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Kansas City Pet Project

EIN 45-3067615 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEADING THE WAY IN CREATING A COMPASSIONATE, SAFE COMMUNITY FOR PETS AND PEOPLE THROUGH PROGRESSIVE LIFESAVING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$10.4 million
Spending
$10.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 59%
Employees
257
Volunteers
2,015
Highest pay
$155,730, 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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 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 (4)
  1. $7.0 million spent. SHELTER OPERATIONS: OPERATION OF THE KANSAS CITY MUNICIPAL ANIMAL SHELTER. THE SHELTER BEGAN THE YEAR WITH 646 ANIMALS. IN 2024 A TOTAL OF 15,382 ADDITIONAL ANIMALS WERE BROUGHT TO THE SHELTER BY ANIMAL CONTROL OR THE PUBLIC SO A TOTAL OF 16,028 ANIMALS WERE PROVIDED SHELTER SERVICES IN 2024. OF THIS TOTAL, 10,480 WERE ADOPTED, 1,920 WERE RETURNED TO THEIR OWNER, 411 WERE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS. WE ENDED THE YEAR WITH 615 ANIMALS STILL IN OUR CARE. WE ACHIEVED AN OVERALL LIVE RELEASE RATE OF 92% FOR 2024.
  2. $1.1 million spent. VETERINARY PROGRAM: PROVIDE VETERINARY CARE TO ALL ANIMALS ENTERING THE SHELTER TO INCLUDE PHYSICAL EXAM, VACCINATION, SPAY/NEUTER AND TREATMENT OF ANY INJURIES OR ILLNESSES.
  3. $449,151 spent. ADOPTION PROGRAM, VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, FOSTER RESCUE PROGRAM AND LIFESAVING PROGRAMS: ADOPTION PROGRAM FOCUSED ON FINDING SUITABLE ADOPTIVE HOMES FOR HOMELESS PETS IN THE SHELTER; VOLUNTEER PROGRAM FOCUSED ON ENGAGING COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST WITH THE CARE OF ANIMALS AT THE SHELTER; FOSTER/RESCUE PROGRAM FOCUSED ON FINDING TEMPORARY FOSTER HOMES FOR ANIMALS NEEDING SOCIALIZATION, MEDICAL RECOVER TIME AND OR CARE OF SMALL PUPPIES AND KITTENS UNTIL OLD ENOUGH TO BE ADOPTED. LIFESAVING PROGRAMS FOCUS ON KEEPING PETS WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE TO KEEP PETS IN THEIR HOME. ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH RESCUE GROUPS TO TRANSFER ANIMALS TO RESCUE ADOPTION PROGRAMS.
  4. $350,689 spent. PROVIDE ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES TO THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY, MO. OFFICERS WORKED 24,206 CASE ACTIVITIES IN 2024, TRAVELING A TOTAL OF 205,839 MILES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, IMPOUNDING 3,963 ANIMALS, AND RETURNING AN ADDITIONAL 327 LOST PETS BACK TO THEIR HOMES WITHOUT HAVING TO IMPOUND THEM.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2012.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 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.