Nebraska Civic Engagement Table

What it reported doing in 2024

Through programs such as organizer school; capacity, data, and resources to help our members engage communities in civic engagement and nonpartisan election education; policy training program called lobby school; and management/facilitation of several coalitions and working groups. Organizer school is a comprehensive training program. We have a staff member placed with two uniqure member organizations to increase capacity and ensure sustainable organizing presence in communities throughout greater Nebraska. In 2024, the program evolved from not only hiring organizers to be placed with members, to also include training modules to enhance skills of organizers employed within the network. Participants of this program support community building, election education and outreach, and responsiveness to local and state policy issues within the scope of the organization's mission. The program also aims to develop and grow the leadership pipeline in these geographies.lobby school takes a 360-approach to movement building by connecting elections and grassroots efforts to policy work. It is designed to expand the existing advocacy infrastructure and build power within Nebraska's non-profit advocacy organizations. Through this program, we are building the bench of policy experts that can advocate for a truly representative and inclusive democracy. We have a staff member placed with five unique member organizations over a two year period to increase capacity and ensure consistent policy and advocacy presence for organizations while also developing a leadership pipeline.participants gain essential skills to participate in lobbying efforts to fight for community interests that are not often represented by the traditional roster of professional lobbyists including those of rural and bipoc nebraskans. Training is facilitated by policy experts who share learning from years of hands-on experience and is strengthened through mentorship pairs based on issue areas. Mentors provide additional support in strategy development and as guides through the legislative process. In addition to guidance from experts, participants engage in a collaborative space where they can build connections among peers in their industry. In 2024, we graduated 13 participants and accepted 11 new program participants.another key focus of work is coalition management and facilitation. In 2024, we co-led a policy coalition of over 70 active participants weekly during the legislative session, were active in several geographic based voter education coalitions, and held key roles in numerous direct democracy campaigns. We provided education, resources, and subject matter expertise to support members designing nonpartisan voter outreach and education plans, leveraging data, a shared communications narrative, and people power to engage communities in the 2024 elections

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 96.1%; rating input score 96
• Program expense ratio: 77.9%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $13.43 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 83.3%; rating input score 83; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -23.2%; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.09; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 76; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6%; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 23.1% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 18.4% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 37.6% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings