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LITERACY KANSAS CITY

EIN 43-1435729 KANSAS CITY, MO

Revenue 2024
$4,177,118
Expenses 2024
$4,410,997

Program services were 85.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
Classification
1200
Street
300 E 39TH ST

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Other organizations at this address

8 other organizations in the IRS Business Master File list the same street address. matched by us

We match the street line and ZIP code as the IRS gives them, ignoring case and outer spaces and nothing else, so "AVE" and "AVENUE" count as different streets and this list can miss some. A shared address can mean related organizations or a shared office, but it can also be a registered agent, a mail drop or a service provider holding mail for unrelated clients. It is not, by itself, evidence that two organizations are connected.

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

TO ADVANCE LITERACY WITHIN THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES, ADVOCACY, AND COLLABORATION.

  • LITERACY KC OFFERS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR ADULTS AND FAMILIES TO IMPROVE LITERACY SKILLS AND ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE. EACH TERM, STAFF, TUTORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND INSTRUCTORS BUILD A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE ADULT STUDENTS EXPAND THEIR READING, WRITING, MATH, AND DIGITAL SKILLS. THIS PERSONALIZED APPROACH ALLOWS STUDENTS TO SHAPE THE INSTRUCTION THEY RECEIVE AND DELIVERS A BALANCED CURRICULUM, LEADING TO IMPROVED LITERACY AND LIFE SKILLS. OUR MODEL HAS THREE KEY PARTS. INSTRUCTOR LED: QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS TEACH RELEVANT, RESPONSIVE, AND LEVEL-APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM. TUTOR-DRIVEN: TRAINED VOLUNTEER TUTORS SUPPORT THE INSTRUCTORS AND HELP MEET INDIVIDUAL STUDENT NEEDS. STUDENT-CENTERED: EACH STUDENT IDENTIFIES ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL GOALS AND INSTRUCTORS DESIGN LESSONS TO HELP THEM MEET THESE GOALS. OUR PROGRAMMING INCLUDES HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY PREPARATION CLASSES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING, EXCEL ADULT HIGH SCHOOL (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KC PUBLIC LIBRARY AND MID-CONTINENT PUBLIC LIBRARY), DIGITAL LITERACY CLASSES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE LET'S READ FAMILY READING PROGRAM. DURING 2024-2025, LKC RAN 78 CLASSES WITH 1,875 STUDENTS HAVING 115,000 STUDENT INSTRUCTION HOURS. OF THESE STUDENTS, 853 DEMONSTRATED A GAIN IN PROFICIENCY THROUGH TESTING, PASSED THEIR HISET/GED, OR RECEIVED A CERTIFICATION. FIFTY-EIGHT ACHIEVED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY AND 107 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN IETP.

    Expenses $3,775,146 · Grants $35,046 · Revenue $107,203

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Gillian Ford Helm

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $173,463
    From this org
    $166,664
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,799
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $166,664
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $6,260
    Nontaxable benefits
    $539
    Filer's total
    $173,463

  • Kim Graves

    COO

    Total calculated
    $128,533
    From this org
    $116,880
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,653
    Hours/week
    40

  • Paul Defoe

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Bridget Richards

    VICE PRESIDE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ann Tinsman

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Bobby Kelly

    PAST PRESIDE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Pierson Curtis

    AT LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Christina Chandler

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Paul Ewing

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Charles King

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mike Mielke

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Marquis Queen

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Tricia Scaglia

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Dori Stayton

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Monica Tiffany

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $4,177,118
    Expenses
    $4,410,997
    Contributions
    $4,409,456
    Grants paid
    $35,046
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $2,873,145
    Expenses
    $3,678,398
    Contributions
    $2,805,644
    Grants paid
    $19,618
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $4,187,416
    Expenses
    $3,370,221
    Contributions
    $4,069,311
    Grants paid
    $25,550

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,294,201
    Expenses
    $3,049,360
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,006,936

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,841,106
    Expenses
    $2,801,880
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,783,046

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,468,459
    Expenses
    $1,405,616
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,809,994

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,808,034
    Expenses
    $1,392,455
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,745,479

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,716,346
    Expenses
    $1,028,354
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,324,744

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,019,536
    Expenses
    $869,679
    Assets (EOY)
    $433,264

  • 2016 · 990-EZ

    Revenue
    $0
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    $37,639

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $765,566
    Expenses
    $822,936
    Assets (EOY)
    $330,873

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $695,768
    Expenses
    $706,132
    Assets (EOY)
    $371,164

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $670,684
    Expenses
    $531,475
    Assets (EOY)
    $367,001

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 29 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.