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Providence Athenaeum

EIN 05-0258928 · Providence, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM IS AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER-SUPPORTED LIBRARY AND CULTURAL CENTER, FOUNDED IN 1836 AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. HAVING ALWAYS BEEN ORGANIZED AS A CULTURAL INSTITUTION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, THE ATHENAEUM OBTAINED RECOGNITION AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION IN THE 1970S. TODAY IT CONTINUES TO FULFILL THE INTENTION OF ITS FOUNDERS BY OFFERING A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES TO A DIVERSE PUBLIC, WITH OVER 61,000 VISITORS IN 2024-25, MORE THAN 2,600 OF WHOM SUPPORT THE LIBRARY DIRECTLY THROUGH MEMBERSHIP. THE COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMMING, AND THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE ARE OF PRIMARY INTEREST TO LOCAL AS WELL AS NATIONAL AUTHORS, EDUCATORS, MUSICIANS, ACTORS, POETS, ARTISTS, AND JOURNALISTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
79.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
18
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$162,494, executive 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 79.4 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 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    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 (3)
  1. $796,201 spent. CIRCULATING LIBRARY: THE PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEDICATED TO SERVING THE GENERAL READER AND PUBLIC. THE LIBRARY HOUSES OVER 175,000 BOOKS, INCLUDING CONTEMPORARY TITLES AND MATERIALS ON CD AND DVD. THE ATHENAEUM SELECTS THE BEST PUBLISHED MATERIALS AVAILABLE EACH YEAR IN A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS FOR THE INFORMED READER. OUR COLLECTIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE ONSITE AND THROUGH AN AUTOMATED CATALOGING SYSTEM, AND A CONTINUALLY UPDATED WEBSITE. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-25, WE ADDED 1,208 ITEMS, CIRCULATED 27,114 ITEMS, ANSWERED 177 REFERENCE QUESTIONS, AND CONDUCTED 25 RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS.
  2. $295,820 spent. PROGRAMMING: THE PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM OFFERS YEAR-ROUND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, INCLUDING STORY HOURS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND SEASONAL EVENTS. ADULTS ALSO ENJOY A VARIETY OF LIVELY PROGRAMS SUCH AS POETRY READINGS, LECTURES ON TRAVEL, CONTEMPORARY ISSUES, AND THE ARTS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-25, WE HOSTED 44 CHILDREN'S EVENTS WITH 1120 ATTENDING, 249 ADULT PROGRAMS WITH 8,442 ATTENDING, AND CURATED 23 EXHIBITS AND 54 TOURS.
  3. $83,201 spent. HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF COLLECTIONS AND BUILDING: THE ATHENAEUM'S COLLECTIONS AND HISTORIC BUILDING ARE MAINTAINED IN THE SPIRIT OF ITS FOUNDERS IN ORDER TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF ALL WHO ENTER ITS GRANITE WALLS. THE ATHENAEUM, KNOWN BY ITS HANDSOME GREEK REVIVAL BUILDING, MAINTAINS SPECIAL COLLECTIONS THAT ARE VALUABLE AND RARE. OUR COLLECTIONS HIGHLIGHT THE STRENGTHS OF THE PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM AND ITS ANTECEDENTS SINCE 1753, IN DOCUMENTING THE HISTORY OF THE BOOK AND BOOK CULTURE IN PROVIDENCE DURING THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES. THE BUILDING & GROUNDS COMMITTEE, A BOARD COMMITTEE OVERSEES THE BUILDING, FURNISHINGS, AND GROUNDS OF THE PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM, PRIORITIZES THE NEED FOR ELECTIVE REPAIRS OR CHANGES AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON HOW TO PROCEED.

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 February 1973.

    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.

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.