Culture House
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE CULTURE HOUSE'S (TCH) MISSION IS TO POSITIVELY INFLUENCE COMMUNITIES, LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, THROUGH ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS AND TO DEVELOP INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL FACULTIES THROUGH EDUCATION. WE SEEK TO EDUCATE YOUTH IN THE PERFORMING ARTS AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, EQUIPPING THEM FOR CULTURAL LEADERSHIP. TCH'S MISSION IS ALSO TO SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS IN A COMMUNITY OF EXCELLENCE, WHILE MODELING A HEALTHY PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE AND THE ARTS.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- -9.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 58%
- Employees
- 84
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $111,932, executive director
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: 42 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 122% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $1.4 million spent. THE CULTURE HOUSE CONSERVATORY OF THE ARTS OFFERS AS MANY AS 120 SCHOOL YEAR CLASSES AND AS MANY AS 65 SUMMER PROGRAMS TO AS MANY AS 950 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. CLASSES CAN RANGE FROM 1-2 HOURS PER CLASS AND MAY MEET FROM 1-5 TIMES A WEEK. CLASSES CAN LAST FROM 4 MONTHS TO 10 MONTHS LONG. PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS END THE PROGRAM OR COURSE WITH A PERFORMANCE OR SHOWCASE. ART HOLDS AN ANNUAL EXHIBITION AND MUSIC STUDENTS HAVE PERFORMANCE AND RECITAL OPPORTUNITIES. SUMMER PROGRAMS CONSIST OF 1-2 WEEK LONG PROGRAMS MANY OF WHICH END IN A PERFORMANCE. WE OFFER A POST-SECONDARY DANCE PROGRAM OFFERING ACCREDITED COURSEWORK THROUGH VISIBLE MUSIC COLLEGE. PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE A PROFESSIONAL DANCE COMPANY THAT PERFORMS THROUGHOUT KANSAS CITY; A MUSIC RECORDING STUDIO; A LECTURE SERIES; A SUMMER BROADWAY MUSICAL. OUTREACH PROGRAMS INCLUDE ARTS CLASSES FOR AT RISK AND UNDERSERVED YOUTH. IN ADDITION, STORLING DANCE THEATER'S ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD HAS OVER THE YEARS ALLOWED FOR AND ENABLED THE CULTURE HOUSE TO WORK WITH CHURCHES, ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND CITY LEADERS TO SEEK TO BRING HEALING AND RECONCILIATION ACROSS THE RACIAL DIVIDES THROUGH THE ARTS WITHIN THE CITY AND ITS SURROUNDING REGIONS.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 May 1997.
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 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.