Union Station Kansas City Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UNION STATION KANSAS CITY, INC. IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING ITS HISTORIC MONUMENT AND ITS STORIES, INSPIRING LIFELONG LEARNING, AND CREATING LASTING MEMORIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $20.5 million
- Spending
- $14.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 20.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 55%
- Employees
- 140
- Volunteers
- 280
- Highest pay
- $670,907, chief executive officer
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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 36% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $4.7 million spent. UNION STATION KANSAS CITY, INC. SEEKS TO INCREASE ITS SUSTAINABILITY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND EFFICIENCY BY BRINGING QUALITY EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXHIBITS AND DISPLAYS TO THE BI-STATE AREA CONSISTENT WITH ITS MISSION OF ENRICHING THE CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE OF KANSAS CITY. BY PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTROLLED SPACE TO HOST ADDITIONAL REVENUE-GENERATING EXHIBITS AND DISPLAYS, UNION STATION IS PURSUING A MULTI-FACETED REVENUE PLAN THAT INCLUDES EXHIBIT REVENUE GARNERED THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS, CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS, GRANTS, AND TICKET SALES. IN JANUARY THROUGH MARCH 2024, APPROXIMATELY 29,470 VISITORS ATTENDED THE FINAL MONTHS OF BRICKTIONARY: THE ULTIMATE LEGO A-Z. THEN, FROM MAY THROUGH DECEMBER 2024, DISNEY 100: THE EXHIBITION ATTRACTED 130,106 IN ATTENDANCE, WITH A VERY STRONG SHOWING FROM LOCAL AND REGIONAL SCHOOL GROUPS. THE TRAVELING EXHIBITS IN 2024 RESULTED IN REVENUE OF $3,336,227 WHICH EQUATES TO 36% OF TOTAL ADMISSIONS TO EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS AND SHOWS FOR 2024.
- $4.6 million spent. SCIENCE CITY AT UNION STATION, AN AFFILIATE OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION (WASHINGTON D.C.), AND THE ARVIN GOTTLIEB PLANETARIUM, GENERATED REVENUE OF $3,575,719 (APPROX. 39% OF TOTAL ADMISSIONS TO EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS AND SHOWS FOR 2024). AWARDED THE 2015 ASSOCIATION OF SCIENCE-TECHNOLOGY CENTER'S INTERNATIONAL LEADING-EDGE AWARD FOR VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE TOP 25 SCIENCE CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY BY PARENTS MAGAZINE, SCIENCE CITY ANNUALLY EDUCATES AND ENRICHES THOUSANDS OF SCIENCE-THIRSTY YOUTH OF ALL AGES, INCLUDING THE YOUNGEST LEARNERS. SCIENCE CITY AT UNION STATION KANSAS CITY IS A DYNAMIC, HANDS-ON SCIENCE CENTER FEATURING MORE THAN 300 INDIVIDUAL INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND DAILY PROGRAMMING. KIDS OF ALL AGES EXPERIENCE THE AMAZING WORLD OF STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS AND MATH) FIRST-HAND THROUGH FUN, ENGAGING EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION TO CHANGING MONTHLY THEMES AND DAILY PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES OPEN TO ALL GUESTS, SCIENCE CITY OFFERS ONSITE CURRICULUM BASED PROGRAMS TO SCHOOL GROUPS (PRE-K-12) AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. STEAM EDUCATION IS AT THE CORE OF SCIENCE CITY, BE IT EXHIBITS, DEMONSTRATIONS, CLASSES, SHOWS, PRESENTATIONS OR SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS. CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE HEART OF KANSAS CITY AND PART OF THE HISTORIC AND ACCLAIMED UNION STATION COMPLEX, SCIENCE CITY HAS OVER 100,000 SQUARE FEET OF INTERACTIVE FUN AND LEARNING. SCIENCE CITY INCLUDES MORE THAN 12,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE THAT HAS BEEN REIMAGINED AND DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS. SCIENCE