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Creative City Kc Inc

EIN 82-5357047 · Oak Grove, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 34% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CCKC PROMOTES KANSAS CITYS JAZZ HERITAGE AS A DRIVER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CITY-ADOPTED POLICIES, WITH THE PURPOSE OF GROWING OUR MUSIC ECONOMY AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, AND TO PROMOTE OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE LOCALLY, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY.

Income
$294,500
Spending
$457,020
Spent on programs
34%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
0
Highest pay
$82,500, 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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    34% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $100,898 spent. AMERICAN MUSIC APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM (AMAP) THE AMERICAN MUSIC APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM (AMAP) IS THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM FOR CCKCS FOCUS ON MUSIC EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. AMAP PROVIDES A CURRICULUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE-AGED STUDENTS TO BUILD THEIR CAREERS IN MUSIC. IT IS THE FIRST MUSIC APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM RECOGNIZED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. THE PURPOSE OF AMAP IS TO TRAIN YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS TO IMPROVE THE CREATIVE ECONOMY THROUGH PERFORMING ARTS ACTIVITIES, EDUCATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES AND DOCUMENTATION OF THESE ACTIVITIES TO SHOW SOCIAL IMPACT
  2. $29,786 spent. UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES AND ADMINISTRATION COSTS AND TIME TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL UCCN MEETING, UCOM MEETING OF MUSIC CITIES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS TO MAINTAIN ACTIVE UNESCO MEMBERSHIP. TIME (ADMIN) TO ADMINISTER THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY MISSOURIS MEMBERSHIP IN UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES NETWORK. REPORTING AND DATA GATHERING, ANALYZING INFORMATION TO GENERATE KNOWLEDGE AND ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE UCCN MEMBERSHIP IN KANSAS CITY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. INCLUDES NEW PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS CREATIVE PRODUCTION (EVENTS, MUSIC AND VIDEO PRODUCTIONS SUCH AS THE JAZZ DAY RELAY AND THE VOYAGE OF THE DRUM).
  3. $15,684 spent. FILM AND MUSIC WORKSHOP TO TRAIN YOUTH AND ADULTS IN THE AREA OF FILM AND MUSIC PRODUCTION CULMINATING IN A SHORT FILM OR DOCUMENTARY THAT CAN BE SHARED AND UTILIZED BY THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, THE UNESCO CITIES OF MUSIC, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. TO DEVELOP NEW MEDIA AND MARKETING MATERIALS TO PROMOTE KANSAS CITYS MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES NETWORK AS THE FIRST CITY OF MUSIC IN THE UNITED STATES, AND TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE UNIQUE HERITAGE OF KANSAS CITY SWING, JAZZ, BEBOP AND RELATED MUSICAL GENRES. TO PROVIDE PATHWAYS FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN FILM, MEDIA, MUSIC AND THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. TO SHOWCASE LOCAL TALENT AND LEVERAGE MISSOURIS FILM TAX CREDIT PROGRAM FOR LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES IN THE GREATER KANSAS CITY AREA.
  4. $7,900 spent. INTERNATIONAL MUSIC AND CREATIVE EXCHANGESAS A UNESCO CITY OF MUSIC, CREATIVE CITY KC PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS IN KANSAS CITY AND INTERNATIONALLY THROUGH THE UCCN NETWORK OF CITIES. WE BEGAN THIS ACTIVITY IN 2018. SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS INCLUDES THE DOCUMENTATION AND DISSEMINATION OF THESE CREATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAINTAINING KANSAS CITYS MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES NETWORK. IN 2023, WE HOSTED ACTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN FRUTILLAR, CHILE (JANUARY AND OCTOBER), MEXICO, AND METZ, FRANCE.

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 October 13, 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 April 2019.

    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 October 21, 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.