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Nebraska Humane Society

EIN 47-0378997 · Omaha, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY PROTECTS, SAVES AND ENRICHES THE LIVES OF ANIMALS IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING A BROAD SPECTRUM OF SERVICES FOR THE GREATER OMAHA AREA. PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE ADOPTION, ANIMAL FOSTER CARE, OBEDIENCE TRAINING, CREMATION SERVICES, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS LIKE CAMP KINDNESS FOR CHILDREN 6-12 YEARS OF AGE. THESE SERVICES ARE BASED ON THE AGENCY'S ABILITY TO DELIVER STRONG, STABLE AND CONSISTENT MEDICAL SERVICES FOR ALL ANIMALS PLACED IN OUR CARE. THE NHS IS AN OPEN ADMISSION SHELTER, MEANING WE ACCEPT ALL ANIMALS THAT COME TO US. WE ALSO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES TO PROVIDE ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES.

Income
$20.3 million
Spending
$18.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
28.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
233
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$195,608, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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 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 (3)
  1. $6.9 million spent. ANIMAL CONTROL - THE NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY (NHS) ACTS AS THE ANIMAL CONTROL AGENCY FOR THE GREATER OMAHA AREA. MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDE OMAHA, BELLEVUE, PAPILLION, SPRINGFIELD, RALSTON, LA VISTA, GRETNA, AND SARPY COUNTY, NEBRASKA. NHS ALSO ACTS AS THE ANIMAL LICENSING AGENCY FOR THE CITY OF OMAHA AND SARPY COUNTY. IN 2024, NHS RECEIVED 85,948 INCOMING CALLS RESULTING IN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS BEING DISPATCHED 20,954 TIMES DURING THE YEAR. THESE CALLS INCLUDED REPORTS OF STRAY, INJURED OR DEAD ANIMALS, AND PROBLEMS WITH WILDLIFE. THERE WERE 3,887 INVESTIGATIONS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY, BARKING, BITES, AND ABANDONMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, 620 CITATIONS WERE WRITTEN. IN 2024, 2,148 LOST PETS WERE RETURNED TO OWNERS, 149 RECEIVED A FREE RIDE HOME. ANIMAL LICENSING INCLUDED - DOG LICENSES ISSUED: 14,411 INTACT, 89,012 ALTERED, CAT LICENSES ISSUED: 847 INTACT, 40,597 ALTERED. POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOGS - 97, DANGEROUS DOGS - 10, MINI PIG - 11. LICENSES FOR ANIMALS WERE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO 3,515 COMPANION ANIMALS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AGED 65 AND OLDER RESIDING IN BELLEVUE, PAPILLION, SPRINGFIELD, LAVISTA, UNINCORPORATED SARPY COUNTY AND WATERLOO. NO CHARGE LICENSES WERE ALSO PROVIDED TO 258 SERVICE DOGS AND 5 COMPANION SUPPORT PETS.
  2. $7.1 million spent. ANIMAL WELFARE - ANIMALS ARRIVING AT THE SHELTER ARE EXAMINED, EVALUATED, AND TREATED BY OUR MEDICAL SERVICES TEAM. ALL ADOPTABLE DOGS, CATS, PUPPIES, AND KITTENS ARE SPAYED OR NEUTERED. ADDITIONALLY, SOME REQUIRE SURGERY FOR KNEE OR HIP PROBLEMS, EYE ISSUES, AMPUTATIONS, OR DENTAL PROCEDURES. OTHERS NEED MEDICATIONS TO FIGHT INFECTIONS AND PARASITES. MOST CATS AND DOGS WHO ENTER THE SHELTER ALSO NEED TO BE TREATED FOR FLEAS AND/OR TICKS.SHELTER MEDICAL SERVICES PERFORMED FOR 2024 INCLUDE: 5,887 SPAY/NEUTER PROCEDURES; 354 OTHER SURGERIES (HIPS, KNEES, AMPUTATIONS, EYES, AND DENTALS) 6,631 DIAGNOSTIC TESTS (HEARTWORM, FELINE LEUKEMIA, X-RAYS, BLOOD TESTS, SKIN SCRAPES) AND 5,495 DOGS AND CATS WERE MICROCHIPPED. ADDITIONALLY, ALL ANIMALS ARE VACCINATED BEFORE THEY ARE PLACED FOR ADOPTION.DURING 2024, A TOTAL OF 7,503 ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED THROUGH THE NHS. THIS INCLUDES DOGS, CATS, HORSES, AND OTHER SMALL ANIMALS, SUCH AS HAMSTERS, RABBITS, BIRDS, ETC. ONCE IN THE ADOPTION PROGRAM, DOGS AND CATS ARE SPAYED/NEUTERED, MICRO-CHIPPED AND GIVEN THEIR FIRST SERIES OF SHOTS. ADOPTION KENNELS ARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. IN 2024, 1,531 ANIMALS NOT YET READY FOR ADOPTION WERE CARED FOR IN 247 FOSTER CARE HOMES BY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS.
  3. $1.7 million spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH - NHS PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 785 CALLS TO THE BEHAVIOR HELPLINE WERE ANSWERED, AND PET CARE TIPS WERE AIRED ON LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO SHOWS. MORE THAN 3,402 CHILDREN AND ADULTS TOURED THE SHELTER AND ATTENDED HUMANE EDUCATION EVENTS. STAFF AND VOLUNTEER EDUCATORS ALSO PROVIDED PRESENTATIONS TO RELIGIOUS AND CIVIC GROUPS, BUSINESSES, HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES, SENIOR CENTERS, AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THE SUMMER PROGRAM, CAMP KINDNESS, ENROLLED 297 CHILDREN IN 2024. COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THOSE IN NEED ARE ADDRESSED BY SEVERAL PROGRAMS: THE PET LOSS SUPPORT GROUP, PROJECT PET SAFE (PROVIDES SHELTER TO PETS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE), ANIMEALS (PROVIDES PET FOOD TO SENIOR CITIZENS ON A FIXED INCOME RECEIVING MEALS ON WHEELS), PET FOOD PANTRY (PROVIDES PET FOOD AND CAT LITTER FOR PET OWNERS EXPERIENCING TEMPORARY ECONOMIC CHALLENGES) AND THE BEHAVIOR HELPLINE (A FREE CALL-IN SERVICE WHERE PROFESSIONAL STAFF HELPED PET OWNERS WITH TRAINING NEEDS.)

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1934.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.