CITY ALSO INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING FOUR AREAS THAT EACH ADDRESS A SPECIFIC AGE RANGE AND TYPE OF PLAY. THE FIRST IS LET'S PLAY, DESIGNED FOR YOUNG LEARNERS AGES 3 AND UNDER, WHERE LITTLE ONES LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM. NEXT IS CREATIVE CORNER, WHERE CHILDREN CAN ENGAGE IN EARLY STEAM SKILLS SUCH AS MAKING OBSERVATIONS, EXPERIMENTING, PREDICTING, CATEGORIZING, DEVELOPING MATERIAL AND TOOL LITERACY, AND PRACTICING FINE MOTOR SKILLS. THE THIRD NEW AREA IS ALL ABOARD, TRAIN THEMED AND GEARED FOR OUR YOUNGER FRIENDS AGES 4-7. CHILDREN CAN HOP ON OUR PLAY STEAM LOCOMOTIVE, ROLE PLAY IN THE SLEEPER & DINING CARS, TRANSPORT GOODS AND MATERIALS AT LOAD IT UP, CREATE A TOY TRAIN VILLAGE AT BUILD-A-TRACK, CRAWL THROUGH THE MODEL TRAIN DISPLAY, AND MOVE FREIGHT AT THE INTERMODAL TABLE. IN 2024 WE ALSO HAD OUR GRAND OPENING OF EYE SPY, WHICH IS AN UPGRADED VERSION OF "MISTER E HOTEL." THIS INCLUDES EVEN MORE ILLUSIONS AND EXPLAINS WHY OUR EYES SEE THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE. ADDITIONALLY, "STEP RIGHT UP" EXHIBITION OPENED IN 2021 CONTINUING THE PACE OF REIMAGINING AND REFRESHING SCIENCE CITY FOR SUSTAINED VITALITY AND VIBRANCY. RIVETING ROBOTS OFFERS GUESTS THE CHANCE TO BUILD AND CODE ROBOTS, RACE ROBOTS AND LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT TASKS ROBOTS CAN COMPLETE. SCIENCE CITY ALSO HOSTS OTHER STEAM PROGRAMS AND THEMED EVENTS FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND ADULTS. THESE INCLUDE STUDENT EVENTS SUCH AS THE GREATER KANSAS CITY SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR, WHICH TYPICALLY HOSTS ABOUT 1,000 PROJECTS SUBMITTED BY STUDENTS IN 4TH-12TH GRADES, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR FINALISTS AND WINNERS; EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS (EYH), AN ALL-GIRLS EVENT, PROMOTING STEAM EDUCATION TO OVER 400 MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WITH LOCAL WOMEN STEAM PROFESSIONALS; AND A SIMILAR PROGRAM FOR 4TH AND 5TH GRADE JUNIOR GIRL SCOUTS, SPONSORED BY TERRACON, CALLED LIVE STEAM. OUR EDUCATOR PROGRAMS INCLUDE A VARIETY OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WHICH COVER A BROAD RANGE OF STEAM RELATED TOPICS, AS WELL AS AN EDUCATOR RESOURCE DAY, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER MANY OF THE STEAM ORGANIZATIONS AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE COMMITTED TO ENHANCING STEAM EDUCATION IN AND AROUND KANSAS CITY. SCIENCE CITY'S NORMAL BUSINESS OPERATION DAYS & HOURS ARE TUESDAY-SATURDAY, 10:00AM-5:00PM & SUNDAY, 12:00PM-5:00PM. SCIENCE CITY'S SUMMER BUSINESS OPERATION DAYS & HOURS ARE MONDAY-SATURDAY, 10:00AM-5:00PM & SUNDAY, 12:00PM-5:00PM. SCIENCE CITY'S MISSION IS TO SERVE AS A SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE TO THE COMMUNITY, DEDICATED TO INSPIRING A LIFELONG LOVE OF SCIENCE, LEARNING AND DISCOVERY. SHARING THE SAME MISSION AS SCIENCE CITY, THE ARVIN GOTTLIEB PLANETARIUM OFFERS A 360 DEGREE, 4K PROJECTION SYSTEM THAT FULLY IMMERSES VISITORS IN AN EXPERIENCE THAT IS SIMULTANEOUSLY ENTERTAINING AND INFORMATIVE. IN ADDITION TO FULL DOME SHOWS AND EXPERIENCES, THE PLANETARIUM ALSO OFFERS EVENING LASER CONCERT SHOWS TWO WEEKENDS A MONTH. SHOWS INCLUDE LASER TAYLOR SWIFT, LASER BEATLES, LASER QUEEN, LASER BRUNO MARS, LASER DAFT PUNK; LASER FLOYD: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON AND MANY, MANY MORE. THE PLANETARIUM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TUESDAY-SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY AND MONDAY-SUNDAY, JUNE THROUGH AUGUST. THE PLANETARIUM IS ALSO OPEN ON MANY MONDAY HOLIDAYS, INCLUDING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY, PRESIDENTS DAY, MEMORIAL DAY, AND LABOR DAY. SCHEDULED SHOW TIMES ARE 10:30AM, 1PM, 2PM, 3PM & 4PM.
