Kids Win Missouri
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Kids Win Missouri furthers child well-being by advancing the health, education, safety and development of Missouri children and their families, especially those who are at-risk because of poverty, abuse, neglect, racial inequities or other risk factors.
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 7.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 82
- Highest pay
- $151,143, executive 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 142% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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)
- $198,108 spent. Outreach and Communication: KWM engages individuals and organizations in communities across Missouri through virtual events, email communication, presentations, meetings, and roundtables to educate and obtain community feedback on issues impacting the well-being of children. KWM helps keep citizens abreast of news and developments concerning federal, state, and local policy, providing regular updates through weekly conference calls and emails during the state's legislative session (early January through mid-May) and as needed during the remainder of the year. The conference calls and emails are open to the general public and accessible by signing up for updates through the organization's website. The organization hosted 17 weekly update calls and delivered 18 weekly written updates on policy issues impacting children and families during 2024. KWM also hosted 7 monthly meetings and follow-up emails on topical issues relating to children and families from June through December. KWM seeks to educate policymakers and the general public on issues important to the well-being of children through traditional, online, and social media outlets. In 2024, Kids Win Missouri continued its public relations campaign to share pertinent updates and educate parents, providers, policymakers and community leaders on the importance of early childhood services. The organization posted 29 blog posts on its website, had active social media pages and accounts, and worked with media organizations on 39 articles published in 2024.
- $272,584 spent. Policy Development: KWM works with organizations across Missouri to identify policies or changes to existing policies that will improve the well-being of Missouri children. Issue-specific workgroups convene to help develop policy on topics, which include early childhood, health and mental health, economic security and revenue, youth education and development and safety, security, family and community. The workgroups focused on 13 policy issues in 2024. The organization also develops research and analyses on various topics and researches current and proposed policies impacting children and families. In 2024, the organization's research and analyses included child care, pre-K, home visiting, maternal health, youth homelessness, and access to health care for children and families.
- $557,782 spent. Early Childhood Fellowships: Kids Win Missouri continued its early childhood fellowship for parents and child care and early education providers in 2024. The fellowship provides training and experiential learning in policy, advocacy, and leadership. Fifteen parents and twelve providers participated in the fellowship ending in June of 2024. A combined 27 parent and provider fellows began the fellowship as Cohort 3 in June 2024.
- $1.1 million spent. Empowering Communities to Address Child Care and Early Education Challenges: Kids Win Missouri continued work to support communities in researching and addressing their child care and early education challenges. In 2024, twelve communities engaged in this initiative. Additionally, Kids Win Missouri supported an additional five communities to prepare them to take part in the initiative in 2025. Kids Win Missouri supports the communities with technical assistance, stipends to parents and providers on the leadership team, facilitation, and research resources.
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 2018.
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.