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Fontenelle Forest

EIN 47-6026109 · Bellevue, 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

TO PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN EXPERIENCE AND ENJOY THE QUIET WILD OF NATURE. WE WANT TO INSPIRE CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO CARE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD.

Income
$6.4 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
14.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 56%
Employees
50
Volunteers
298
Highest pay
$145,469, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.4 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 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 83% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 (4)
  1. $632,477 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - FONTENELLE FOREST PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES, FROM PRESCHOOLERS TO SENIORS. IN 2025, FONTENELLE FOREST PROVIDED 726 FORMAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OVER 27,000 VISITORS THROUGH OUR SCHOOL, OUTREACH, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS. OUR PROGRAM CURRICULUM INCORPORATES HANDS-ON LEARNING AND EXPLORES SEVERAL TOPICS SUCH AS SPECIES IDENTIFICATION, HABITAT AND RESOURCE USE, HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, AND RAPTOR EDUCATION. MOST PROGRAMMING TAKES PLACE AT THE FOREST, THOUGH STAFF EDUCATORS DO PROVIDE STATEWIDE OUTREACH AT SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES, OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND EVENTS.
  2. $762,703 spent. NATURAL RESOURCES/CONSERVATION - FONTENELLE FOREST IS ONE OF NEBRASKA'S OLDEST CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS AND ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIVATE NATURE CENTERS IN THE NATION. THE FOREST ENCOMPASSES OVER 2,100 ACRES OF FOREST, PRAIRIE, WETLANDS, & ENDANGERED OAK SAVANNA ECOSYSTEMS ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER. OUR DEDICATED STAFF & VOLUNTEERS ARE PRACTITIONERS OF RESTORATION ECOLOGY,EMPLOYING A VARIETY OF TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING BIODIVERSITY SURVEYING, EROSION CONTROL, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL, THINNING, AND PRESCRIBED BURNING. THESE EFFORTS PROMOTE STRONG BIODIVERSITY & ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCY IN AN EVER-CHANGING URBAN LANDSCAPE. FOREST LAND STEWARDS FACILITATE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, PRESENT AT INDUSTRY CONFERENCES, & COLLABORATE ON PRESCRIBED BURNS ON BOTH THE FOREST AND PARTNER AGENCY PROPERTIES.
  3. $453,121 spent. NATURE CENTERS - FOR OVER A CENTURY, FONTENELLE FOREST HAS PROVIDED A PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS AND TO EXPERIENCE THE NATURAL WORLD. FOREST STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ENGAGE MEMBERS, VISITORS AND GUESTS THROUGH CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, OUTDOOR RECREATION, AND HISTORICAL PRESERVATION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PROPERTIES. FONTENELLE FOREST NATURE CENTER IN BELLEVUE AND NEALE WOODS NATURE RESERVE IN OMAHA PROVIDE PLACES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO EXPLORE THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH EXHIBITS, PLAY SPACES, A MILE-LONG ACCESSIBLE BOARDWALK AND 24 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS.
  4. $393,597 spent. RAPTOR OUTREACH - FONTENELLE FOREST'S RAPTOR OUTREACH PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO TEACH THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT BIRDS OF PREY, THEIR ROLE WITHIN THE NATURAL WORLD, AND THE IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITY ON THEM AND THEIR HABITATS - HELPING FONTENELLE FOREST TO ACHIEVE ITS MISSION OF INSPIRING CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO CARE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. THESE EDUCATIONAL RAPTOR AMBASSADORS SERVE AS EDUCATIONAL AMBASSADORS FOR OUTREACH PROGRAMS AT SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, IN ADDITION TO BEING ONSITE AT THE FONTENELLE FOREST RAPTOR WOODLAND REFUGE. IN 2025, FONTENELLE FOREST PROVIDED 241 FORMAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OVER 15,500 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR SCHOOL, OUTREACH, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS.

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 November 6, 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 December 1970.

    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 November 4, 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.