- $2.5 million spent. IN 2024, FOR THE 20TH YEAR, UNION STATION, ALONG WITH THE KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY, PRESENTED THE BANK OF AMERICA CELEBRATION AT THE STATION - AN OUTDOOR CONCERT. DURING THE HOLIDAYS, UNION STATION HOSTED A 5TH YEAR OF "HOLIDAY REFLECTIONS", GENERATING RECORD ATTENDANCE FOR THIS INDOOR, WALKTHROUGH, SEASON ATTRACTION. REVENUE OF $1,966,287 WAS RECOGNIZED FOR 2024 EVENTS WHICH EQUATES TO 21% OF TOTAL ADMISSIONS TO EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS AND SHOWS FOR 2024. IN TOTAL ACROSS OUR CAMPUS, 280 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 23,430 SERVICE HOURS TO UNION STATION IN SUPPORT OF ITS VARIOUS EXHIBITIONS, ATTRACTIONS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
- $460,600 spent. THE REGNIER EXTREME SCREEN THEATRE IS A NEARLY 400-SEAT MOVIE THEATRE THAT OFFERS LARGE SCREEN (IMAX-TYPE) MOVIES. THE EXTREME SCREEN OFFERS FIRST RUN MOVIES, EDUCATIONAL MOVIES, AS WELL AS HOLIDAY CLASSICS. REVENUE OF $272,107 WAS RECOGNIZED FOR 2024. CITY STAGE THEATER AND LOBBY IS A LIVE PERFORMANCE VENUE EQUIPPED WITH SOPHISTICATED SOUND AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS AND AUDIO-VISUAL TECHNOLOGY, PROVIDING THE IDEAL LOCATION FOR BUSINESS PRESENTATIONS, SEMINARS AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. AUDITORIUM SEATING IS AVAILABLE FOR 200 AND THE LOBBY CAN BE RENTED OUT FOR RECEPTIONS WITH A CAPACITY OF 100 STANDING. REVENUE OF $111,917 WAS RECOGNIZED FOR 2024. AS A WORKING AND HISTORIC TRAIN STATION, UNION STATION ALSO OFFERS ATTRACTIONS FOR RAILROAD ENTHUSIASTS. THE RECENTLY REMODELED MODEL RAILROAD GALLERY IS OPEN AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 7,000 SQUARE FEET OF MODEL RAILROAD EXHIBITS THAT ARE SET UP AND RUNNING FOR VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE DAILY. MEMBERSHIP TO UNION STATION OFFERS SAVINGS TO YEAR-ROUND ATTRACTIONS AND SPECIAL TOURING EXHIBITIONS. SEVERAL MEMBERSHIP LEVELS ARE AVAILABLE AND ALWAYS OFFER FREE ADMISSION TO SCIENCE CITY. THE UNION STATION KANSAS CITY MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM CONTRIBUTED $1,123,694 TO TOTAL ADMISSIONS TO EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS AND SHOWS FOR 2024.
- (Expenses $ 460,600 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 2,374,704) THE REGNIER EXTREME SCREEN THEATRE IS A NEARLY 400-SEAT MOVIE THEATRE THAT OFFERS LARGE SCREEN (IMAX-TYPE) MOVIES. THE EXTREME SCREEN OFFERS FIRST RUN MOVIES, EDUCATIONAL MOVIES, AS WELL AS HOLIDAY CLASSICS. REVENUE OF $272,107 WAS RECOGNIZED FOR 2024. CITY STAGE THEATER AND LOBBY IS A LIVE PERFORMANCE VENUE EQUIPPED WITH SOPHISTICATED SOUND AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS AND AUDIO-VISUAL TECHNOLOGY, PROVIDING THE IDEAL LOCATION FOR BUSINESS PRESENTATIONS, SEMINARS AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. AUDITORIUM SEATING IS AVAILABLE FOR 200 AND THE LOBBY CAN BE RENTED OUT FOR RECEPTIONS WITH A CAPACITY OF 100 STANDING. REVENUE OF $111,917 WAS RECOGNIZED FOR 2024. AS A WORKING AND HISTORIC TRAIN STATION, UNION STATION ALSO OFFERS ATTRACTIONS FOR RAILROAD ENTHUSIASTS. THE RECENTLY REMODELED MODEL RAILROAD GALLERY IS OPEN AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 7,000 SQUARE FEET OF MODEL RAILROAD EXHIBITS THAT ARE SET UP AND RUNNING FOR VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE DAILY. MEMBERSHIP TO UNION STATION OFFERS SAVINGS TO YEAR-ROUND ATTRACTIONS AND SPECIAL TOURING EXHIBITIONS. SEVERAL MEMBERSHIP LEVELS ARE AVAILABLE AND ALWAYS OFFER FREE ADMISSION TO SCIENCE CITY. THE UNION STATION KANSAS CITY MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM CONTRIBUTED $1,123,694 TO TOTAL ADMISSIONS TO EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS AND SHOWS FOR 2024.
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
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 December 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 December 2000.
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.
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