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Catholic Social Services

EIN 47-0751554 · Lincoln, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PERFORM THE WORKS OF MERCY IN RESPONSE TO THE CALL OF GOD. OUR CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY PERFORMED PRIMARILY INCLUDE PROVIDING FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, AND PRISON MINISTRY. OUR SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY PERFORMED PRIMARILY INCLUDE COUNSELING, INSTRUCTING, AND COMFORTING.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$7.1 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
96
Volunteers
557
Highest pay
$91,517, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 June 30, 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 (6)
  1. $2.7 million spent. FOOD, CLOTHING, AND MATERIAL ASSISTANCE - SERVING THE MOST BASIC NEEDS - FOOD, CLOTHING, AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS - THAT IS OUR GOAL. ON SITE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN LINCOLN, AUBURN, IMPERIAL AND HASTINGS NEBRASKA. SERVICES OFFERED INCLUDE FOOD PANTRIES, BUDGET COUNSELING, SOCIAL SERVICE REFERRALS, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PAYMENTS OF RENT, UTILITIES, DEPOSITS, VEHICLE REPAIRS, MEDICAL BILLS, AND OTHER NECESSITIES. OUR ST. FRANCIS FOOD PANTRY IN LINCOLN IS THE SECOND LARGEST PANTRY IN THE CITY. THE HASTINGS AND LINCOLN OFFICES SUPPLEMENT THEIR OFFERINGS OF FOOD THROUGH A BROWN BAG LUNCH PROGRAM GIVEN TO THOSE NEEDING PREPARED FOOD IN THE HASTINGS AND LINCOLN AREAS.
  2. $1.6 million spent. GIFT AND THRIFT - MATERIAL RELIEF THROUGH OUR GIFT AND THRIFT STORES IN LINCOLN, HASTINGS, IMPERIAL, AND AUBURN NEBRASKA. THE STORES SELL CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, FURNITURE, AND APPLIANCES AT REASONABLE PRICES. WE CALL OUR THRIFT STORE ACTIVITY, "GIVING SQUARED; A DONOR PROVIDES CSS WITH AN IN-KIND GIFT, WHICH WE CAN PROVIDE TO A NEEDY FAMILY AT BELOW MARKET PRICES AND ANY CASH PROFITS EARNED ARE GIVEN AWAY AGAIN THROUGH OUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. THE 'GIFT' PORTION OF THE STORES IS MANAGED THROUGH OUR VOUCHER PROGRAM. OUR CASE WORKERS IDENTIFY FAMILIES WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM AN IN-KIND ITEM AND OFFER THEM A VOUCHER TO THE GIFT AND THRIFT STORE. THE FAMILY CAN THEN SHOP IN OUR CLEAN, ORGANIZED, WELL-LIGHTED STORES ALONG WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS, THUS RESPECTING THEIR DIGNITY. THE VOUCHER CAN BE USED TO OFFSET OR ELIMINATE THE COST OF THE ITEM.
  3. $1.2 million spent. REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT - WITH THE EUROPEANS LEFT HOMELESS BY WORLD WAR II AND CUBANS FLEEING COMMUNISM IN THE 1960'S, THE DIOCESE OF LINCOLN HAS BEEN WELCOMING REFUGEES IN THE NAME OF CHRIST FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY. TODAY, REFUGEES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD FLEEING PERSECUTION, POVERTY, AND WAR BEGIN NEW LIVES IN SOUTHERN NEBRASKA WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF CSS. RESETTLEMENT SERVICES INCLUDE SECURING HOUSING, CULTURAL ORIENTATION, FOOD, MEDICAL, AND DENTAL SERVICES, AND JOB PLACEMENT. ALL REFUGEE SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE FAMILIES TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE.
  4. $64,200 spent. EVANGELIZATION - TWO IMPORTANT WORKS OF MERCY ARE VISITING THE SICK AND IMPRISONED. CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES CONDUCTS PROGRAMS IN EACH OF THESE AREAS. INDIVIDUALS INCARCERATED IN PRISONS LOCATED IN OUR DIOCESE ARE SUPPORTED AND ASSISTED SPIRITUALLY BY A FULL-TIME CATHOLIC PASTOR. OUR AGENCY ALSO SUPPORTS THE ACTIVITIES OF THE APOSTOLATE OF SUFFERING, WHICH PRODUCES PUBLICATIONS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND ASSIST THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC OR TERMINAL ILLNESSES. AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF OUR PUBLICATIONS SENT TO HOMES THROUGHOUT THE DIOCESE IS TO INSTRUCT AND ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO LIVE AND STRENGTHEN THEIR CATHOLIC FAITH. HOLY CARDS, ROSARIES, AND TOOLS TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN THEIR SPIRITUAL GROWTH ARE ALSO OFFERED AT MOST OF OUR AGENCY'S FUNCTIONS.
  5. $381,174 spent. HOUSING - HOUSING SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH OUR ST. GIANNA WOMEN'S HOMES PROGRAM IN LINCOLN AND HASTINGS, NEBRASKA. SAFE, SECURE HOUSING AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE ARE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SCATTERED SITE HOUSING AND CASE-MANAGED APARTMENTS ARE PROVIDED TO 32 FAMILIES AT ANY ONE TIME.
  6. $218,459 spent. CHILDCARE

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 June 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 March 1946.

    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.

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