Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Mays Foundation

EIN 83-4357166 · Omaha, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO IDENTIFY STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF YOUTH WITH CHALLENGING BACKGROUNDS AND PROVIDE PROGRAMMING THAT UNCOVERS HIDDEN SKILLS AND TALENTS, WHILE FORMING ONGOING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS ENABLING US TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES.

Income
$870,311
Spending
$765,241
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
8
Volunteers
102

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $381,122 spent. DAY AND EVENING REPORTING - YOUTH COME TO US AND WE WORK WITH THEM TO DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS, INCREASE ACADEMIC SKILLS, BUILD CHARACTER, AND MOVE TOWARD INDEPENDENT LIVING AS THEY GET CLOSER TO BEING ON THEIR OWN. DAY REPORTING TAKES PLACE DURING THE DAY, WHEN STUDENTS WOULD TYPICALLY BE IN SCHOOL, HOWEVER, IF THEY ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO ATTEND DUE TO SUSPENSION, EXPULSION, TRANSFER, ETC, THEY COME TO US. EVENING REPORTING TAKES PLACE AFTER SCHOOL AND FOCUSES ON ENRICHMENT AND CHARACTER BUILDING.
  2. $76,224 spent. GANG INTERVENTION - MAYS WORKS WITH YOUTH WHO ARE INVOLVED IN GANGS, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE SIMPLY AFFILIATED OR ARE HEADING DOWN THE PATH TO BECOMING GANG MEMBERS, TO DISCOVER ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES AND WAYS OF THINKING. THIS INCLUDES OUR ANNUAL HOOD TO THE WOODS INITIATIVE WHERE WE TAKE GANG INVOLVED YOUTH ON AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE/CHALLENGE TRIP TO COLORADO AND THEY LEARN OUTDOOR SKILLS AND MUST LEARN TO WORK WITH THOSE THEY CONSIDER "ENEMIES."
  3. $50,816 spent. FAMILY SUPPORT - THIS INCLUDES THE FAMILIES OF OUR YOUTH - WE WORK WITH YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES TO LEARN WAYS TO POSITIVELY ENGAGE AND COMMUNICATE, OFTEN ACTING AS A LIAISON BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN WHO NEED HELP IN UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER.
  4. OTHER.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Mather Foundation (Evanston, IL), EIN 20-1030638. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.