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Associates of the Boston Public Library Inc

EIN 04-2900822 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ASSOCIATES OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY IS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND PROMOTING THE HISTORIC, LITERARY, AND ARTISTIC TREASURES OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY THROUGH TARGETED GRANTMAKING AND CULTURAL EVENTS. BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO THESE COLLECTIONS, THE ASSOCIATES ENSURES THAT PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, IN BOSTON AND BEYOND, CONTINUE TO BE INFORMED AND INSPIRED.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
16.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 53%
Employees
3
Volunteers
72

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 (3)
  1. $1.1 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING, PROTECTING AND PROMOTING THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY'S SPECIAL COLLECTIONS OF RARE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, PRINTS AND DRAWINGS, MUSICAL SCORES, AND ITEMS OF HISTORIC, LITERARY, AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE. THE ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING CONTINUED PUBLIC ACCESS TO THESE IRREPLACEABLE TREASURES BY UNDERWRITING THEIR CONSERVATION, CATALOGING, DIGITIZATION, CURATION, AND EXHIBITION.
  2. $45,497 spent. THE ORGANIZATION SPONSORS THE ASSOCIATES OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE EMERGING AUTHORS WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND OFFICE SPACE NEEDED TO COMPLETE ONE LITERARY WORK FOR CHILDERN OR YOUNG ADULTS. THIS PROGRAM DRAWS ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF WRITERS AND WRITING IN OUR CULTURE, AS WELL AS THE MANY EDUCATIONAL OPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
  3. $71,712 spent. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS LITERARY AND CURATORIAL PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ITS SPECIAL COLLECTIONS. THIS PROGRAMMING INCLUDES THE HUNDRED YEAR RETROACTIVE BOOK AWARD, WHICH WEIGHS THE ENDURING LITERARY MERITS OF BEST SELLERS PUBLISHED A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, AND THE PIERCE PERFORMANCE SERIES WHICH SEEKS TO RAISE THE VISIBILITY OF TREASURES IN THE BPL'S SPECIAL COLLECTIONS THROUGH FREE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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