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Spark

EIN 81-3057920 · Omaha, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO CHAMPION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BY FORMING AND LEADING PARTNERSHIPS THAT CREATE, IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE HOLISTIC REVITALIZATION PROJECTS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
13
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$148,980, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 92% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (1)
  1. $1.0 million spent. SPARK IS A 501(C) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS A UNIQUE, COLLABORATIVE AND COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS REGION. WE RECOGNIZE THAT PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC INSITUTIONS, AND OTHER EQUITY PARTNERS HAVE THE RESOURCES TO IMPACT CHANGE WHILE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS BEST UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. SPARK SERVES AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THESE VARIOUS PARTIES, LEVERAGING OUR EXPERTISE, RELATIONSHIPS AND FUNDING TO TRANSFORM NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH A PROCESS OF HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT. HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT APPLIES RIGOROUS REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT METHODS WHILE CONSIDERING ALL THE FOUNDATIONAL ASSETS: SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND PHYSICAL, THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE AND PROSPER. OUR ROLE IS TO SUPPORT AND SUPPLEMENT THE WORK OF EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS, BUILD UPON EXISTING COMMUNITY ASSETS, PROVIDE FUNDING, LEVERAGE RESOURES TO CLOSE FINANCING GAPS AND TO HELP EDUCATE AND MINIMIZE THE RISK FOR DEVELOPERS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT INVEST IN THESE COMMUNITIES. MOREOVER, WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY AND TRAIN COMMUNITY LEADERS TO EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES BOTH NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 October 2016.

    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.