Avenue Scholars Foundation

Tax-deductible

Omaha, NE501(c)(3)Since 2007EducationEIN 26-1545078Revenue $5.2M in FY2025

On file with the IRSavescholars.org2121 N 117th Ave, 68164-3629 · Omaha, NETax-exempt since Apr 2009Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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To provide an Avenue of success for nebraska and iowa area students of talent and need by offering comprehensive support from high school through community college or entry into the workforce leading to enhanced lives and careers.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 130 volunteers and 40 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $5K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
76%
of spending
Looks good: 76% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$808K
to officers and key staff · 16% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 99% of similar orgs
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 16% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.2 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $1.0M
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$591K
28% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 28% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.2M
+16% vs prior year
Spent
$5.2M
To programs
76%
Net assets
$1.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$5.2M
FY2025▲ +16%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$5.2M
FY2021$5.6M
FY2022$4.9M
FY2023$5.0M
FY2024$4.4M
FY2025$5.2M
Expenses
$5.2M
FY2025▲ +0.9%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.7M
FY2021$5.1M
FY2022$5.3M
FY2023$5.0M
FY2024$5.1M
FY2025$5.2M
Net assets
$1.5M
FY2025-0.10%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$2.6M
FY2022$2.1M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$1.5M
FY2025$1.5M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending August 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 2009.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

76 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 76% · $3.9M Management & general 24% · $1.3M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

10 people listed on the 990; $808K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$521,357Pt VII · Sec A
President/COO (acting Ceo)
$164,027Pt VII · Sec A
$123,026Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Ken Bird’s $521K as CEO is at the 99th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3394 $1–10M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Ken Bird$521,357$474,722$506,918$445,921$435,227$424,592
Michael Alvano——$175,256$236,630$225,751$209,681
Lindsay Decker$164,027—————
Lisa Sterba—$137,800————
Kristopher Valentine—$126,581————
Catherine Dagle$123,026—————
Kristopher Valentin——$121,716$108,505——
Terry Fischer———$111,709$107,761$104,446

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Helps talented, needy students succeed in school and careers with comprehensive support.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $3.9M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

To provide an avenue of success for nebraska and iowa area students of talent and need by offering comprehensive support from high school through community college or entry into the workforce leading to enhanced lives and careers.

$3.9Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$1.0M
Grants paid · 9 grants · $197K · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$32,459
Unitemized GrantFY2023$47,568
Unitemized GrantFY2023$604
Unitemized GrantFY2022$19,864
Unitemized GrantFY2022$12,750
Unitemized GrantFY2022$11,077
Unitemized GrantFY2021$21,674
Unitemized GrantFY2020$24,992
Unitemized GrantFY2019$26,429

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$167K
Investment incomeLn 3$51K
Money outPt IX
$5.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.9M
Managementcol C$1.3M
Owns and owesPt X
$1.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$930K
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$591K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.2M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$43K
Investment incomeLn 3$51K
Other incomeLn 4–11$167K
Total revenueLn 12$5.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$930K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$930K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$633K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$539K
Other assetsLn 15$16K
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$591K
Net assetsLn 32$1.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 540
VolunteersI 6130
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$798K$930K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.3M$633K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$629K$539K
Total assetsLn 16$2.7M$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.2M$591K
Net assetsLn 32$1.5M$1.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$32K$32K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$582K$291K$291K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.8M$2.7M$82K
Management feesLn 11a$216K$173K$43K
Legal feesLn 11b$67K$67K
Accounting feesLn 11c$31K$31K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$307K$95K$212K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$178K$102K$76K
Office expensesLn 13$107K$46K$61K
OccupancyLn 16$192K$128K$64K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$70K$70K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$115K$115K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$406K$263K$143K
All other expensesLn 24e$98K$98K
Total functional expensesLn 25$5.2M$3.9M$1.3M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $5.2M$5.2M−$3K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $4.4M$5.1M−$684K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.0M$5.0M$53K$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.9M$5.3M−$384K$2.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $5.6M$5.1M$528K$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $5.2M$4.7M$460K$2.0M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,171,831 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,275,260$4,953,964
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $87,797$51,138
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $79,896$166,729
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,442,953$5,171,831
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $76,075$32,459
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,525,569$3,355,869
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,525,058$1,786,524
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,126,702$5,174,852
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$683,749−$3,021
Part VI · Governance 6 of 7 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $5,171,831 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$43,083
VIII-1e Government grants$1,179,450
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,731,431
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,953,964
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $51,138$51,138
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $130,962$130,962
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $35,767$35,767
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $217,867$5,171,831
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $5,174,852 across 14 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $32,459$32,459
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $290,990 · Management $290,990$581,980
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,692,045 · Management $81,844$2,773,889
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $172,800 · Management $43,200$216,000
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $66,759$66,759
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $31,177$31,177
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $94,649 · Management $212,186$306,835
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $102,360 · Management $75,791$178,151
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $45,876 · Management $61,043$106,919
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $127,987 · Management $63,994$191,981
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsManagement $70,085$70,085
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $115,169$115,169
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $262,697 · Management $143,186$405,883
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $97,565$97,565
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,919,428 · Management $1,255,424 · Fundraising $0$5,174,852
Part X · Balance sheet $2,118,244 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $797,888$930,240
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $628,540$539,112
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,254,407$632,570
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $16,322$16,322
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,697,157$2,118,244
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $18,635$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,168,635$591,183
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,242,527$1,383,573
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $285,995$143,488
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,528,522$1,527,061
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,697,157$2,118,244
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,527,061 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,171,831
XI-2 Total expenses$5,174,852
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$3,021
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,528,522
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,560
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,527,061

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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