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Omaha NE | IRS ruling year: 1934 | EIN: 47-0378997
Organization Mission
The Nebraska Humane Society (NHS), founded in 1875, is the fifth oldest humane society in the U.S. and one of the largest. We are the only open-entry animal shelter ... (More)
The Nebraska Humane Society (NHS), founded in 1875, is the fifth oldest humane society in the U.S. and one of the largest. We are the only open-entry animal shelter in the Omaha metro area (population 750,000). As an open-entry shelter, more than 21,000 animals, including wildlife, come through our doors annually. In 2021, we helped 8,269 animals find new adoptive homes, and reached more than 200,000 people with our programs and message of compassion and humane treatment. NHS is contracted to provide animal control services in a 400 square mile area. We provide medical care, shelter, and a second chance for stray, lost, abandoned, and abused animals in our jurisdiction. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 100%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 35% Accountability & Finance, 50% Impact & Results, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 5% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Charity Navigator's ratings previously did not consider Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, or Impact & Results. The historic rating mainly reflects a version of today’s Accountability and Finance score. More information on our previous rating methodologies can be found on our rating methodology page.
| Date Published | Overall Rating | ||
| 8/3/2021 | | ||
| 4/1/2021 | | ||
| 5/1/2020 | | ||
This organization received multiple star ratings within this fiscal year, due to an update to its Accountability and Transparency data and/or the receipt of an amended Form 990. | |||
| 4/1/2019 | | ||
| 6/1/2018 | | ||
| 6/1/2017 | | ||
| 6/1/2016 | | ||
| 6/1/2015 |  | ||
| 6/1/2014 | | ||
| 7/1/2013 | | ||
| 12/1/2011 | | ||
| 9/20/2011 | | ||
| 5/1/2011 | | ||
| 5/1/2010 | | ||
| 5/1/2009 | | ||
| 3/1/2008 | | ||
| 3/1/2007 | | ||
| 1/1/2006 | | ||
| 1/5/2005 | | ||
| 12/1/2003 | | ||
| 2/5/2003 |  | ||
| 10/15/2002 | | ||
Score
Most Recent Fiscal Year:
FY 2021
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
Learn more
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No CreditMajority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members8 out of 8 points Majority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members8 out of 8 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. We check to see that a majority of board members are identified as independent on their tax form.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Board Size - 19 independent members7 out of 7 points Independent Board Size - 19 independent members7 out of 7 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. For most organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least three independent board members. For large, donor-funded organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least five independent board members
Source: IRS Form 990
Financial Statements - Audit and Oversight Committee15 out of 15 points Financial Statements - Audit and Oversight Committee15 out of 15 points
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
| Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
| $2 million or higher and 40% or higher donor support | Expected to complete an audit and have an audit oversight committee |
| $1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
| $500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
| Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Material Diversion of Assets - None10 out of 10 points Material Diversion of Assets - None10 out of 10 points
A diversion of assets — any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft — also can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We review the charity's most recent IRS Form 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditWebsite Listed on Tax Form - Listed2 out of 2 points Website Listed on Tax Form - Listed2 out of 2 points
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed4 out of 4 points Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed4 out of 4 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Listed4 out of 4 points Whistleblower Policy - Listed4 out of 4 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed4 out of 4 points Document Retention and Destruction - Listed4 out of 4 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes2 out of 2 points Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes2 out of 2 points
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the IRS Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditTax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Listed4 out of 4 points Tax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Listed4 out of 4 points
For almost all charities, we check the charity's IRS Form 990 to see if it discloses that the Form 990 is available on the charity's website. As with the audited financial statement, donors need easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditLiabilities to Assets: Ratio - 1.23%15 out of 15 points Liabilities to Assets: Ratio - 1.23%15 out of 15 points
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent IRS Form 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization's solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense: Ratio - 88.21%25 out of 25 points Program Expense: Ratio - 88.21%25 out of 25 points
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three IRS Forms 990). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Nancy Hintz, Executive Director
$186,064
Kathy Roum, Vice President Of Developm
$142,508
Michele Tetreault-mertes, Vice President - Human Res
$104,916
Lindy Hess, Vice President - Finance
$94,968
Jason Griess, Director
Compensation not entered
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2021
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Nebraska Humane Society) or EIN (470378997) in the 'Search Term' field.
Score
This beacon estimates the actual impact a charity has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact.
Learn more
Program
Animal Welfare
Activities
The nonprofit rescues animals that would have otherwise been killed or left in some other bad condition. These animals are taken in and sheltered.
Program Type
Animal Shelter
Beneficiaries Served
Dogs, cats, horses, birds and small critters
Program Geography
(No data collected)
Time Period of Data
1/1/21 to 12/31/21
Outcomes: Changes in the lives of those served by a nonprofit. They can be caused by the nonprofit.
Costs: The money spent by a nonprofit and its partners and beneficiaries.
Impact: Outcome caused by a nonprofit relative to its cost.
Cost-effectiveness: A judgment as to whether the cost was a good use of resources to cause the outcome.
Outcome Metric
Number of rescued animals
Outcome Data Source
Ratings are based on data the nonprofit itself collects on its work. We use the most recent year with sufficient data. Typically, this data allows us to calculate direct changes in participants' lives, such as increased income.
The nonprofit submitted data on how many animals it intaked as well as how many animals received a "non-rescue" exit
Method for Attributing Outcomes
We don't know if the observed changes were caused by the nonprofit's program or something else happening at the same time (e.g., a participant got a raise). To determine causation, we take the outcomes we observe and subtract an estimate of the outcomes that would have happened even without the program (i.e., counterfactual outcomes).
We assume that there is a lack of shelter for animals, and therefore assume a counterfactual percent likelihood of the animal being rescued otherwise as 0%.
