Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska

What Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska does

Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) is a 501(c)(3) Catholic nonprofit organization founded in 1932 and operating under the Diocese of Lincoln, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. The agency delivers a broad portfolio of social services across 24,000 square miles of southern Nebraska, including immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, emergency housing through the St. Gianna Program (16,508 nights of lodging provided in the last fiscal year), food markets and meal services, family support, the Prison and Reentry Apostolate (PARA), and faith-based early childhood education at Little Blessings Child Care Center. In the last fiscal year, CSS deployed $2,346,013.33 in direct assistance to individuals and families.

The organization's underlying technology is limited to a standard nonprofit website and eCommerce infrastructure hosted on Firespring, with no proprietary systems, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities disclosed. Service delivery is conducted through four physical outreach offices (Lincoln, Hastings, Auburn, and Imperial/McCook), a central Donation Center, and four branded Gift & Thrift retail stores (St. Louise, St. Joseph, St. Francis, St. Isidore), supplemented by a CSS eCommerce storefront.

CSS is a donation-funded organization; all programs and services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. Revenue is generated through diversified streams: individual one-time and recurring ACH donations, endowed funds and legacy gifts managed via The Catholic Foundation of Southern Nebraska (minimum $10,000, up to 5% annual distribution), Gift & Thrift retail and eCommerce sales, vehicle donations, Gift of Grain and Gift of Securities programs, IRA Charitable Distributions, employer matching gifts, and annual fundraising events including the 30th CSS Memorial Golf Classic and Trumpet Fest. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on parish referrals, United Way partner agency status, local chamber relationships, and volunteer networks across the Diocese of Lincoln. The organization employs 51-100 staff and maintains EIN 47-0751554 with Guidestar Platinum transparency status.

Name

Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska

Legal name

Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska

Website

https://cssisus.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services agency operating under the Diocese of Lincoln, delivering immigration legal aid, refugee resettlement, emergency housing, food assistance, family support, prison reentry, and child care across 24,000 square miles of southern Nebraska through donation-funded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Community Food Services (62421), Temporary Shelters (624221), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Social services
• Emergency assistance
• Refugee resettlement
• Food assistance
• Immigration legal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Catholic Social Services relies heavily on individual donations through various mechanisms including one-time gifts, automatic ACH contributions, and vehicle donations. Donors can give monthly, quarterly, or annually through automatic bank transfers.
2. Planned Giving and Endowments: Endowed funds and legacy gifts managed through The Catholic Foundation of Southern Nebraska provide ongoing support. Endowments require a minimum of $10,000 and distribute up to 5% of earnings annually while protecting principal.
3. Gift & Thrift Store Revenue: Multiple Gift & Thrift stores (St. Louise, St. Joseph, St. Francis, St. Isidore) generate revenue through retail sales of donated items. CSS eCommerce platform also sells items online.
4. Vehicle Donations: Organization accepts vehicle donations which provide value to donors (tax deductions) and support operational funding.
5. Grain and Securities Donations: Farmers can donate grain directly to CSS, avoiding income and self-employment taxes. Appreciated stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are also accepted, allowing donors to avoid capital gains while receiving tax deductions.
6. IRA Charitable Distributions: IRA holders aged 72+ can donate their Required Minimum Distribution directly to CSS, avoiding income tax on amounts up to $100,000/year ($200,000 as a couple).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides comprehensive social services free of charge to vulnerable populations across southern Nebraska. Its core offerings include family support, food markets and meal services, immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, emergency housing through the St. Gianna Program, early childhood education at Little Blessings Child Care Center, and prison reentry support via PARA. The organization also operates four Gift & Thrift stores and a CSS eCommerce platform as social enterprise revenue streams.

Product overview

Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska operates as a non-profit social services agency offering a diverse portfolio of programs and services. The organization provides direct assistance including food markets and meal services, family support, immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, and housing through the St. Gianna Program. Social enterprise operations include Gift & Thrift Stores and a CSS Donation Center. Child care services are offered through Little Blessings Child Care Center. The organization also runs a Prison and Reentry Apostolate (PARA). Fundraising mechanisms include various donation programs (ACH, endowed funds, gift of grain/securities, IRA distributions, matching gifts) and events (CSS Golf Classic, Trumpet Fest). The organization serves across 24,000 square miles in the Diocese of Lincoln.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Little Blessings Child Care Center: Catholic faith-based child care center in Lincoln serving ages 3.5-5 years
• St. Gianna Program
• Prison and Reentry Apostolate (PARA)
• CSS Gift & Thrift Stores
• CSS eCommerce

