Ogallala Commons Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OGALLALA COMMONS INC. MISSION: TO INSPIRE PEOPLE, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES AND SERVE THEM WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT NURTURES LEADERSHIP, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, STEWARDSHIP OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND ADVANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS. VISION: VIBRANT RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS. OUR REGIONS' COMMONWEALTH CAN BE INDENTIFIED AS WATER AND MINERAL CYCLE, RENEWABLE ENERGY, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND RECREATION, THE ARTS, HISTORY, A SENSE OF PLACE, WILDLIFE, THE FOODSHED, AND SPIRITUALITY. THESE ARE 12 ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS FOR COMMUNITY VITALITY. OGALLALA COMMONS USES A FOUR-PART APPROACH TO REGENERATE THESE COMMONWEALTHS: 1. BUILDING A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK; 2. CONDUCTING EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH; 3. FOSTERING A SENSE OF PLACE; AND 4. EMPOWERING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $799,863
- Spending
- $940,224
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 88%
- Employees
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $500,062 spent. WORKFORCE & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: IN 2024, OGALLALA COMMONS, INC. (OC) COLLABORATED WITH RURAL ENTREPRENEURS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND STUDENTS TO FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENHANCE COMMUNITY ASSETS, AND EXPAND CAREER HORIZONS ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS. THROUGH E-FAIRS AND INTERNSHIPS, OC SERVED OVER 350 STUDENTS WITH CAREER EXPLORATION AND ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
- $107,964 spent. STEWARDING NATURAL RESOURCES: IN 2024, OC SERVED MORE THAN 750 INDIVIDUALS WITH EDUCATIONAL EVENTS. USING DIGITAL MEDIA, FIELD DAYS, FESTIVALS, QUARTERLY ROUNDTABLES, AND CONFERENCES TO EDUCATE STUDENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND LANDOWNERS IN 52 COMMUNITIES ACROSS FOUR STATES.
- $232,583 spent. REBUILDING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS: IN 2024, OC USED DIGITAL MEDIA, FIELD DAYS, FESTIVALS, PRODUCER CALLS AND CONFERENCES TO SERVE STUDENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND PRODUCERS IN 47 COMMUNITIES ACROSS FOUR STATES. OC EXPANDED ITS FOOD HUB OPERATIONS TO TRANSPORT AND DELIVER MORE THAN 12,000 POUNDS OF REGIONALLY GROWN, NUTRIENT-DENSE PRODUCE IN FOUR FOOD SHEDS IN THREE STATES.
- $9,499 spent. PROGRAMS TOTAL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 2008.
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.
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