Urban Core Group
Urban Core Group is a 501(c)(6) non-profit founded in 1995 that convenes Kansas City real estate professionals, developers, architects, and community leaders through a tiered membership program and roughly seven annual behind-the-scenes events showcasing urban core development and historic preservation projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersKansas City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Urban Core Group does
Urban Core Group is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization headquartered at 31 W. 31st Street, Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1995 and currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, the group convenes real estate professionals, developers, architects, contractors, community leaders, and engaged citizens through recurring in-person networking events held at notable buildings and active development sites across Kansas City's urban core. Programming emphasizes historic preservation, urban planning, and economic development, with the group functioning as a civic intermediary that grants members behind-the-scenes access to projects such as the Rock Island Bridge redevelopment and the 929 Walnut conversion.
The organization's product is a tiered membership program (Individual at $150/year through Sustaining Sponsor at $1,000/year) bundled with complimentary entry to roughly six to seven events annually, plus sponsorship packages that include website and event recognition and speaking opportunities. Non-members can purchase individual event admission. Underlying operations run on Wild Apricot, an off-the-shelf association management platform that handles membership billing, event registration, email communications, and the public website. The group is governed entirely by a six-person volunteer board (Gordon Smith, Chair; Rocco Giglio, Vice Chair/Treasurer; and board members Matthew Bercham, Bill Lichtenegger, Shawn Adams, and Steve Becher) following the November 2024 passing of cofounder Marion Wheeler.
Revenue derives from membership subscriptions, event admission fees, and corporate sponsorships. The organization supplements its membership base through rotating event partnerships with firms such as Mazuma, Copaken Brooks, Exact Architects, Select Sites, Reconciliation Services, Corrigan Station, and the NEKC Chamber of Commerce, and through a co-hosting relationship with the Young Real Estate Professionals of Kansas City (YREPKC). Geographic reach is limited to the Kansas City metropolitan area, and financial figures are not publicly disclosed, consistent with the 501(c)(6) business league structure.
Urban Core Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Urban Core Group
- Legal name
- Urban Core Group
- Website
- https://kcurbancoregroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Urban Core Group is a 501(c)(6) non-profit founded in 1995 that convenes Kansas City real estate professionals, developers, architects, and community leaders through a tiered membership program and roughly seven annual behind-the-scenes events showcasing urban core development and historic preservation projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Urban Core Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Networking & Urban Development Advocacy
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (81391), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Customer/User Conferences & Client Advisory Boards (THAHAMAD), Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK)
Keywords
Where Urban Core Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Urban Core Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual recurring membership subscriptions with automatic renewal. Five tiers ranging from $150 to $1,000 per year. Members receive complimentary entry to all events, with higher tiers including recognition and event speaking opportunities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Membership - $150/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Partner/Couple Membership - $200/year (Bundle up to 2 members) |
| Subscription | Annual | Community Sponsor - $250/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Premium Sponsor - $500/year (Bundle up to 3 members) |
| Subscription | Annual | Sustaining Sponsor - $1,000/year (Bundle up to 5 members) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Urban Core Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Urban Core Group is a 501(c)(6) non-profit membership organization that convenes monthly and bi-monthly networking events at rotating venues across Kansas City's urban core. Members pay annual subscription fees to receive complimentary access to events featuring food, beverages, behind-the-scenes tours of historic buildings, and previews of active real estate development projects. The organization also offers tiered sponsorship packages that deliver brand recognition, event shout-outs, and speaking opportunities.
Product overview
Urban Core Group is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization offering a membership-based networking platform centered around monthly events in Kansas City's urban core. The organization provides Individual and Partner/Couple membership tiers offering complimentary event entry with food, beverages, and networking access to historic buildings and development projects. Sponsorship tiers (Community Sponsor, Premium Sponsor, Sustaining Sponsor) add recognition and speaking opportunities. The platform is powered by Wild Apricot membership software, which handles event registration, member management, and communications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Urban Core Group Annual Membership Recurring annual membership subscription available in five tiers (Individual $150, Partner/Couple $200, Community Sponsor $250, Premium Sponsor $500, Sustaining Sponsor $1,000) that grants complimentary entry to all Urban Core Group events for one to five individuals, including food, beverages, networking, and behind-the-scenes access to notable and historic buildings and active development projects in Kansas City's urban core. Higher-tier sponsors receive website and email recognition, event shout-outs, and an annual speaking opportunity.
- Guest Event Admission Single-event paid admission tickets for non-members to attend Urban Core Group monthly/bi-monthly networking events at Kansas City urban core venues on a per-event basis.
Companies that use Urban Core Group
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Urban Core Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Urban Core Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Select SitesminorCo-hosting Reconciliation Services Happy Hour with Mazuma, showcasing the building, event space, and Thelma's Kitchen/Catering.
