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School Smart Kc Inc

EIN 81-2090856 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FROM OUR INCEPTION OUR MISSION HAS BEEN TO ELIMINATE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP FOR STUDENTS IN KANSAS CITY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)WE RECOGNIZE THE EXISTING OBSTACLES AND CHALLENGES THAT AFFECT SCHOOL PERFORMANCE IN OUR CITY - AND WE ARE FUELED IN OUR WORK BY THE PASSION OF OUR FAMILIES, THE COMMITMENT OF OUR SCHOOL LEADERS AND EDUCATORS, THE GROWTH IN QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE IN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS, AND THE OVERWHELMING POTENTIAL THAT WE SEE IN EVERY CHILD IN OUR CLASSROOMS. WE KNOW THAT TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER, AND WE WORK WITH THE ENTIRE EDUCATION COMMUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

Income
$10.0 million
Spending
$8.1 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
14.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
11
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$312,535, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $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 (1)
  1. $7.4 million spent. SCHOOLSMARTKC FORMALLY LAUNCHED IN MARCH OF 2017 WITH THE GOAL OF CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP FOR STUDENTS IN KANSAS CITY. WHEN WE LAUNCHED, 30% OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT WERE PERFORMING IN THE BOTTOM FIVE PERCENT OF SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI. DESPITE THIS CHALLENGE, SSKC SAW THE POTENTIAL OF OUR COMMUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN SUPPORT OF OUR SCHOOLS THROUGH COORDINATED STRATEGIES TO BOOST SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND INCREASE STUDENT SUCCESS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)SINCE OUR WORK STARTED, WORKING CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OUR SCHOOLS, SCHOOLSMARTKC HAS INVESTED OVER $30 MILLION INTO SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION PARTNERS IN KANSAS CITY. THESE INVESTMENTS, WHICH INCLUDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO 100% OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND LEAS IN THE CITY, HAVE SEEN TANGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOLS IN THE FORM OF NEW OFFERINGS, EXPANDED PROGRAMMING, AND IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY IN THE HANDS OF OUR STUDENTS. THEY HAVE ALSO ALLOWED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF DEEPER COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ISSUES SURROUNDING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF EDUCATORS, AND THE CRITICAL NEED FOR PRE-K SOLUTIONS IN OUR CITY.NOW, EIGHT (8) YEARS INTO OUR WORK, OUR RESOLVE IS STRONGER THAN EVER. TOGETHER WITH THE CONSTANTLY GROWING GROUP OF ALLIES SUPPORTING IMPROVED PUBLIC EDUCATION IN KANSAS CITY, WE ARE FOCUSING ON HARNESSING OUR COLLECTIVE POWER TO TACKLE THE SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT EXIST FOR STUDENTS IN KANSAS CITY AND CONTINUE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR EVERY CHILD ATTENDING A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

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 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 2024.

    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 May 2016.

    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.

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