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Credit Advisors Foundation

EIN 47-0751100 · Omaha, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER CONSUMERS TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THEIR FINANCES, CREATE ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND REALIZE EQUALITY OF ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
37.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
16
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$220,000, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 37.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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, 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 (5)
  1. $571,705 spent. HOUSING- SEE SCHEDULE O
  2. $558,810 spent. EDUCATION- SEE SCHEDULE O
  3. $506,520 spent. DEBT MANAGEMENT PLANS- SEE SCHEDULE O
  4. $162,887 spent. BANKRUPTCY COUNSELING AND REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE SERVICES
  5. HOUSING IN 2025, 6,325 CLIENTS AGENCY-WIDE PARTICIPATED IN HOUSING EDUCATION AND/OR HOUSING COUNSELING. UNDER CAF'S HUD MULTI-STATE ORGANIZATION APPROVAL FOR THE STATES OF ARIZONA, IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND OTHER STATES. WE PROVIDE A VARIETY OF HOUSING COUNSELING AND EDUCATION, SUCH AS: FAIR HOUSING PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING AND EDUCATION, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT/BUDGET COUNSELING, MORTGAGE DELINQUENCY AND DEFAULT RESOLUTION COUNSELING, RENTAL HOUSING COUNSELING AND TENANCY WORKSHOPS, AND SERVICES FOR HOMELESS COUNSELING. 707 CLIENTS LOCATED IN CAF'S HUD APPROVED GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS RECEIVED FULL HOUSING COUNSELING AND EDUCATION SERVICES DURING THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR. EDUCATION THE FOUNDATION OFFERS CREDIT EDUCATION SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC WHICH INCLUDES CREDIT COUNSELING, BUDGETING SERVICES, ACTION PLANS, PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKERS. IN 2025, 3,968 RECEIVED BUDGETS/CREDIT COUNSELING AND ACTION PLANS. 5,271 EDUCATION TOPIC SPECIFIC HOT SHEETS WERE DISTRIBUTED GEARED TOWARD MONEY MANAGEMENT. PUBLICATIONS ARE DELIVERED WITH FOCUSES ON SPENDING, BUDGETING, AND CONSUMER NEWS. ALL OF THESE ARE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE. PUBLIC SPEAKERS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS TO VARIOUS GROUPS REQUESTING FINANCIAL EDUCATION. AMONG THESE GROUPS ARE HIGH SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, COLLEGES AND COMMUNITY AGENCY PARTNERS. SPEAKERS INSTRUCT THE GROUPS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF CONSUMER TOPICS RELATED TO THE PROPER USE AND MANAGEMENT OF CREDIT. APPROXIMATELY, 761 PEOPLE AT 82 PRESENTATIONS BENEFITED FROM THESE SERVICES. DEBT MANAGEMENT PLANS IN 2025, ONLY 2,909 REQUIRED LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO BUDGETING AND MANAGING DEBT WHICH RESULTED IN A DEBT MANAGEMENT PLAN RECOMMENDATION. FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS PLACED ON A DEBT MANAGEMENT PLAN, A BUDGET IS CREATED, ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE WITH CREDITORS, AND THE CLIENT RECEIVES CONTINUOUS EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE TIME THEY ARE ON THE PLAN. THIS EDUCATION INCLUDES ACCESS TO OUR CLIENT ADVISORS, ATTENDANCE IN OUR SEMINARS, AND ON-LINE DEBT MANAGEMENT. BANKRUPTCY COUNSELING THE FOUNDATION IS APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRUSTEE TO PROVIDE PRE-BANKRUPTCY COUNSELING AND CERTIFICATION IN PERSON, ON THE PHONE, OR OVER THE INTERNET IN ALL 21 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS, AND ALABAMA AND NORTH CAROLINA, TO CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES AND CONTEMPLATING BANKRUPTCY. THIS COUNSELING IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE, FOR HARDSHIP CASES OR IN THOSE CASES WHERE THE CLIENT CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY. IN 2025 1,059 CREDIT COUNSELING CERTIFICATES WERE ISSUED. OF THESE, APPROXIMATELY 331 CLIENTS RECEIVED WAVERS. REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE SERVICES IN 2025 WE ONLY PROVIDED THESE SERVICES TO 37 INDIVIDUALS IN CONJUNCTION WITH SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 October 13, 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 December 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 September 1992.

    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 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.