- Reconciliation ServicesminorHost venue for UCG events at their building, event space, and Thelma's Kitchen/Catering facility on Troost Avenue.
- Copaken BrooksminorSponsored the Urban Core Group & YREPKC June 25th rooftop happy hour event at Corrigan Station, highlighting the Multi-Family development The Refinery.
- Young Real Estate Professionals of Kansas City (YREPKC)coreCo-hosting joint events with YREPKC to bring together young real estate professionals with established urban core stakeholders.
- MazumaminorMazuma bank attended a UCG event in January 2026, bringing access to Troost area development discussions. Featured as event spotlight sponsor.
- Exact ArchitectscoreHost events showcasing their current development projects including the 929 Walnut building conversion project. Regular event host for UCG gatherings.
- NEKC Chamber of CommerceminorHosted April 2024 UCG event at their location, with presentation on the Historic Northeast Lofts project.
- Corrigan StationminorEvent venue for UCG & YREPKC June 2025 rooftop happy hour, highlighting The Refinery development.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Urban Core Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Historic Kansas City Foundation: A KC nonprofit advocating for historic preservation and offering member tours of notable buildings. Directly comparable to UCG's historic-building access format and shared preservation advocacy.
- NAIOP Kansas City Chapter: The Kansas City chapter of NAIOP, the commercial real estate development association, hosts member events with developers, brokers, and capital providers. Directly comparable member-driven networking model for KC real estate professionals.
- Urban Land Institute (ULI) Kansas City: A regional chapter of the national Urban Land Institute, convening real estate developers, architects, planners, and investors around urban development. Overlaps UCG's networking and behind-the-scenes access format for a more national/professional audience.
- Downtown Council of Kansas City: A Kansas City-focused advocacy and membership organization dedicated to downtown revitalization and urban core economic development. Highly comparable in mission, geography, and stakeholder base to Urban Core Group.
- Young Real Estate Professionals of Kansas City (YREPKC): A KC-based networking group for emerging real estate professionals. Although already a UCG co-host partner, YREPKC is a direct peer in serving the same persona (young brokers, developers, architects) via member events.
- AIA Kansas City (American Institute of Architects): The local AIA chapter organizes member events, tours, and networking for architects and allied professionals, including behind-the-scenes access to notable buildings. Comparable event-driven format and a key segment overlap with UCG's architect/developer attendees.
- Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce: A KC sub-regional chamber serving Northeast Kansas City with networking events and development advocacy. UCG has already hosted an event with this partner; comparable community-development networking focus in the same metro.
Broad incumbents
- Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce: The regional business association hosting member events, ribbon cuttings, and networking across the KC metro. A broader incumbent that overlaps with UCG's professional networking and sponsorship-oriented model but at a much larger scale and across all industries.
Regional players
- Crossroads Community Association: A Kansas City neighborhood association focused on the Crossroads Arts District, hosting member events and advocacy for district revitalization. Comparable neighborhood-level civic convening model adjacent to UCG's urban core focus.
Others
- Riverfront Heritage Trail / Kansas City Area Transportation Authority community programs: Adjacent urban core civic and development stakeholders in Kansas City that occasionally co-host community engagement events. Thematically related to UCG's urban planning and economic development mission but not direct membership competitors.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Urban Core Group social profiles
Digital presenceUrban Core Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Urban Core Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Urban Core Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Urban Core Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Urban Core Group
What does Urban Core Group do?
Urban Core Group is a 501(c)(6) non-profit membership organization that convenes monthly and bi-monthly networking events at rotating venues across Kansas City's urban core. Members pay annual subscription fees to receive complimentary access to events featuring food, beverages, behind-the-scenes tours of historic buildings, and previews of active real estate development projects. The organization also offers tiered sponsorship packages that deliver brand recognition, event shout-outs, and speaking opportunities.
Is Urban Core Group a public or private company?
Urban Core Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Urban Core Group founded?
Urban Core Group was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Urban Core Group based?
Urban Core Group is headquartered in Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Urban Core Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Subscriptions.
Who are Urban Core Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Historic Kansas City Foundation, NAIOP Kansas City Chapter, Urban Land Institute (ULI) Kansas City, Downtown Council of Kansas City, Young Real Estate Professionals of Kansas City (YREPKC), AIA Kansas City (American Institute of Architects) and Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is listed as a broad incumbent. Crossroads Community Association is listed as a regional player. Riverfront Heritage Trail / Kansas City Area Transportation Authority community programs is listed as an others.
Does Urban Core Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Urban Core Group.
What industry is Urban Core Group in?
Urban Core Group's product category is Community Networking & Urban Development Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAL, Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services, with a secondary code of THAHAMAD, Customer/User Conferences & Client Advisory Boards. Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.