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Upper Room Kc

EIN 43-1803509 · 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

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHILE ACTIVELY ENGAGING AND CHALLENGING STUDENTS TO ENJOY LEARNING. WE WORK TO SUPPORT URBAN CORE NEIGHBORHOODS BY OFFERING AND DEVELOPING QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 82%
Employees
200
Volunteers
225
Highest pay
$181,081, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 December 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 (4)
  1. $2.2 million spent. SUMMER ACADEMIC PROGRAMUPPER ROOM KC'S SUMMER ACADEMIC PROGRAM CONTINUED TO ALIGN WITH MISSOURI LEARNING STANDARDS, PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE EIGHT-WEEK EXPERIENCE WITH 11 HOURS OF DAILY PROGRAMMING FOR OVER 1,500 KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENTS ACROSS 13 SITES, INCLUDING COMMUNITY CENTERS, SCHOOLS, AND CHURCHES. CERTIFIED TEACHERS DELIVERED ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION DESIGNED TO REINFORCE AND PREVIEW CORE SUBJECTS FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, WHILE ENRICHMENT OFFERINGS IN ART, MUSIC, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROMOTED WHOLE-CHILD DEVELOPMENT. STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN FIELD TRIPS AND HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT EXPANDED CLASSROOM LESSONS INTO REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)SUPPORTED BY STATE FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, ALL PROGRAMS REMAINED FREE, SUBSIDIZED, OR LOW COST, ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE KANSAS CITY AREA.
  2. $585,948 spent. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMUPPER ROOM KC'S AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDED INDIVIDUALIZED ACADEMIC SUPPORT, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, AND DAILY MEALS FOR MORE THAN 250 STUDENTS ACROSS FIVE PROGRAM SITES. CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND TUTORS OFFERED 1-ON-1 HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, LITERACY AND MATH ENRICHMENT, AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES ALIGNED WITH STUDENTS' SCHOOL CURRICULA. IN 2025, UPPER ROOM STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC SCHOOL, ACADEMY FOR INTEGRATED ARTS (AFIA), AND ACADEMIE LAFAYETTE (OAK & CHERRY CAMPUSES), WHILE EXPANDING COLLABORATIONS WITH ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS TO BETTER MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE PROGRAM CONTINUED TO PRIORITIZE ACADEMIC CONTINUITY, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND FAMILY SUPPORT, PARTICULARLY FOR WORKING PARENTS SEEKING STRUCTURED, SAFE AFTER-SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS. ALL PROGRAMMING AT UPPER ROOM KC IS STATE LICENSED FOR ALL AFTER-SCHOOL SITES, UNDERSCORING ITS COMMITMENT TO QUALITY AND COMPLIANCE.
  3. $102,728 spent. EARLY LEARNING CENTERUPPER ROOM KC'S EARLY LEARNING CENTER (ELC) REMAINED TEMPORARILY CLOSED DURING 2025 AS THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO SEEK A SUITABLE FACILITY FOR RELOCATION. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO EVALUATE COST-EFFECTIVE OPTIONS TO REOPEN A MODERNIZED, ACCREDITED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER IN THE FUTURE.
  4. IN ADDITION TO ITS CORE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, UPPER ROOM KC CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS THROUGH FAMILY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS, LITERACY INITIATIVES, AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. IN 2025, UPPER ROOM PARTICIPATED IN, COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIRS AND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS WORKSHOPS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS. THESE INITIATIVES PROVIDED FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, HEALTH AND WELLNESS INFORMATION, AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES, REACHING AN ESTIMATED 1,500 INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO ENGAGED VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO EXPAND OUTREACH AND SUSTAIN ITS MISSION OF EMPOWERING FAMILIES THROUGH EDUCATION AND SUPPORT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 July 1998.

    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.