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Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools

EIN 36-3490560 · Lincoln, NE

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

"THE FOUNDATION FOR LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BELIEVES THAT ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. WE ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO INSPIRE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS, AND CREATE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENHANCE ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL SUCCESS."

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
44
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$73,862, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 73% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 (3)
  1. $4.1 million spent. PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE LEARNING AT LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO ALL STUDENTS OR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANY STUDENT WHO WISHES TO EXPLORE THEIR PASSIONS. DISTRICT PRIORITY PROJECTS, POST- SECONDARY AND DUAL CREDIT SCHOLARSHIPS, TEACHER AWARDS AND CLASSROOM GRANTS ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS WORK. A PRIMARY FOCUS FOR THE FOUNDATION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BEEN THE FIELDING DREAMS CAMPAIGN, WHICH AIMS TO BUILD PREMIER ATHLETIC AND ACTIVITY FACILITIES IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, TO SERVE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ATHLETICS, THE ARTS, AND VARIOUS ACTIVITIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WHILE FUNDRAISING PRIMARILY OCCURRED PRIOR TO FISCAL YEAR 2025, OVER 2 MILLION WAS DISBURSED BY THE FOUNDATION TO LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 FOR PURPOSES OF THE CAMPAIGN. PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE LEARNING AT LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO ALL STUDENTS OR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANY STUDENT WHO WISHES TO EXPLORE THEIR PASSIONS. DISTRICT PRIORITY PROJECTS, POST- SECONDARY AND DUAL CREDIT SCHOLARSHIPS, TEACHER AWARDS AND CLASSROOM GRANTS ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS WORK. A PRIMARY FOCUS FOR THE FOUNDATION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BEEN THE FIELDING DREAMS CAMPAIGN, WHICH AIMS TO BUILD PREMIER ATHLETIC AND ACTIVITY FACILITIES IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, TO SERVE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ATHLETICS, THE ARTS, AND VARIOUS ACTIVITIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WHILE FUNDRAISING PRIMARILY OCCURRED PRIOR TO FISCAL YEAR 2025, OVER 2 MILLION WAS DISBURSED BY THE FOUNDATION TO LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 FOR PURPOSES OF THE CAMPAIGN.
  2. $307,607 spent. IMPLEMENTATION, DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT OF THE SPARK SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM IN LINCOLN, NE
  3. $187,804 spent. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT MORE LOW-INCOME AND FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND ATTEND POST- SECONDARY SCHOOL. IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORT OF PROGRAM TO DIRECTLY CONNECT DONORS TO CLASSROOM NEED OF STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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 November 6, 2026.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1987.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 November 4, 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.