Union Station Kansas City Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

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 Kansas city is a dynamic, hands-on science center featuring more than 300 individual interactive exhibits and daily programming. Kids of all ages experience the amazing world of steam (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) first-hand through fun, engaging exhibits and programs. In addition to changing monthly themes and daily programs/activities open to all guests, science city offers onsite curriculum based programs to school groups (pre-k-12) and outreach programs. Steam education is at the core of science city, be it exhibits, demonstrations, classes, shows, presentations or special events and programs. Centrally located in the heart of Kansas city and part of the historic and acclaimed union station complex, science city has over 100,000 square feet of interactive fun and learning. Science city includes more than 12,000 square feet of space that has been reimagined and designed specifically for our youngest learners. Science city also includes the following four areas that each address a specific age range and type of play. The first is let's play, designed for young learners ages 3 and under, where little ones learn about themselves and the world around them. Next is creative corner, where children can engage in early steam skills such as making observations, experimenting, predicting, categorizing, developing material and tool literacy, and practicing fine motor skills. The third new area is all aboard, train themed and geared for our younger friends ages 4-7. Children can hop on our play steam locomotive, role play in the sleeper & dining cars, transport goods and materials at load it up, create a toy train village at build-a-track, crawl through the model train display, and move freight at the intermodal table. In 2024 we also had our grand opening of eye spy, which is an upgraded version of "mister e hotel." this includes even more illusions and explains why our eyes see things the way they are. Additionally, "step right up" exhibition opened in 2021 continuing the pace of reimagining and refreshing science city for sustained vitality and vibrancy. Riveting robots offers guests the chance to build and code robots, race robots and learn about different tasks robots can complete. Science city also hosts other steam programs and themed events for both students and adults. These include student events such as the greater Kansas city science & engineering fair, which typically hosts about 1,000 projects submitted by students in 4th-12th grades, as well as supporting the international science and engineering fair finalists and winners; expanding your horizons (eyh), an all-girls event, promoting steam education to over 400 middle schoolers with local women steam professionals; and a similar program for 4th and 5th grade junior girl scouts, sponsored by terracon, called live steam. Our educator programs include a variety of professional learning opportunities which cover a broad range of steam related topics, as well as an educator resource day, which brings together many of the steam organizations and collaborative partners in our community that are committed to enhancing steam education in and around Kansas city. Science city's normal business operation days & hours are tuesday-saturday, 10:00am-5:00pm & sunday, 12:00pm-5:00pm. Science city's summer business operation days & hours are monday-saturday, 10:00am-5:00pm & sunday,

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 67.3%; rating input score 67
• Program expense ratio: 83.9%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $20.24 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: Scored; rating input score 0
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 29%; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 6.16; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.36; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 13.9%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0% per year; rating input score 100; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.3% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -7.9% per year; rating input score 0; 2nd percentile among comparable filings