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Nebraska Art Association

EIN 47-6026671 · Lincoln, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 22% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THROUGH STEWARDSHIP OF OUR COLLECTION AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES, THE SHELDON ART ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THE SHELDON MUSEUM OF ARTS MISSION TO INSPIRE INQUIRY AND DISCOVERY, SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, THE STATE, AND BEYOND.

Income
$867,394
Spending
$421,033
Spent on programs
22%
Reserves
117.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
0

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 117.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 71% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    22% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $17,532 spent. COLLECTIONS. SHELDONS COLLECTION COMPRISES WORKS OF INTERNATIONAL DISTINCTION IN DIVERSE MEDIA. THE COLLECTION INCLUDES PROMINENT WORKS OF NINETEENTH-CENTURY LANDSCAPE AND STILL LIFE, AMERICAN IMPRESSIONISM, EARLY MODERNISM, GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTION, ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM, MINIMALISM, AND PHOTOGRAPHY. MORE THAN 30 LARGE-SCALE SCULPTURES ARE EXHIBITED ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. CARE FOR THE COLLECTION INCLUDES MUSEUM STORAGE AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES. THE MUSEUM ACQUIRES WORKS OF ART THAT SUPPORT ITS MISSION. DIGITIZATION OF SHELDONS COLLECTION IS EXPANDING ONLINE ACCESS AND EXTENDING THE MUSEUM WALLS TO ENGAGE VIEWERS IN ANY GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION AND OPENS DOORS TO STUDY THE COLLECTION.
  2. $19,334 spent. EXHIBITIONS. SHELDON SHOWCASES ITS COLLECTION IN THEMATIC PRESENTATIONS SUPPLEMENTED BY TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS AND SELECT INCOMING LOANS. EXHIBITIONS ARE PLANNED ON A SEMESTER-BASED SCHEDULE TO SUPPORT EDUCATORS USING EXHIBITIONS TO MEET CURRICULAR OUTCOMES. SINCE 1987, THE MUSEUM HAS ORGANIZED SHELDON STATEWIDE, AN ANNUAL EXHIBITION TRAVELING TO TOWNS ACROSS NEBRASKA.
  3. $20,398 spent. THE MEMBERSHIP HELPS TO SUPPORT ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE CREATIVE, CRITICAL THINKING. THROUGH PUBLIC PROGRAMS, K-12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION COLLABORATION, AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR TEACHING AND RESEARCH, THE MUSEUM SUPPORTS EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SINCE 1964, SHELDON HAS PROVIDED CURRICULUM-BASED TOURS FOR ALL FIFTH-GRADE STUDENTS IN LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
  4. $35,971 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE CONSERVATION, EXIBITIONS, MUSEUM STORE, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND STATEWIDE EDUCATION.
  5. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE CONSERVATION, EXIBITIONS, MUSEUM STORE, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND STATEWIDE EDUCATION.

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? 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 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 February 1950.

    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.