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Heart of America Indian Center

EIN 43-1012392 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE KANSAS CITY INDIAN CENTER IS TO ENCOURAGE SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITY BY PROMOTING TRADITIONAL AND CULTURAL VALUES.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$901,221
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
16
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$80,000, 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 81% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $549,193 spent. HEALTH AND WELFARE: MORNINGSTAR OUTREACH PROGRAM INCLUDES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNSELING, INCLUDING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER OUTPATIENT TREATMENT, WELLBRIETY GROUPS, PREVENTATIVE EDUCATION AND ACTIVITES AND OUTREACH; ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES HEALTH SERVICES TO PREVENT, PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO COVID-19, INFLUENZA AND STIS; HEALTH SCREENING, EDUCATIONAL AND PREVENTATIVE SERVICES. THIS PROGRAM RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING FROM INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES FOR SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.
  2. $133,133 spent. FOOD PANTRY: THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A FOOD PANTRY AND USDA FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM FOR LOCAL MISSOURI RESIDENTS, NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE, AND FOOD PANTRY FOR KANSAS NATIVE AMERICANS. INCOME ELIGIBILITY IS BASED ON FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES. PANTRY COSTS INCURRRED IN SERVICE TO LOW-INCOME NATIVE AMERICANS RESIDING IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI GEOGRAPHIC AREA ARE REIMBURSED BY A COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI.
  3. $45,932 spent. CIVIC AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES RESOURCES AND EDUCATION FOR CIVIC AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING FACILITATING VOTER REGISTRATION AND GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) ACTIVITIES, ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND EVENTS
  4. $77,893 spent. CULTURAL ACTIVITIES: THE CENTER HOSTS VARIOUS EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE AND TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO NATIVE AMERICANS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.SOCIAL JUSTICE EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY: THE ORGANIZATION UNDERTAKES EDUCATIONAL AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO FOSTER CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND POLICY CHANGE AND COUNTER DISCRIMINATION, INVISIBILITY AND THE DOMINANT NARRATIVES THAT LIMIT NATIVE OPPORTUNITY, ACCESS TO JUSTICE, HEALTH AND SELF-DETERMINATION. DIGITAL EQUITY: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ACCESS TO EQUIPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE EQUITY IN ACCESSING SERVICES AND BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.PROVIDED COVID RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO NATIVE AMERICANS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

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 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 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 1976.

    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.

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