Nebraska Writers Collective
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NEBRASKA WRITERS COLLECTIVE FOSTERS PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING IN THE MIDWEST THROUGH CREATIVE WRITING AND PERFORMANCE POETRY.
- Income
- $556,361
- Spending
- $637,051
- Spent on programs
- 50%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 115
- Highest pay
- $85,046, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1550% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $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
8 of 8Has a 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 June 30, 2025, 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)
- $141,640 spent. ALL WRITES RESERVED (AWR): THIS PROGRAM IS ENTERING ITS 15TH SEASON, WHICH ALIGNS WITH THE EDUCATIONAL YEAR. STUDENTS FROM ACROSS NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA WORK WITH PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS ON WRITING, EDITING, GIVING AND RECEIVING FEEDBACK, AND PERFORMANCE. THIS PROGRAM SERVICES 30-40 SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SITES, EACH SERVING 4-12 STUDENTS, AND ENDS WITH A FINAL SHOWCASE EACH APRIL. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING WORKFORCE READINESS SKILLS TO YOUTH, WE ALSO CONTRACT WITH LOCAL TEACHING ARTISTS, WHICH KEEPS ARTISTS PAID AND CONNECTED TO THE GREATER NEBRASKA AREA.
- $24,816 spent. COLLECTIVE FOR YOUTH (CFY): THIS PROGRAM IS SPONSORED BY ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE OMAHA AREA. THE NWC PARTNERS TO OFFER A CURRICULUM THAT BUILDS LITERACY THROUGH HIP-HOP IN 4 NORTHEAST OMAHA LOCATIONS. EACH WEEK, APPROXIMATELY 45-60 STUDENTS ARE SERVED. THE GOAL IS TO USE AN ARTS-BASED CURRICULUM TO ADDRESS LITERACY GAPS IN STUDENTS BEFORE THEY GET TO HIGH SCHOOL.
- $1,778 spent. THE NEBRASKA YOUTH POET LAUREATE PROGRAM IS A LICENSED PROGRAM DONE IN COORDINATION WITH URBANWORD. THIS PROGRAM LOOKS TO RECRUIT DIVERSE STUDENTS FROM ACROSS NEBRASKA WHO SHOW CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ARTISTIC MERIT. THE WINNING PARTICIPANT RECEIVES ONE YEAR OF CIVIC AND ARTISTIC MENTORSHIP, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE TO BE THE UNITED STATES YOUTH POET LAUREATE.
- $150,433 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS OF THE NEBRASKA WRITERS COLLECTIVE INCLUDE: NORTH OMAHA WRITERS WORKSHOP, NWC PRESS, WRITERS IN COMMUNITY, OMAHA & LINCOLN POETRY SLAMS, AND WRITERS' BLOCK.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.
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 May 2009.
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.