Nebraska Academy of Sciences
The Nebraska Academy of Sciences (NAS), based in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a scientific society founded in 1880. Its activities include scientific meetings and publications, science education, public outreach, scholarships, small grants, and awards. Its 2024 IRS filing identifies it as a private foundation.
Nebraska Academy of Sciences at a glance
In short: Nebraska Academy of Sciences gave $32K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Nebraska. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $31,683
- -44.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- -42.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,880
- -4.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $1,567,662
- +7.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Nebraska Academy of Sciences
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
NAS states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
NAS states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and **does not accept unsolicited requests** for funds. Its website also describes scholarship application processes for students; those are participant scholarships, separate from grants to outside organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 880339, Lincoln, NE 68588-0339
Phone: (402) 472-2644
Website: https://www.neacadsci.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nebraska Academy of Sciences funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 84 grants of 84 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Nebraska. The 2024 filing lists recipients in communities including Lincoln, Omaha, Spalding, Kearney, Gering, and Cambridge.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
How Nebraska Academy of Sciences gives
- Giving fell 49% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2020) to $62K (2021). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $32K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 11 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $31,683 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,567,662 | $90,299 | $126,765 | $31,683 | 11 | $71,596 | $13,658 | $74,755 |
| 2023 | $1,456,870 | $171,625 | $154,305 | $57,518 | 19 | $105,466 | $14,405 | $68,855 |
| 2022 | $1,337,309 | $157,202 | $86,076 | $39,293 | 17 | $53,896 | $9,152 | $65,441 |
| 2021 | $1,414,442 | $152,120 | $111,622 | $61,950 | 20 | $80,827 | $7,856 | $67,959 |
| 2020 | $1,335,561 | $88,679 | $127,015 | $25,443 | 17 | — | $4,808 | $62,238 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nebraska Academy of Sciences reported a distributable amount of $75K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NAS’s stated objectives include advancing scientific work and collaboration; improving science’s contributions to human welfare and environmental quality; encouraging research on Great Plains environmental issues; increasing public understanding of science; stimulating science education; and sharing scientific knowledge.
Its programs include scholarships, small grants, awards, science meetings, teacher-development activities, and public outreach. Among the 2024 grantees, an individual recipient described its mission as fostering environmental and community stewardship through education, service, and advocacy. An individual recipient described its mission as creating a more modern and robust democracy for Nebraskans through youth service learning, civic health initiatives, and nonpartisan voting rights advocacy.
Grantmaking
NAS reported 11 grants totaling $31,683 in 2024. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $9,340, with a median of $1,500. The filing reports 19 grants totaling $57,518 in 2023 and 17 grants totaling $39,293 in 2022.
The largest 2024 grants included $9,340 to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, $5,000 to an individual recipient, $4,303 to Spalding Academy, $4,185 to the Asian Community Cultural Center, and $3,505 to an individual recipient The filing also lists six scholarships to individual recipients, ranging from $100 to $1,500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Julie Shaffer, Randy Lienemann, Marc Bathke, and Kristin Benton as directors; Ann Buchmann as secretary; Bradley Peterson as president; Annemarie Shibata as past president; Justin Andersson as treasurer; and Tessa Durham Brooks as president-elect.
Nebraska Academy of Sciences is led by Bradley Peterson, President since 2023 (on filings since 2022); none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bradley Peterson
President
President-El → President, 2023
On filings since 2022
3.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tessa Durham Brooks
President El
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marc Bathke
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randy Lienemann
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Shaffer
Director
President-El → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Benton
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Buchmann
Secretary
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Annemarie Shibata
Past President
President → Past President, 2023
On filings since 2022
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin Andersson
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Christine Gustafson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: David Hardwood (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Danielle Peekenschneider (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Doug Golick (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Sally Harms (2020–2021) — Past President
- Former: Scott King (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Allison Bailey (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Susan Weller (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Todd Young (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Nebraska Academy of Sciences
How much does Nebraska Academy of Sciences give each year?
Nebraska Academy of Sciences gave $32K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $58K across 19 grants.
What is Nebraska Academy of Sciences's typical grant size?
Nebraska Academy of Sciences's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $2,880, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Nebraska Academy of Sciences give grants?
Nebraska Academy of Sciences gives mostly in Nebraska: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Nebraska Academy of Sciences give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Nebraska Academy of Sciences's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (6 grants) and "Grant" (5 grants).
How large is Nebraska Academy of Sciences?
Nebraska Academy of Sciences reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $72K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $75K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Nebraska Academy of Sciences fund?
NAS’s stated objectives include advancing scientific work and collaboration; improving science’s contributions to human welfare and environmental quality; encouraging research on Great Plains environmental issues; increasing public understanding of science; stimulating science education; and sharing scientific knowledge. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nebraska Academy of Sciences?
NAS states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Nebraska Academy of Sciences's EIN?
Nebraska Academy of Sciences's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-0445712. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Nebraska Academy of Sciences accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Nebraska Academy of Sciences down — hundreds of funders to go?