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Trustees of the Berkshire Athenaeum

EIN 04-6004200 · Pittsfield, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BERKSHIRE ATHENAEUM, PITTSFIELD'S PUBLIC LIBRARY, EXISTS TO INITIATE, NURTURE AND FEED A PASSION FOR KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING. THE LIBRARY OFFERS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES THE MATERIALS AND SERVICES NECESSARY TO SATISFY AN APPETITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT POPULAR CULTURE AND SOCIAL TRENDS AND THEIR DESIRE FOR ENJOYABLE RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES; ENABLES OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO EXPLORE PERSONAL, HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE; SUPPLIES THE MEANS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO CONTINUE TO LEARN THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES; AND PROVIDES THE SOPHISTICATED INFORMATION SERVICES NEEDED TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS; ALL IN A WELCOMING SETTING FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE WITH OTHERS AND DISCUSS A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY ISSUES.

Income
$596,205
Spending
$424,147
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 43%
Employees
0
Volunteers
42
Highest pay
$108,264, library director

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: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • 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 (1)
  1. $376,266 spent. SEE SCHEDULE OIN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE LIBRARY HAD 243,593 CIRCULATIONS OF MATERIALS TO 17,864 REGISTERED BORROWERS.THE LIBRARY'S OPERATING HOURS ARE 63 HOURS PER WEEK, FOR A TOTAL OF 3,107 PUBLIC SERVICE HOURS OPEN FOR THE YEAR.THE LIBRARY HAS 16 FULL-TIME AND APPROXIMATELY 35 PART-TIME STAFF WHO ANSWERED 34,904 REFERENCE QUESTIONS THIS YEAR. THE LIBRARY ALSO PROVIDED 39,139 WIRELESS INTERNET SESSIONS AND 16,036 WIRED COMPUTER SESSIONS THIS YEAR. THE LIBRARY OFFERED 529 PROGRAMS WITH 10,058 TOTAL ATTENDANCE AT THOSE PROGRAMS.ADDITIONALLY, SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING PUZZLES, COLORING SESSIONS,AND SCAVENGER HUNTS) NUMBERED 62, WITH ,1288 PARTICIPANTS. FINALLY, THE LIBRARY'S MEETING ROOMS WERE UTILIZED 1,014 TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.(THIS WAS REDUCED FROM PREVIOUS YEARS DUE TO A FLOORING REPLACEMENT PROJECT)

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 December 1944.

    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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