Release INC

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To assist youth and families involved in the juvenile justice and foster care systems.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 39-1900136) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
94¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 250 volunteers and 52 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
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $307K a year · 9% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
94%
of spending
94% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$179K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
1.2 mo
of spending, in cash
1.2 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
1 funder names it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$310K
13% of total assets
Liabilities are 13% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
13 of 13 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$4.1M
-5% vs prior year
Spent
$4.0M
To programs
94%
Net assets
$2.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$4.1M
FY2025▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.1M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$2.9M
FY2023$5.1M
FY2024$4.3M
FY2025$4.1M
Expenses
$4.0M
FY2025▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.1M
FY2021$2.3M
FY2022$2.6M
FY2023$4.0M
FY2024$4.4M
FY2025$4.0M
Net assets
$2.0M
FY2025▲ +0.8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$201K
FY2021$680K
FY2022$962K
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$2.0M
FY2025$2.0M

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

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1999.

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

Where the money goes

94 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 94% · $3.8M Management & general 6% · $233K Fundraising 1% · $21K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

15 people listed on the 990; $179K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director - Since
$97,330Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$81,193Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

David Wininger’s $97K as Executive Director - Since is at the 47th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1636 $1–10M religion 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
David Wininger$97,330$104,615$96,056$101,112$94,910$80,000
Garrett P Swanberg$81,193—————

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.

See Release INC executive salaries →

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 youth and families navigate juvenile justice and foster care systems.

Questions for Release INC

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3 programs · $3.2M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Foster Care Program

As a state-licensed child placing agency, release offers a wide variety of foster care services. Release provides initial training and ongoing support to foster familes, enabling them to provide temporary, loving homes, when children cannot remain in their family homes.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 39-1900136) · Dispute this line
$2.1Mprogram expense
02

Mentoring Program

Juvenile justice mentoring equips, disciples, and supports youth through a network of professionals and volunteers who provide relational support, skills acqisition, and spiritual foundations. 109 youths mentored in a one-to-one mentoring relationships, 1,668 youths served by chaplains & mentors in institutions.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 39-1900136) · Dispute this line
$554Kprogram expense
03

Social Work Program

Community-based initiatives that include family support, family preservation, family reunification, and parenting time services intended to heal, reunite, preserve, and strengthen the most vulnerable families of douglas and sarpy counties. Served 748 family members served with social work services.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 39-1900136) · Dispute this line
$548Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.1M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.4M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$563K
Other incomeLn 4–11$103K
Money outPt IX
$4.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.8M
Managementcol C$233K
Fundraisingcol D$21K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$402K
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$310K
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$563K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$86K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Other incomeLn 4–11$103K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$355
Total revenueLn 12$4.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$402K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$402K
Accounts receivableLn 4$369K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.6M
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$310K
Net assetsLn 32$2.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 552
VolunteersI 6250
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$101K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$379K$402K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.6M$1.6M
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$346K$310K
Net assetsLn 32$2.0M$2.0M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$179K$165K$14K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.8M$1.6M$143K
Payroll taxesLn 10$158K$145K$13K
Management feesLn 11a$60K$47K$13K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.5M$1.5M
Advertising and promotionLn 12$15K$15K
Office expensesLn 13$53K$52K$655
Information technologyLn 14$61K$27K$27K$6K
OccupancyLn 16$32K$29K$3K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$36$36
InterestLn 20$20K$19K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$38K$35K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$19K$18K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$100K$86K$14K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.0M$3.8M$233K$21K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Mar 10, 2026 $4.1M$4.0M$26K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Mar 4, 2025 $4.3M$4.4M−$118K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS May 14, 2024 $5.1M$4.0M$1.2M$2.1M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS May 12, 2023 $2.9M$2.6M$282K$962K 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS May 13, 2022 $2.8M$2.3M$479K$680K 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS May 10, 2021 $2.1M$2.1M$11K$201K 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $4,062,254 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $378,289$562,582
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $3,754,061$3,394,463
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,932$1,836
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $122,859$103,373
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,258,141$4,062,254
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,347,901$2,113,127
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,037,437$1,923,543
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,385,338$4,036,670
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$127,197$25,584
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,062,254 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$562,582
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$86,046
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$562,582
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $3,394,463$3,394,463
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,191$2,191
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $32,453$32,453
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$355−$355
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $70,920$70,920
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $3,394,463 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $105,209$4,062,254
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,036,670 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $164,981 · Management $13,542$178,523
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,633,873 · Management $142,880$1,776,753
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $145,223 · Management $12,628$157,851
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $46,849 · Management $13,419$60,268
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,525,007$1,525,007
IX-12 Advertising and promotionFundraising $14,986$14,986
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $52,065 · Management $655$52,720
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $27,427 · Management $27,427 · Fundraising $6,095$60,949
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $29,205 · Management $2,540$31,745
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $36$36
IX-20 InterestPrograms $18,629 · Management $1,620$20,249
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $35,252 · Management $3,065$38,317
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $17,938 · Management $1,560$19,498
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $85,755 · Management $14,013$99,768
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,782,240 · Management $233,349 · Fundraising $21,081$4,036,670
Part X · Balance sheet $2,334,630 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $378,587$402,363
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $365,092$368,975
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,601,609$1,563,292
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,345,288$2,334,630
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $47,627$27,931
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $288,810$272,680
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $10,004$9,588
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $346,441$310,199
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,973,847$1,952,431
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $25,000$72,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,998,847$2,024,431
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,345,288$2,334,630
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,024,431 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,062,254
XI-2 Total expenses$4,036,670
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$25,584
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,998,847
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,024,431

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

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