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Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy

EIN 81-4691824 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF KANSAS CITY GIRLS PREPARATORY ACADEMY IS TO DEVELOP YOUNG WOMEN TO USE THEIR VOICES, SUCCEED IN COLLEGE, AND LEAD MEANINGFUL IMPACTFUL LIVES. THE SCHOOL SERVES NEIGHBORHOODS IMPACTED BY SEGREGATION AND IS FREE, PUBLIC, AND OPEN ENROLLMENT. IT IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP NETWORK, A NATIONAL NETWORK OF SINGLE-GENDER SCHOOLS, AND IS SPONSORED BY THE MISSOURI CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMISSION.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 72%
Employees
68
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$80,422, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 June 30, 2025, 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. $3.5 million spent. GIRLS PREP OPENED ITS DOORS IN AUGUST 2019, TO A PROMISING CLASS OF 75 FIFTH GRADE GIRLS AND THEIR EXTRAORDINARILY SUPPORTIVE FAMILIES. FORTUNATELY, THE INGENUITY OF STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND THE TEAM AND BOARD ENSURED A CONTINUED FOCUS ON SUPPORTING SCHOLARS TO MAXIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL EVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC. FOUNDING YEAR RESULTS INCLUDE:1) ENROLLMENT THE SCHOOL ENROLLED 75 5TH GRADE STUDENTS AND RETAINED 89% OF STUDENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR. STUDENTS REPRESENTED THE FULL DIVERSITY OF KANSAS CITY'S EAST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS IN TERMS OF RACE/ETHNICITY, ECONOMIC STATUS, SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS, AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING NEEDS.2) ACADEMICS THE SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED TO CREATE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EXCELLENT EDUCATION. AS EXPECTED, STUDENTS ARRIVED IN 5TH GRADE WITH LITERACY AND NUMERACY SKILLS RANGING FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 4TH GRADE PROFICIENCY. DUE TO TEACHERS' BALANCE OF RIGOR AND SUPPORT, STUDENTS ACHIEVED RAPID GROWTH. IN JUST FIVE MONTHS OF INSTRUCTION, FOR EXAMPLE, FULLY 1/3 OF STUDENTS GREW OUT OF THE "BELOW BASIC" PERFORMANCE CATEGORY IN MATHEMATICS ON STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS. 3) SUPPORT DURING THE PANDEMIC THE SCHOOL QUICKLY FUNDRAISED FOR AND ISSUED CHROMEBOOKS AND WI-FI DEVICES TO ALL STUDENTS AFTER THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. INSTRUCTION CONTINUED, AND FAMILIES WERE SUPPORTED WITH WEEKLY MEAL KITS (5 BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES) DELIVERED TO THEIR HOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN UNDER AGE 18.4) FINANCES THE SCHOOL BALANCED CONSERVATIVE EXPENSE FORECASTS, TIGHT SPENDING MANAGEMENT, AND A PROACTIVE FUNDRAISING STRATEGY TO LIMIT COSTS WHILE EARNING THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE FIRST SCHOOL IN MISSOURI TO WIN GRANTS FROM THE HIGHLY SELECTIVE NEW SCHOOLS VENTURE FUND. THE SCHOOL ALSO EARNED SUPPORT FROM OTHER SELECTIVE NATIONAL FUNDERS LIKE THE CHARTER SCHOOL GROWTH FUND AND THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THESE GRANTS, IN COMBINATION WITH AN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE LOCAL PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY, HAVE FULLY FUNDED THE MIDDLE SCHOOL FACILITY AND START-UP COSTS.5) TEAM DEVELOPMENT THE SCHOOL IS STRONGLY COMMITTED TO HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT FOR ITS TEAM IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE STUDENT GROWTH. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SCHOOL IS PART OF TWO SELECTIVE, NATIONAL COHORTS OF HIGH-PERFORMING SCHOOLS TO AID DEVELOPMENT IN ITS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTION. THE TEAM WORKS WITH THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EXPERTS IN LITERACY SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE. INVESTMENTS IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALIGNED TO RESEARCHED-BASED BEST PRACTICES HAVE MAXIMIZED STUDENT GROWTH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 March 2017.

    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.

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.