City on a Hill Young Adult Apostolate
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
City on a Hill exists to be the community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints.
- Income
- $439,114
- Spending
- $575,032
- Spent on programs
- 58%
- Reserves
- 3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 210
- Highest pay
- $70,518, executive director (january - october)
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
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1558% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $174,153 spent. Tuesdays at the Boulevard is City on a Hill's longest-running and most iconic outreach event. Hosted six times a year on odd-numbered months, each gathering includes confession, a young adult-led Mass, and a post-Mass social at Boulevard Brewing Co. With an average of 208 attendees per event-over 1,200 cumulative across the year-Tuesdays consistently draws a third of participants who are new to the community. Volunteer teams lead hospitality, liturgical music, and follow-up engagement, making Tuesdays a true "front porch" of our apostolate. The event fosters a low-barrier invitation into Catholic life and often serves as the launching point for young adults to join small groups, retreats, and deeper formation experiences.
- $74,314 spent. In its fifth year, the Guatemala Mission Trip brought 30 young adults, including a priest chaplain, to San Andres Itzapa, Guatemala. Participants served local families by building homes, wood stoves, and animal shelters, and visited a school for children with disabilities. Beyond the physical work, the trip is rooted in spiritual transformation through daily Mass, adoration, confession, and pilgrimage to the site of Blessed Stanley Rother's martyrdom. Many missionaries return home with a deepened sense of faith and a renewed desire to serve. This mission experience continues to be a cornerstone of City on a Hill's formation efforts, blending faith, service, and global solidarity.
- $44,469 spent. With 1,146 total registrations and 583 unique participants in 2024, Catholic Challenge Sports (CCS) is one of the largest Catholic recreational sports programs in Kansas City. Year-round leagues in sports like flag football, volleyball, and dodgeball, along with one-day tournaments, offer young adults a structured but welcoming entry point into the life of faith. The CCS draft-based model ensures inclusivity and fosters new friendships, while team captains serve as spiritual anchors-leading prayer, hosting socials, and inviting players into other City on a Hill programs. Over 70% of participants reported involvement in other programs, confirming CCS as one of our strongest engagement pipelines. Survey feedback routinely names CCS as the "greatest value" among City on a Hill offerings. One captain said: "Being a captain is ultimately about service-meeting the deeper needs of those longing for connection within our Roman Catholic family." - Michael Miller, Dodgeball Captain
- $42,857 spent. In 2024, City on a Hill continued to serve hundreds of young adults across the Kansas City metro through a growing network of small groups, retreats, and community-wide events. Our mission remains clear: to inspire and form young adults to become saints through deep relationships and authentic discipleship. With more than 80 volunteers in leadership roles, City on a Hill created spaces for encounter, community, and transformation. Other events include: 1) Sisterhood & Band of Brothers Small Groups - 340 participants (198 women, 142 men) joined weekly discipleship groups led by 52 leaders. These groups provided faith-filled friendship and stability. 2) Undivided Retreat - 56 young adults participated in a weekend of silence, prayer, and fellowship, described by many as transformative. 3) Hospitality & Regional Expansion - KC Underground events averaged 200 attendees. Expansion into the Northland began to serve more young adults where they are. Here is City on a Hill's overall mission impact: 51% reported growing in their relationship with Christ, 82% increased in frequent prayer, 77% grew in engagement with Scripture, 67% became more open to Sacramental Marriage, and 73% of CCS and 61% of Tuesdays attendees joined other City on a Hill programs. Here is a brief summary of our "Leadership & Formation Growth." City on a Hill began transitioning to a calendar-year leadership cycle. Over 80 young adults served as leaders, supported by new mentorship systems and Notion-based planning. One participant shared: "Leadership Equipping Day gave me a paradigm shift: work isn't just provision, but a way to sanctify the world around me." - Ben Chaves
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2022.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.