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Becket Athenaeum Inc

EIN 04-3458519 · Becket, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ESTABLISHED IN 1888, THE BECKET ATHENAEUM'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE LIFELONG LEARNING; TO FOSTER RELAXATION AND ENJOYMENT THROUGH OUR COLLECTION AND PROGRAMS; AND TO CULTIVATE A SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY.

Income
$281,208
Spending
$234,414
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
58.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
18
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$39,099, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 58.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $141,907 spent. PROVIDED LIBRARY SERVICES TO THE TOWNS' RESIDENTS WITH A CIRCULATION OF 12,796; PUBLIC COMPUTER USE AT AN AVERAGE OF 1 HOUR PER WEEK; AND ATTENDANCE OF 2,009 AT A VARIETY OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS.
  2. $53,786 spent. OUR GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMMING CONSISTS OF: - FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM (KIDS CLUB) HELD AT THE BECKET WASHINGTON SCHOOL 5 DAYS/WEEK FROM 3-5:30PM WITH MONTHLY VISITS TO THE LIBRARY, KEEPING THE COSTS DOWN TO 7/DAY/CHILD FOR FAMILIES. -RUNNING A TRADITIONAL BOOK CLUB, AND A COOKBOOK CLUB MONTHLY, AS WELL AS STORYTIME & CRAFTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS, STORYTIME & CREATIVE MOVEMENT, A BABY & TODDLER PLAYGROUP, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES. -TOWN OF BECKET SUMMER PROGRAM COLLABORATION: WE PLAN AND RUN ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS FOR THE FREE TOWN SUMMER PROGRAM THAT SERVES CHILDREN AGES 6 TO 12. -TEEN INTERN MENTOR PROGRAM: WE PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND JOBS AND TRAINING FOR LOCAL TEENS, TYPICALLY THEIR VERY FIRST JOB. WE GUIDE THEM THROUGH JOB APPLICATIONS, INTERVIEWS, WORKING PAPERS, DIRECT DEPOSIT FORMS, AS WELL AS MENTORING THEM FOR WORK ETHIC, SKILLS BUILDING, AND TEAMWORK. -WE SCHEDULE 24-36 ADDITIONAL STAND-ALONE PROGRAMS: CRAFT AND GARDENING CLASSES, PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND TOPICAL PRESENTATIONS, MOVIE NIGHTS, GAME NIGHTS, HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS, AND AN EVER-CHANGING LINE-UP OF PERFORMERS (STORYTELLERS, PUPPETEERS,MUSICIANS, ETC.) OUR GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMMING CONSISTS OF: - FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM (KIDS CLUB) HELD AT THE BECKET WASHINGTON SCHOOL 5 DAYS/WEEK FROM 3-5:30PM WITH MONTHLY VISITS TO THE LIBRARY, KEEPING THE COSTS DOWN TO 7/DAY/CHILD FOR FAMILIES. -RUNNING A TRADITIONAL BOOK CLUB, AND A COOKBOOK CLUB MONTHLY, AS WELL AS STORYTIME & CRAFTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS, STORYTIME & CREATIVE MOVEMENT, A BABY & TODDLER PLAYGROUP, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES. -TOWN OF BECKET SUMMER PROGRAM COLLABORATION: WE PLAN AND RUN ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS FOR THE FREE TOWN SUMMER PROGRAM THAT SERVES CHILDREN AGES 6 TO 12. -TEEN INTERN MENTOR PROGRAM: WE PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND JOBS AND TRAINING FOR LOCAL TEENS, TYPICALLY THEIR VERY FIRST JOB. WE GUIDE THEM THROUGH JOB APPLICATIONS, INTERVIEWS, WORKING PAPERS, DIRECT DEPOSIT FORMS, AS WELL AS MENTORING THEM FOR WORK ETHIC, SKILLS BUILDING, AND TEAMWORK. -WE SCHEDULE 24-36 ADDITIONAL STAND-ALONE PROGRAMS: CRAFT AND GARDENING CLASSES, PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND TOPICAL PRESENTATIONS, MOVIE NIGHTS, GAME NIGHTS, HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS, AND AN EVER-CHANGING LINE-UP OF PERFORMERS (STORYTELLERS, PUPPETEERS,MUSICIANS, ETC.)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 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 March 2001.

    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.