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Knights of Aksarben Foundation

EIN 47-0447496 · Omaha, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONVENE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS COMMITTED TO NEBRASKA'S PROSPERITY THROUGH ADVANCEMENTS AND INNOVATIONS IN EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND CIVIC PROJECTS BORN FROM EFFECTIVE PRIVATE, PUBLIC, AND PHILANTHROPIC COLLABORATIONS. AKSARBEN FOUNDATION EMPOWERS NEBRASKA'S LEADERS TO SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHANNEL RESOURCES BEHIND COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO GROW OUR ECONOMY AND IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
10
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$377,836, president

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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 21 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $605,963 spent. ADVANCING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: NEBRASKA BUSINESSES ARE CURRENTLY GRAPPLING WITH A PRESSING ISSUE - A NOTABLE SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOR. THIS DEFICIENCY IS CAUSING A SURGE IN THE OUTSOURCING OF VARIOUS POSITIONS TO OTHER STATES. THE RESULTING DYNAMIC PUTS A CAP ON NEBRASKA'S BUSINESS EXPANSION AND HAMPERS THE POTENTIAL FOR NEW BUSINESSES CONSIDERING RELOCATION TO OUR STATE. HOWEVER, AKSARBEN IS DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THIS LABOR CRISIS. WE HAVE PLEDGED TO TAP INTO OUR ROBUST NETWORK OF BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, WORKING WITH NEBRASKA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND LEVERAGING PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND PHILANTHROPIC RESOURCES. OUR MISSION IS NOT ONLY TO EXPAND OUR WORKFORCE, BUT ALSO TO ENHANCE THE NUMBER AND QUALITY OF HIGH-SKILL, HIGH-WAGE JOBS, ELEVATING NEBRASKA'S BUSINESS LANDSCAPE.
  2. $554,412 spent. THE AKSARBEN BALL: A LEGACY OF SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERISM. FOR OVER 128 YEARS, THE AKSARBEN FOUNDATION HAS BEEN ORCHESTRATING THE ANNUAL AKSARBEN BALL, A GRAND EVENT THAT UNDERSCORES THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERISM. WE TAKE PRIDE IN HONORING THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO ENHANCING OUR REGIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE. THE AKSARBEN BALL, WITH ITS STORIED HISTORY, REPRESENTS THE ESSENCE OF LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN NEBRASKA.
  3. $110,565 spent. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS & COMMUNITY GRANTS: THE AKSARBEN FOUNDATION IS HEAVILY INVESTED IN FOSTERING THE FUTURE LEADERS OF NEBRASKA. WE HAVE AWARDED NUMEROUS TWO AND FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP LOCAL STUDENTS ATTEND COLLEGE IN OUR STATE. OUR COMMITMENT DOESN'T STOP AT SCHOLARSHIPS. THE AKSARBEN FOUNDATION FRIENDS COMMUNITY GRANTS SUPPORT PROJECTS BUDGETED UP TO $10,000 IN TOTAL. THE MAXIMUM GRANT AWARDED IN THIS CATEGORY IS $1,000, WITH ALL GRANT AWARDS REQUIRING A MATCHING GIFT COMPONENT.
  4. $1.4 million spent. STAFF SALARIES, BENEFITS, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES (GRANT INCLUDED) NOT SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATED TO A CERTAIN PROGRAM.

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 August 1959.

    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.