Products and services

• Family Support Services Support services for families facing housing instability, domestic challenges, or financial hardship across southern Nebraska.
• Food Market & Meal Services Food distribution and meal services for community members experiencing food insecurity across southern Nebraska.
• Catholic School Food Market Program Food assistance program providing food markets to Catholic schools in southern Nebraska.
• Immigration Legal Services Legal assistance for immigration matters including documentation, visa assistance, and citizenship support for individuals and families in southern Nebraska.
• Refugee Resettlement Services Assistance for refugees resettling in southern Nebraska, including support for cultural adjustment, housing, and employment.
• St. Gianna Program Emergency housing program providing nights of lodging and safety for families and individuals in need.
• Prison and Reentry Apostolate (PARA) Program assisting individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community.
• Little Blessings Child Care Center Catholic faith-based child care center in Lincoln serving children ages 3.5-5 years (Pre-K).
• Gift & Thrift Stores Four retail thrift stores selling donated items, with revenue supporting CSS operations. Locations include St. Louise Gift & Thrift (Lincoln), St. Joseph Gift & Thrift (Hastings), St. Francis Gift & Thrift (Auburn), and St. Isidore Gift & Thrift (Imperial).
• CSS eCommerce Online platform selling donated and recycled items, with pickup available at the Lincoln Donation Center.
• CSS Donation Center Central donation drop-off location at 1300 N 14th St, Lincoln NE, accepting all Lincoln area donations including furniture, operating Monday-Friday 9 AM-4 PM; also serves as CSS eCommerce pickup location.

Quantifiable outcome

• Provided $2,346,013.33 in direct assistance across southern Nebraska last fiscal year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County (UWLLC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way partnership provides additional funding and community visibility. CSS is listed as a United Way partner agency, enhancing credibility and referral networks for services.
• United Way South Central NebraskasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional United Way partnership serving the Hastings area, providing additional funding and community connections.
• The Catholic Foundation of Southern NebraskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages endowed funds and legacy gifts for CSS. Endowments require minimum $10,000 and distribute up to 5% of earnings annually while protecting principal. CSS EIN is 47-0751554.
• Guidestar (Candid)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCSS maintains a Guidestar profile (47-0751554) with Platinum status, demonstrating transparency and organizational accountability to donors.
• Diocese of LincolncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a Catholic social services agency of the Diocese of Lincoln, CSS operates under ecclesiastical oversight and serves the 24,000 square miles of the Diocese.
• Local Chambers of CommercesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnerships with Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Hastings Chamber of Commerce, and Auburn/Nemaha County Chamber provide networking, referrals, and community integration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Action Partnership of Lancaster & Saunders Counties: Community-based anti-poverty agency delivering rent/utility assistance, food, and family support across the same southern Nebraska service area. Comparable on emergency services headcount and headcount-scale to CSS.
• Immigrant Legal Center (formerly Justice for Our Neighbors Nebraska): Faith-affiliated nonprofit providing immigration legal services across Nebraska. Directly comparable to CSS's Immigration Legal Services program line and shares the same Diocesan/parish referral channel.
• Food Bank of Lincoln: Regional food bank serving southeast Nebraska. Directly comparable on the Food Market/meal services program line and on partnerships with schools, parishes, and community-based referral networks.
• St. Vincent de Paul Society (Lincoln Conference): Catholic lay organization providing home visitation, rent/utility assistance, food, and emergency aid. Closely comparable to CSS's emergency services and parish-based GTM model in the same southern Nebraska footprint.
• Salvation Army of Lincoln: Faith-based social services and thrift organization operating in Lincoln. Comparable because it combines direct assistance (food, housing, family support) with retail thrift stores as a social enterprise, mirroring CSS's hybrid model.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Omaha: The neighboring Nebraska Catholic Charities operating in the eastern part of the state. Most directly comparable peer — same Catholic social services mission, same Diocese-membership model, overlapping programs in housing, immigration, and food assistance.
• Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska: Faith-based nonprofit serving Nebraska with refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, family support, and behavioral health. Operates with the same multi-county rural model and serves overlapping populations in southern Nebraska.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National umbrella network for Catholic social services agencies including Diocesan providers like CSS. Directly comparable as a faith-based nonprofit delivering humanitarian, immigration, and family services with parish-based outreach.
• Goodwill Industries of Nebraska: Operates thrift retail stores whose revenue funds workforce and community programs. Comparable on the social-enterprise/thrift-store revenue model and on rural Nebraska donor visibility, though mission is workforce rather than Catholic social services.

Regional players

• Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln: Nonprofit housing organization operating in Lincoln with volunteer-driven model and thrift/ReStore retail. Comparable on faith-adjacent community engagement and on retail revenue funding mission programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/catholicsocialservicesofsouthernnebraska
• Facebookfacebook.com/CSSHopeintheGoodLife
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csshopeinthegoodlife
• Instagraminstagram.com/csshopeinthegoodlife
• Xx.com/CSSHopeGoodLife

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska