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Better Ponca Foundation Inc

EIN 47-0757049 · Ponca, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR SMALL COMMUNITY 501(C)3 ALL VOLUNTEER CHARITABLE CORPORATION'S PURPOSE IS TO BENEFIT IMPROVEMENTS AND PROJECTS TO ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY OF PONCA, NE AND PONSCA STATE PARK THROUGH FUNDRAISING, PROJECT LEADERSHIP, VOLUNTEERISM AND TO HELP OBTAIN GRANTS TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY'S PUBLIC ENDEAVORS SUCH AS THE CITY OF PONCA, PONCA LIBRARY, PONCA PUBLIC CEMETARY, SCHOOL AND CITY SPORTS COMPLEX AND TO ASSIST WITH IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AT OUR NEARBY STATE OWNED PONCA STATE PARK

Income
$311,085
Spending
$185,319
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
95.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 95.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $99,469 spent. DISTRIBUTIONS MADE IN SUPPORT OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA PONCA STATE PARK MISSOURI RIVER OUTDOOR EXPO, AND OTHER PONCA STATE PARK EVENTS, AND SUPPORT TO THE PUBLIC USING PONCA STATE PARK DURING 2025. THIS STATE PARK IS LOCATED TWO MILES NORTH OF PONCA, NE AND IS A MAJOR ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY
  2. $55,171 spent. SMALL DONATIONS AND ENDOWED FUND DISTIRBUTIONS OF OTHER SMALL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHICH BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE
  3. $30,000 spent. COMMUNITY GRANTS AND DONATIONS MADE AND DISTRIBUTED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY PUBLIC FACILITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO IMPROVE PUBLIC FACILITIES SUCH AS OUR BUPLIC LIBARY, CITY PARKS, CEMETARY, YOUTH RECREATION FACILITIES, AND PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAMS
  4. $679 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE ANNYAL MEETING EXPENSE AND SAMLL FINANCIAL DONATIONS ACCEPTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS GIRLS SOFTBALL AND BOYS BASEBALL SUMMER PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL'S AFTER PROM ACTIVITIES
  5. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE ANNYAL MEETING EXPENSE AND SAMLL FINANCIAL DONATIONS ACCEPTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS GIRLS SOFTBALL AND BOYS BASEBALL SUMMER PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL'S AFTER PROM ACTIVITIES

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 March 1997.

    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.