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Missouri Parks Association

EIN 43-1270920 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. PROMOTE THE PROTECTION, ENHANCEMENT, AND INTERPRETATION OF MISSOURI STATE PARKS AND HISTORIC SITES.

Income
$150,691
Spending
$271,989
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
41.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
1
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$56,250, executive di

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 44% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 41.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 80% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $97,105 spent. EDUCATIONAL BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, AND MATERIALS ARE PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED TO INFORM THE MEMBERSHIP & PUBLIC ABOUT THE MISSOURI STATE PARK SYSTEM RESOURCES. THE ASSOCIATION FURTHER PROMOTES SERVING, RENEWING, RETAINING, AND AUGMENTING MEMBERSHIP.
  2. $121,859 spent. KANSAS CITY, ST. LOUIS, JOPLIN, AND COLUMBIA URBAN EFFORTS TO EXPOSE UNDERSERVED URBAN YOUTHS TO MISSOURI STATE PARKS AND RELATED SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL THEMES; THE 'SENIORS TO STATE PARKS OUTREACH PROGRAM' IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MISSOURI STATE PARKS AND MISSOURI PARKS ASSOCIATION (MPA) THAT PROVIDES EXCLUSIVE INCENTIVES AND SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED FOR SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO EXPLORE AND ENJOY MISSOURI'S OUTDOORS AND ITS PAST; INVOLVEMENT WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY REACH THE ASSOCIATION'S GOALS; SUPPORT OF AN AWARDS PROGRAM FOR STATE PARK EMPLOYEES TO RECOGNIZE THEIR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION; AN ANNUAL MEETING AND OTHER MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES TO ALLOW MEMBERS TO DISCUSS AREAS OF INTEREST AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING THE MISSOURI STATE PARK SYSTEM. KANSAS CITY, ST. LOUIS, JOPLIN, AND COLUMBIA URBAN EFFORTS TO EXPOSE UNDERSERVED URBAN YOUTHS TO MISSOURI STATE PARKS AND RELATED SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL THEMES; THE 'SENIORS TO STATE PARKS OUTREACH PROGRAM' IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MISSOURI STATE PARKS AND MISSOURI PARKS ASSOCIATION (MPA) THAT PROVIDES EXCLUSIVE INCENTIVES AND SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED FOR SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO EXPLORE AND ENJOY MISSOURI'S OUTDOORS AND ITS PAST; INVOLVEMENT WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY REACH THE ASSOCIATION'S GOALS; SUPPORT OF AN AWARDS PROGRAM FOR STATE PARK EMPLOYEES TO RECOGNIZE THEIR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION; AN ANNUAL MEETING AND OTHER MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES TO ALLOW MEMBERS TO DISCUSS AREAS OF INTEREST AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING THE MISSOURI STATE PARK SYSTEM.
  3. $14,702 spent. AN ONGOING NEWSLETTER, WEBSITE, AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE PROVIDES FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION REGARDING CURRENT ISSUES AND HIGHLIGHTS ACTIVITIES IN OUR EXISTING PARK SYSTEM.

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 July 1996.

    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.