American Royal Association
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.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO BE THE NATION'S LEADER FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE EDUCATION, EVENTS, AND ENGAGEMENT.
- Income
- $12.5 million
- Spending
- $8.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -230.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 37%
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $271,889, president & ceo
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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 71% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2561 of 61 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
- $6.8 million spent. THE AMERICAN ROYAL ASSOCIATION ANNUALLY MANAGES AND HOSTS ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST AGRICULTURE EXPOSITIONS INCLUDING LIVESTOCK SHOWS, PRESTIGIOUS HORSE SHOWS, PRCA RODEO, WORLD SERIES OF BARBEQUE CONTEST, AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS. THESE EVENTS PROVIDE A FOCUS ON THE REGION'S INHERENT ECONOMIC AND AGRARIAN HERITAGE.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE AMERICAN ROYAL IS THE NATION'S HIGHEST CALIBER LIVESTOCK SHOW PROVIDING A PREMIER EXPERIENCE FOR EXHIBITORS. ROOTED IN OUR LEGACY, WHICH BEGAN IN 1899, WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR COMPETITION, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND EDUCATION. THE 125TH AMERICAN ROYAL LIVESTOCK SHOW MAINTAINED NATIONAL PROMINENCE, FEATURING 7,931 ENTRIES FROM 2,422 EXHIBITORS, HAILING FROM 42 STATES. ACCOMPANYING THE LIVESTOCK SHOW WAS A SERIES OF LIVESTOCK, CROP AND MEAT JUDGING CONTESTS, WITH A TOTAL OF 132 TEAMS COMPETING FOR TOP HONORS.EACH YEAR, HUNDREDS OF AMERICA'S YOUTHS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 7 AND 21 TRAVEL FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO KANSAS CITY TO COMPETE AT THE AMERICAN ROYAL LIVESTOCK SHOW AND A SELECT FEW QUALIFY TO SELL THEIR ANIMAL IN THE AMERICAN ROYAL JUNIOR PREMIUM LIVESTOCK AUCTION WHERE THE EXHIBITOR'S PROCEEDS WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT THEIR FURTHER EDUCATION. THESE YOUTHS HAVE WORKED ALL YEAR TO PREPARE THEIR ANIMALS TO BE JUDGED ON A NATIONAL STAGE BY TOP PROFESSIONAL LIVESTOCK JUDGES. AFTER CHAMPIONS WERE CROWNED AND LIVESTOCK WERE PLACED IN THE ROYAL ELITE GRAND DRIVE, TOP EXHIBITORS SOLD THEIR ANIMALS AT THE JUNIOR PREMIUM LIVESTOCK AUCTION. THE RECORD-BREAKING SALE GROSSED $882,588, WITH 62 EXHIBITORS SELLING IN THE SALE. THE AMERICAN ROYAL WORLD SERIES OF BARBECUE, A LONGSTANDING TRADITION IN KANSAS CITY, IS THE LARGEST BARBECUE COMPETITION IN THE WORLD, IN TERMS OF BOTH THE NUMBER OF TEAMS AND THE WINNING PURSE. IT'S KANSAS CITY'S BIGGEST PARTY, WITH LIVE MUSIC, COLD DRINKS, AND OF COURSE MOUTH-WATERING BARBECUE. THERE WERE 444 TEAMS COMPETING FROM 40 STATES AND 8 COUNTRIES.AMERICAN ROYAL EVENTS DRIVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY, WITH AN IMPACT OF NEARLY $84 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT IN 2024. THE AMERICAN ROYAL OFFERS NEARLY 100 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED THROUGH APPLICATIONS OR IN THE SHOW ARENA.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1948.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: American Heart Association Inc (Dallas, TX), EIN 13-5613797. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.