Cost Data Source
After estimating the program's outcomes, we need to determine how much it cost to achieve those outcomes. All monetary costs are counted, whether they are borne by a nonprofit service deliverer or by the nonprofit’s public and private partners.
Program cost data reported by the nonprofit. Partner and beneficiary costs reported by the nonprofit or estimated by Charity Navigator.
Cost Calculation
$10,684,194 program costs + $124,792 partner costs + $927,457 adoption fees = $11,736,443 total costs
We calculate impact, defined as the change in outcomes attributable to a program divided by the cost to achieve those outcomes.
Impact Calculation
$11,736,443 total costs / 20,185 rescues = roughly $580 rescues one animal. [2021 USD]
Benchmark for Rating
Impact & Results scores of animal shelters are based on the cost a household spends saving the life of their pet. Programs receive an Impact & Results score of 100 if they are less than 75% that cost and a score of 80 if they are less than 125%. If a nonprofit reports impact but doesn't meet the benchmark for cost-effectiveness, it earns a score of 65.
Determination
Highly cost-effective
Score
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditConstituent Feedback - Data Available100/100 points Constituent Feedback - Data Available100/100 points
100% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. The methodology leveraged for Constituent Feedback is based on The Core Principles of Constituent Feedback, which describes listening and responding well to feedback. Charity Navigator participates in a consortium with other feedback experts and leading nonprofit infrastructure platforms to drive Constituent Feedback's advancement, promotion, and data collection.
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
Note: The organization reported that it is not using feedback.
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Note: The organization reported no challenges faced.
Equity Practices - No Data AvailableUnscored Equity Practices - No Data AvailableUnscored
This organization has not provided information regarding the Equity Practices it is presently implementing. As such, the organization has not earned a score on this metric. This assessment demonstrates the importance of implementing practices that contribute positively to an organization's overall culture, both internally and with respect to community engagement. Furthermore, equity centered frameworks and similar approaches have drawn much attention from donors, experts, and sector leaders who underscore its value to the nonprofit's overall health and capacity for mission success. Currently, the Equity Strategies Checklist assessment consists of practices and policies that promote racial equity in their operations and programs (per the Equity Strategies checklist administered by Candid). As we refine our DEI assessment, Charity Navigator partners with DEI consultants and field experts to broaden and deepen this work.
Score
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditMission 10/10 points Mission 10/10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
The Nebraska Humane Society (NHS), founded in 1875, is the fifth oldest humane society in the U.S. and one of the largest. We are the only open-entry animal shelter in the Omaha metro area (population 750,000). As an open-entry shelter, more than 21,000 animals, including wildlife, come through our doors annually. In 2021, we helped 8,269 animals find new adoptive homes, and reached more than 200,000 people with our programs and message of compassion and humane treatment. NHS is contracted to provide animal control services in a 400 square mile area. We provide medical care, shelter, and a second chance for stray, lost, abandoned, and abused animals in our jurisdiction.
Vision 10/10 points Vision 10/10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
NHS envisions a community that cherishes the ideals of a humane society, compassionately and respons
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals 20/20 points Goals 20/20 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Streamline adoption process for efficient and improved customer service.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Two: Reduce animal length of stay.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Three: Increase agency diversity and inclusion through focused recruitment, engagement and training practices.
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
Leadership Development 15/15 points Leadership Development 15/15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Describe an investment in leadership
NHS is committed to leadership development by conducting training needs assessments with managers and creating training plans that focus on stress and change management and leadership development. Senior leadership and board members have participated in training through the Racial Equity Institute.
Mobilizing for Mission 15/15 points Mobilizing for Mission 15/15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
This organization mobilizes for mission in the following ways:
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Community Building
Policy Advocacy
What are this organization’s external mobilizaton efforts?
The Nebraska Humane Society works tirelessly to fight for abused and neglected animals in our communities by pushing for local and state policies to protect them. We aggressively communicate our mission and those we serve through social media outlets as well as print, radio and television. We form strategic partnerships with local nonprofit organizations to further serve the community in our mission. Staff have traveled across the country to help with animal rescue and recovery missions.
Adaptability Story 30/30 points Adaptability Story 30/30 points
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
“I lost my job due to the virus outbreak and I’m not sure when I’ll be working again. I cannot afford to pay for food, her upcoming vet visits and additional costs.” – Paige “In September, we took this female, Border Collie/Great Pyrenees mix into our home. I fell in love with her. Due to the economy and having financial issues, we cannot afford to take care of her anymore.” - Kristen These are just two of the many people who come to NHS seeking help in keeping their families together. At NHS, we know, pets are family. We strive to do everything we can to keep them at home with those who love them. For those reasons, we have invested more in our free community programs to vulnerable populations: Project Pet Safe (shelter pets of domestic violence victims), sheltering pets of homeless veterans, Pet Food Pantry, and Animeals (pet food delivery to the elderly). We have also created the Forever Home Fund to assist with other expenses and keep pets in their homes. Barry's Story Barry was not doing well and quickly getting worse. After being examined and having x-rays taken, it was determined he had a foreign object in his intestine. He needed surgery, and soon. However, Barry’s dad is a disabled veteran and was having to decide between paying for his basic needs and saving Barry’s life. However, because of a collaboration with this veterinarian and their knowledge of the Forever Home Fund, Barry and his dad could both get what they needed. On September 11th, Barry got the surgery he needed, then soon returned home. A few weeks after Barry’s surgery, NHS received this note from Barry’s dad. "First off, I want to thank the NHS for their help they have provided for Barry and me as it is truly appreciated. Barry is now home and taking full advantage of relaxing with his cone finally off. He is back in his favorite spot in the house and now that his staples have been removed, he is looking forward to going on more walks and enjoying this nice fall cool weather!"
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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