Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Concord Free Public Library Corporation

EIN 04-2121328 · Concord, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO OWN AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDINGS IN CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS; OWN AND MAINTAIN SPECIAL COLLECTIONS OF THE CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY; MISCELLANEOUS OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
87.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 72%
Employees
4
Volunteers
9

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 87.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $1.6 million spent. THE CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S KEY PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR WERE THE FOLLOWING - 1. ACQUISITION OF BICKNELL COLLECTION - IN SEPTEMBER 2024 THE TRUSTEES APPROVED THE ACQUISITION OF AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF LOUIS MAY ALCOTT MANUSCRIPTS, DRAWINGS AND LETTERS FROM KENT BICKNELL, A COLLECTOR SPECIALIZING IN LOUISA MAY ALCOTT. THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS $175,000, PAID IN THREE INSTALLMENTS OVER TIME, AND WAS FULLY SUPPORTED BY DONATIONS FROM CONCORD FAMILIES. THE ACQUISITION REPRESENTS A MAJOR ADDITION TO THE LIBRARY'S EXISTING COLLECTION OF LOUISA MAY ALCOTT ITEMS. THE COLLECTION WILL BE HOUSED IN THE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS VAULT, AND A PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF THE COLLECTION IS SCHEDULED TO OCCUR BEGINNING IN MARCH 2026. 2. LAUNCH OF MONROE SOCIETY - IN SEPTEMBER 2024 THE TRUSTEES LAUNCHED THE WILLIAM MONROE SOCIETY TO DEVELOP AND CULTIVATE A LONG-TERM SOURCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CORPORATION'S GOALS OF GROWING AND PRESERVING THE SPECIAL COLLECTION. THE LAUNCH RECEIVED A STRONG RESPONSE AND HELPED GENERATE FUNDING FOR SEVERAL ACQUISITIONS MADE IN 2025 AND TO DATE IN 2026. 3. CHILDREN'S GARDEN UPGRADES - IN MAY 2025 THE TRUSTEES APPROVED A SERIES OF MAJOR UPGRADES TO THE CHILDREN'S GARDEN AT THE MAIN LIBRARY, INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF A CHILD-SIZE 'HOBBIT HOUSE', A WOODEN BRIDGE AND STONE WALKWAY TO ACCESS THE HOUSE, PLAY FURNITURE AND OTHER ACCOUTREMENTS AND ADDITIONAL SHRUBBERY AROUND THE GARDEN PERIMETER. WORK WILL CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN SPRING 2026 AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $75,000. 4. GOVERNANCE INITIATIVES - A NEW GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE WAS SEATED TO SYSTEMATICALLY ADDRESS VARIOUS GOVERNANCE RELATED NEEDS AND ENHANCEMENT OBJECTIVES. IN ADDITION, THE TRUSTEES ADDED SEVERAL OUTSIDE MEMBERS TO OUR STANDING COMMITTEES DURING 2025. THE NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL NOT ONLY BRING NEW ENERGY AND EXPERTISE BUT WILL ALSO PROVIDE EXPOSURE AND EXPERIENCE TO THE LIBRARY AS POTENTIAL FUTURE TRUSTEES.
  2. $25,000 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CORPORATION TO COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC AND IN THE VISUAL ARTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1979.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.