Company of the Redwood Library and Athenaem
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 42% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
FOUNDED IN 1747 ON THE ENLIGHTENMENT IDEALS OF INTELLECTUAL PURSUIT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, THE REDWOOD LIBRARY AND ATHENAEUM GENERATES KNOWLEDGE IN THE HUMANITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WIDEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE WITH NOTHING IN VIEW BUT THE GOOD OF MANKIND".
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 42%
- Reserves
- 51.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 46%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 2
- Highest pay
- $145,597, 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
Fair: 68 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 51.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1542% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 38 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: 75 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $265,214 spent. MUSEUM OPERATIONS: THE ATHENAEUM EMPHASIZES PROGRAMS AND COLLECTIONS IMPORTANT TO THE STUDY OF NEWPORT AND ITS HISTORY, AS WELL AS 18TH CENTURY AMERICA AND ITS SOURCES. IT SPONSORS ENTERTAINING AND INFORMATIVE ADULT AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, DISPLAYS EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXHIBITS DRAWN PRIMARILY FROM THE REDWOOD'S COLLECTIONS, PUBLISHES EDUCATIONAL CATALOGS, NEWSLETTERS, AND FINDING AIDS, AND PROVIDES SPECIAL TOURS FOCUSING ON RHODE ISLAND'S COLONIAL COMMITMENT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE TO SCHOOL CHILDREN EACH YEAR.
- $141,448 spent. CIRCULATION LIBRARY: OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 6 DAYS A WEEK. PATRONS, RESEARCHERS, SCHOLARS AND VISITORS CAN ENJOY THE MORE THAN 200,000 VOLUMES, MORE THAN 200 CURRENT PERIODICALS, HUNDREDS OF CD'S,BOOKS-ON-TAPE, AND E-BOOKS AVAILABLE TO BE CHECKED OUT BY MEMBERS ON-SITE AND THROUGH INTERLIBRARY LOAN.
- $361,606 spent. RESEARCH LIBRARY: PERSONAL ATTENTION IS PROVIDED TO RESEARCHERS AND SCHOLARS TO ASSIST THEM WITH INDEPENDENT RESEARCH. IT SHOWCASES A PERMANENT EXHIBITION OF 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY ART, INCLUDING PORTRAITS BY JOHN SMIBERT, GILBERT STUART, ROBERT FEKE, REMBRANDT PEALE, AND CHARLES BIRD KING; TOWNSEND AND GODDARD FURNITURE; COLONIAL SILVER, CERAMICS, PAPER-BASED ART, AND MORE; AND A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILDING, THE FIRST PUBLIC CLASSICAL BUILDING IN THE COLONIES.
- $182,857 spent. PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1935.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.