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Union Station Kansas City
Union Station Kansas City reported $20.5 million in revenue and $14.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $83.92 went to program services, $14.61 to management and general costs and $1.47 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 54.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $670,907 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 81% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $15MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $20MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.9% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.6% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.5% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 21.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 54.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $670,907 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.61% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 47.2 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 13 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseUnion Station Kansas City, inc. Seeks to increase its sustainability, effectiveness, and efficiency by bringing quality educational and cultural exhibits and displays to the bi-state area consistent with its mission of enriching the cultural and educational landscape of Kansas City. By providing an environmentally controlled space to host additional revenue-generating exhibits and displays, Union Station is pursuing a multi-faceted revenue plan that includes exhibit revenue garnered through sponsorships, corporate and individual donations, grants, and ticket sales. In january through march…
Science city at Union Station, an affiliate of the smithsonian institution (washington d.c.), and the arvin gottlieb planetarium, generated revenue of $3,575,719 (approx. 39% of total admissions to exhibits, programs and shows for 2024). Awarded the 2015 association of science-technology center's international leading-edge award for visitor experience and recognized as one of the top 25 science centers in the country by parents magazine, science city annually educates and enriches thousands of science-thirsty youth of all ages, including the youngest learners. Science city at Union Station…
In 2024, for the 20th year, Union Station, along with the Kansas City symphony, presented the bank of america celebration at the station - an outdoor concert. During the holidays, Union Station hosted a 5th year of "holiday reflections", generating record attendance for this indoor, walkthrough, season attraction. Revenue of $1,966,287 was recognized for 2024 events which equates to 21% of total admissions to exhibits, programs and shows for 2024. In total across our campus, 280 volunteers contributed 23,430 service hours to Union Station in support of its various exhibitions, attractions and…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $544,326 | $0 | $126,581 | $670,907 |
| EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT AND COO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $378,685 | $0 | $126,314 | $504,999 |
| VP, FINANCE - CFO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $225,774 | $0 | $61,171 | $286,945 |
| VP, MARKETING & SALES - CMO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $208,119 | $0 | $44,180 | $252,299 |
| VP, EDUC-CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $144,723 | $0 | $20,705 | $165,428 |
| VP, BUILDING & OPERATIONS Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $113,159 | $0 | $25,820 | $138,979 |
6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Union Station Kansas City (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.9M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b13 · 13 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5140
- Volunteers Part I, line 6280
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Semmel Concerts Entertainment Gmbh Exhibition Services | $1,824,474 |
| Titan Protection & Consulting Inc Security Services | $1,062,641 |
| City Wide Maintenance Co Inc Janitorial Services | $865,886 |
| 26th Letter Productions Procurement & Project Mgmt Svcs | $674,578 |
| B&B Theatres Operating Co Movie Theatre Services | $592,612 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 25 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
19 private foundations reported grants to Union Station Kansas City totaling $659K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Union Station Kansas City's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Union Station Kansas City, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Union Station Kansas City spent in 2024, $83.92 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The National Black Theatre WorkshopNew York, NY · revenue $20M · programs 75.3% · FY2025
- The Maritime Aquarium at NorwalkNorwalk, CT · revenue $20M · programs 76.8% · FY2025
- Austin Theatre AllianceAustin, TX · revenue $20M · programs 77.1% · FY2025
- The Dallas OperaDallas, TX · revenue $21M · programs 68.0% · FY2025
- The Shakespeare TheatreWashington, DC · revenue $20M · programs 69.1% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Missouri
Questions people ask
How much of Union Station Kansas City's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Union Station Kansas City reported that 83.9% of its $14.5 million in expenses went to program services, 14.6% to management and general and 1.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Union Station Kansas City pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Union Station Kansas City reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $670,907, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Union Station Kansas City get its money?
Of $20.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 21.1% came from contributions and grants and 54.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Union Station Kansas City a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 43-1890025 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202532529349300118 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202422719349301902 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302569349301045 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202242519349301609 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202122439349300912 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202002589349301430 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 43-1890025: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.