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Nebraska Children and Families Foundation

EIN 91-1829974 · Lincoln, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NEBRASKA CHILDREN'S MISSION IS TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE FOR CHILDREN THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OUR VISION IS A NEBRASKA WHERE ALL CHILDREN WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. OUR VALUES ARE (1) PREVENTION - WE BELIEVE IN INVESTING EARLY BEFORE PROBLEMS START, (2) OPPORTUNITY - WE BELIEVE EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE CHANCE TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, SO WE FOCUS ON PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE THE LEAST AND (3) COLLABORATION - WE BELIEVE IT TAKES ALL OF US TO CREATE A NEBRASKA WHERE ALL CHIDLREN CAN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

Income
$44.1 million
Spending
$43.7 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
124
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$246,076, president

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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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, 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 (3)
  1. $16.6 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD: DEVELOP AND SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION THAT PROVIDES CHILDREN FROM VULNERABLE FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITIES TO ESTABLISH A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING. ALSO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES THAT ENHANCE THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN, BIRTH THROUGH AGE 8.
  2. $4.8 million spent. CONNECTED YOUTH COMMUNITIES: CONNECTED YOUTH INITIATIVE (CYI) IS AN INNOVATIVE, YOUTH-LED INITIATIVE THAT HAS ACHIEVED SUCCESS ADDRESSING THE POLICIES AFFECTING YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE. CYI WORKS TO ACTIVELY REMOVE BARRIERS THAT KEEP YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE FROM ACHIEVING PERMANENCE, EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ECONOMIC SUCCESS. WE'RE CURRENTLY ASSISTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONNECTED YOUTH COMMUNITIES AND COLLABORATIONS ACROSS RURAL NEBRASKA TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE WITH EXXPERIENCE IN THE FOSTER CARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS, STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS, OR WHO ARE DISCONNECTED FROM A FAMILY STRUCTURE.
  3. $8.9 million spent. CHILD WELL-BEING COMMUNITIES: ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD WELL-BEING COMMUNITIES TO MAKE PROGRESS ON CHILD WELL-BEING INDICATORS CHILD WELL-BEING COMMUNITES ARE COMMUNITY-OWNED COLLABORATIONS THAT SEEK TO OPTIMIZE THE PREVENTION OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES BY ACTIVIELY PROMOTING PROTECTIVE FACTORS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY CONTEXT, ACROSS THE COMMUNITY PREVENTION SYSTEM, AND THROUGH PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS.

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 April 1998.

    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.

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