Highland Kansas City Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE 4A BELOW
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $509,508
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $549,913, secretary, treasurer
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 54% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 94% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 3 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $500,000 spent. THE HIGHLAND KANSAS CITY FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY AS A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 509(A)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"), TO SUPPORT AND BENEFIT THE GREATER KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ("GKCCF"), A MISSOURI NONPROFIT CORPORATION. GKCCF IS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UNDER SECTION 501(A) OF THE CODE AS AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE CODE AND A PUBLIC CHARITY DESCRIBED IN SECTION 509(A)(1) OF THE CODE.THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED ITS FUNDING AS ONE OF THREE CHARITABLE REMAINDER BENEFICIARIES OF A CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUST CREATED BY JAMES DONDERO, WHICH TERMINATED ON NOVEMBER 30, 2011. THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION'S SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION ARE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE GREATER KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY BY INCREASING CHARITABLE GIVING, CONNECTING DONORS TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THEY CARE ABOUT, AND PROVIDING LEADERSHIP ON CRITICAL COMMUNITY ISSUES. IN 2024, GKCCF PAID OUT $357,753,871 IN GRANTS TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, THE GREAT MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE IN THE GREATER KANSAS CITY REGION AND INCLUDE THE CHARITABLE SECTORS OF ARTS AND CULTURE, EDUCATION, HEALTH, MEDICINE AND SCIENCE, HUMAN SERVICES, AND PHILANTHROPY. THE ORGANIZATION WILL SUPPORT AND BENEFIT GKCCF BY MAKING GRANTS DIRECTLY TO GKCCF IN SUPPORT OF ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSES. IN ADDITION, UPON THE DIRECTION AND ON BEHALF OF GKCCF, THE ORGANIZATION MAY MAKE GRANTS TO SUCH OTHER PUBLIC CHARITIES THAT GKCCF WISHES TO BENEFIT IN FURTHERANCE OF GKCCF'S EXEMPT PURPOSES. THE TOTAL ANNUAL GRANTS FROM THE ORGANIZATION TO OR ON BEHALF OF GKCCF ARE EXPECTED TO AVERAGE APPROXIMATELY $475,000 PER YEAR.
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 March 2013.
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.
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