN ORDER TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT.
  2. $3.2 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES SERVED 1,029 INDIVIDUALS IN 509 HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY SERVICES, WITH 93 PERCENT OF THEM ACHIEVING ONE OR MORE OUTCOMES. NINETY-NINE POINT EIGHT THREE PERCENT OF THE 5,802 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING LIHEAP ASSISTANCE AVOIDED A UTILITY SHUT OFF. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF ENROLLED SENIORS 65+ AND 100 PERCENT OF THOSE WITH DISABILITIES WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENT LIVING. NINETY-NINE PERCENT OF INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTIONS REPORTED A BETTER SENSE OF FOOD SECURITY. WORKFORCE YOU CONTINUED TO GROW, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY IN ADDRESSING WORKFORCE BARRIERS THROUGH FOCUSED EVENTS INCLUDING A TRANSPORTATION SUMMIT, CHILD CARE AND MAPPING, AND A HOUSING MIXER. WORKFORCE YOU LAUNCHED A GROUND BREAKING PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL CHILD CARE PROVIDER AND SCHOOL DISTRICT, BRINGING 48 NEW OPENINGS AT A LICENSED FACILITY ACCEPTING STATE SUBSIDY, AND OFFERING A SLIDING FEE SCALE. EIGHT COMMUNITY PARTNER MOUS WERE ESTABLISHED TO WORK JOINTLY AND BUILD OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY. ONE FOSTER CARE SIMULATION WITH 14 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF STEP UP TO LEADERSHIP PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS INCREASED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY ACTION TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF PROGRAM INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AVOIDED EVICTION.
  3. $2.3 million spent. WEST CENTRAL'S ENERGY CONSERVATION UNIT ADMINISTERS THE WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WAP): THIS PROGRAM ENABLES LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO REDUCE THEIR ENERGY BILLS BY MAKING THEIR HOMES MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. FUNDS ARE USED TO IMPROVE THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF DWELLINGS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED, USING THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND TESTING PROCEDURES AVAILABLE IN THE HOUSING INDUSTRY. THE UNIT ALSO ADMINISTERS THE HOME REPAIR OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (HERO). THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING TO MEET THE NEEDS FOR HOME REPAIR, MODIFICATION, AND MAINTENANCE FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOMEOWNERS IN THE NON-METROPOLITAN AREAS OF MISSOURI. WEST CENTRAL WEATHERIZED 58 HOMES AND REHABILITATED 18 HOMES IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 August 2025.

    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 May 1966.

    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 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.