Passes our checks

Sandhills Area Foundation Inc

EIN 71-0882380 · Valentine, NE

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

What it says it does

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATIONAL GRANTS

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 73% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15
Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
72% 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
11 of 11 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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)

$46,590 spent. EDUCATIONAL GRANTS TO LOCAL GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS.
$46,012 spent. COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANTS: THEDFORD VOLUNTEER RESCUE 5,000 VALENTINE CHILDREN & FAMILY COALITION 5,000 VALENTINE WRESTLING CLUB 14,200 CHERRY CO 4H 500 CODY COWBOY GRIT 15,300 CHERRY CO AG SOCIETY 300 CODY FIRE DEPARTMENT 1,000 VALENTINE PUBLIC LIBRARY 10,000 VALENTINE FRIENDS OF LIBRARY 1,000 VALENTINE THEATER 50,000 SPARKS CEMETERY 2,000 VETAL FIRE DEPARTMENT 250 KILGORE FIRE DEPARTMENT 100 COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANTS: THEDFORD VOLUNTEER RESCUE 5,000 VALENTINE CHILDREN & FAMILY COALITION 5,000 VALENTINE WRESTLING CLUB 14,200 CHERRY CO 4H 500 CODY COWBOY GRIT 15,300 CHERRY CO AG SOCIETY 300 CODY FIRE DEPARTMENT 1,000 VALENTINE PUBLIC LIBRARY 10,000 VALENTINE FRIENDS OF LIBRARY 1,000 VALENTINE THEATER 50,000 SPARKS CEMETERY 2,000 VETAL FIRE DEPARTMENT 250 KILGORE FIRE DEPARTMENT 100
$23,934 spent. GENERAL EXPENSES OF SCHOLARSHIP AND COMMUNITY GRANTS.
SPARKS CHURCH FUND DISTRIBUTIONS 3,750 VALENTINE PUBLIC LIBRARY GRANT 4,000 VALENTINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1,000 VALENTINE TEAM MATES 1,500 CODY COWBOY GRIT 1,500 VALENTINE SCHOOLS MUSIC DEPARTMENT 1,500 AMERICAN LEGION POST GRANT 7,500 VALENTINE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COALITION 10,000 CHERRY COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER GRSNT 15,000 MIDDLE NIOBRARA NRD 262
GENERAL EXPENSES OF SCHOLARSHIP AND COMMUNITY GRANTS.

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

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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.