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Literacy Kansas City

EIN 43-1435729 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE LITERACY WITHIN THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES, ADVOCACY, AND COLLABORATION.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$4.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
84
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$173,463, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 61% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $3.8 million spent. LITERACY KC OFFERS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR ADULTS AND FAMILIES TO IMPROVE LITERACY SKILLS AND ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE. EACH TERM, STAFF, TUTORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND INSTRUCTORS BUILD A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE ADULT STUDENTS EXPAND THEIR READING, WRITING, MATH, AND DIGITAL SKILLS. THIS PERSONALIZED APPROACH ALLOWS STUDENTS TO SHAPE THE INSTRUCTION THEY RECEIVE AND DELIVERS A BALANCED CURRICULUM, LEADING TO IMPROVED LITERACY AND LIFE SKILLS. OUR MODEL HAS THREE KEY PARTS. INSTRUCTOR LED: QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS TEACH RELEVANT, RESPONSIVE, AND LEVEL-APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM. TUTOR-DRIVEN: TRAINED VOLUNTEER TUTORS SUPPORT THE INSTRUCTORS AND HELP MEET INDIVIDUAL STUDENT NEEDS. STUDENT-CENTERED: EACH STUDENT IDENTIFIES ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL GOALS AND INSTRUCTORS DESIGN LESSONS TO HELP THEM MEET THESE GOALS. OUR PROGRAMMING INCLUDES HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY PREPARATION CLASSES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING, EXCEL ADULT HIGH SCHOOL (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KC PUBLIC LIBRARY AND MID-CONTINENT PUBLIC LIBRARY), DIGITAL LITERACY CLASSES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE LET'S READ FAMILY READING PROGRAM. DURING 2024-2025, LKC RAN 78 CLASSES WITH 1,875 STUDENTS HAVING 115,000 STUDENT INSTRUCTION HOURS. OF THESE STUDENTS, 853 DEMONSTRATED A GAIN IN PROFICIENCY THROUGH TESTING, PASSED THEIR HISET/GED, OR RECEIVED A CERTIFICATION. FIFTY-EIGHT ACHIEVED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY AND 107 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN IETP. LITERACY KC OFFERS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR ADULTS AND FAMILIES TO IMPROVE LITERACY SKILLS AND ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE. EACH TERM, STAFF, TUTORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND INSTRUCTORS BUILD A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE ADULT STUDENTS EXPAND THEIR READING, WRITING, MATH, AND DIGITAL SKILLS. THIS PERSONALIZED APPROACH ALLOWS STUDENTS TO SHAPE THE INSTRUCTION THEY RECEIVE AND DELIVERS A BALANCED CURRICULUM, LEADING TO IMPROVED LITERACY AND LIFE SKILLS. OUR MODEL HAS THREE KEY PARTS. INSTRUCTOR LED: QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS TEACH RELEVANT, RESPONSIVE, AND LEVEL-APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM. TUTOR-DRIVEN: TRAINED VOLUNTEER TUTORS SUPPORT THE INSTRUCTORS AND HELP MEET INDIVIDUAL STUDENT NEEDS. STUDENT-CENTERED: EACH STUDENT IDENTIFIES ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL GOALS AND INSTRUCTORS DESIGN LESSONS TO HELP THEM MEET THESE GOALS. OUR PROGRAMMING INCLUDES HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY PREPARATION CLASSES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING, EXCEL ADULT HIGH SCHOOL (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KC PUBLIC LIBRARY AND MID-CONTINENT PUBLIC LIBRARY), DIGITAL LITERACY CLASSES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE LET'S READ FAMILY READING PROGRAM. DURING 2024-2025, LKC RAN 78 CLASSES WITH 1,875 STUDENTS HAVING 115,000 STUDENT INSTRUCTION HOURS. OF THESE STUDENTS, 853 DEMONSTRATED A GAIN IN PROFICIENCY THROUGH TESTING, PASSED THEIR HISET/GED, OR RECEIVED A CERTIFICATION. FIFTY-EIGHT ACHIEVED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY AND 107 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN IETP.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 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 June 1987.

    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.