Prairie Stem
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
PRAIRIE STEM IS A NEBRASKA NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION DEDICATED TO ENCOURAGING K THROUGH 12TH GRADE LEARNERS TO INVESTIGATE AND FOLLOW TECHNICAL CAREER PATHS BY SPONSORING ENGAGING AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES IN THE CLASSROOM AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
- Income
- $480,488
- Spending
- $572,027
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- -2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $53,846, executive director
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
Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 186% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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 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)
- $3,506 spent. VIRTUAL STEM KITS - THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES A SET OF EXPANDING LESSONS AND MATERIALS THAT ARE OFFERED TO STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS. A BOX OF A SET NUMBER OF LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES IS PROVIDED ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO UTILIZE THE ITEMS CONTAINED IN THE BOX. THE STUDENTS MAY USE THE STEM KIT ON THEIR OWN AT HOME OR TEACHERS MAY PROVIDE STEM KITS TO AN ENTIRE CLASSROOM AS A GROUP ACTIVITY.
- $1,079 spent. HAVE ROBOTS WILL TRAVEL BRINGS STEM ITEMS TO ELEMENTARY CHILDREN FOR A FUN AND HANDS ON EXPERIENCE. THE PROGRAM IS OFFERED AT SCHOOLS AND AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT.
- $2,467 spent. SUMMER CAMPS: PRAIRIE STEM DELIVERS A CUSTOMIZED PROGRAM AT EACH SCHOOL. ALL STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOLS RECEIVE STEM/CONTENT SPECIFIC LESSONS. THE CLASSROOM TEACHER IS PRESENT AT ALL LESSONS LEARNING AS THE STUDENTS LEARN. AS PART OF A SCHOOL-WIDE PLAN, ALL TEACHERS PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (PD) ACTIVITIES AS ARRANGED BY THE SCHOOL COORDINATOR OR PRINCIPAL. THIS PD IS OFFERED DURING GRADE-LEVEL PLANNING TIME, AFTER SCHOOL OR ON DISTRICT PD DAYS. THE OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO HAVE THE SCHOOL ADOPT THE USE OF CURRENT TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY AS AN ENGAGING TOOL FOR CONTENT DELIVERY.
- $430,882 spent. TEACHING AND SUPPORTING STEM-RELATED ACTIVITIES AROUND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
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 2014.
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.