Kc Asylum Clinic
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Supplemental Info
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 90%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $83,055, excutive director
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 65% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 50% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 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
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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
- $583,445 spent. Unaccompanied Child Program - As part of our Unaccompanied Childrens Program, ACKC provides legal services including limited scope and full representational services to immigrant children designated as unaccompanied minors and who live near Kansas City. Unaccompanied children are children who have entered the U.S. without a parent or guardian to care for them. These children are uniquely vulnerable and have special protections under the law. ACKC typically represents the children in seeking lawful status and defending themselves against deportation, as well as advocating for them on a variety of other needs. This includes representation in immigration court, legal filings with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and other wrap-around services unique to each child. Many of the children qualify for a visa that places them on a pathway to a green card, called Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Many are also asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their home countries. Unaccompanied minors are often targets for labor or sex traffickers if they remain present without status, and the work ACKC does to stabilize their status and get them a work card truly changes lives and protects this unique group of migrants. ACKC strongly believes that no child should have to face immigration court without an attorney.
- $353,079 spent. Afghan Legal Services Project - After the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, approximately 76,000 Afghans were evacuated and brought to the United States. Primarily, these individuals were given parole status that allowed them to remain in the United States only temporarily. In May 2022, the Missouri Office of Refugee Administration designated ACKC to serve as legal services coordinator for the resettlement agencies serving Afghan evacuees in western Missouri, which resettled about 850 Afghan evacuees who needed legal help filing for Asylum or Special Immigrant Visas. ACKC has assisted over 65 families to apply to remain safely in the United States and continues to assist them in their journey to citizenship.
- $10,934 spent. Other Immigration Legal Services - Currently, ACKC takes in as many of these cases as capacity allows and will typically at least provide initial consultations and referrals for those ACKC does not have capacity to represent. ACKC is working to expand our reach to serve more community-based cases by seeking community-based funding for more direct representation to do these sorts of cases, as well as increase the number of humanitarian cases it does such as filing visas for victims of a crime, or survivors of human trafficking. ACKCs primary focus area are its work with unaccompanied minors as well as Afghan clients resettled in Missouri. ACKC recognizes, however, the immense need for pro bono legal support with many other local populations, including asylum seekers from places like Venezuela, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua. There is also a high need for survivor-based representation for survivors of a crime or human trafficking. ACKC is actively developing a pro bono placement project to expand its impact as well. Through the Afghan Legal Services Project, ACKC set the foundation for training non-immigration specialists in immigration law to enable them to take on cases with mentorship. ACKC is actively starting to place defensive asylum cases with attorneys. That work includes development of a resource site online, as well as offering CLEs and other training directly to attorneys willing to help with the vast need. Additionally, ACKC works with community groups serving migrants and refugees in the Kansas City area who seek to bring accurate and timely legal information to the people they serve. The professionals at ACKC are often asked to do presentations or workshops to increase awareness of immigration-related issues and advocacy.
- KC Asylum Clinic, Inc. (ACKC - the Organization), was founded in Missouri as a nonprofit corporation in 2015 and received its designation as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in 2017. The Organization is a non-profit legal services provider located in North Kansas City, Missouri. It provides legal resources and support that empower underserved immigrants and refugees in Missouri and Kansas to navigate a complex immigration system, access justice, and thrive. In addition to direct legal services, the Organization is committed to participating in systemic advocacy and community education and engagement.
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 2017.
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.
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.