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Providence Public Library

EIN 05-0262713 · Providence, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY ENGAGES LEARNERS, INSPIRES THINKERS, AND CONNECTS DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

Income
$8.4 million
Spending
$7.8 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
106
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$188,493, 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: 58 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 75% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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. $5.0 million spent. PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY (PPL) PROVIDES FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES THROUGH ITS RICH AND HISTORIC PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL COLLECTIONS, EXTENSIVE INFORMATION RESOURCES, THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXHIBITIONS, IMPACTFUL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND EXPERT STAFF. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, AN ESTIMATED 120,975 PEOPLE VISITED THE LIBRARY. TOTAL USAGE OF LIBRARY RESOURCES AND MATERIALS EXCEEDED 1,781,516. PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERS WERE USED 18,770 TIMES, AND THE PUBLIC ACCESSED LIBRARY WI-FI 235,931 TIMES. LIBRARY STAFF PROVIDED 54,743 INFORMATION AND REFERENCE SERVICES TO PATRONS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXTENSIVE PROGRAMS OFFERED. EDUCATION: PPL PLACES EDUCATION FRONT AND CENTER. THE LIBRARY STRIVES TO BE A SUPPORTIVE, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT WHERE LEARNERS AT ANY SKILL LEVEL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT AND ACCESS INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY THAT ENABLES THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. WE AIM TO BE A CORNERSTONE OF THE COMMUNITY AS A PREMIER LEARNING PLACE AND WE CONTINUALLY ADAPT AND INNOVATE TO MEET OUR COMMUNITY'S CHANGING NEEDS. FROM FREE COMPUTER CLASSES, TO SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, TO DIVERSE DISCUSSIONS, LECTURES, PRESENTATIONS, SIGNATURE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, PPL OFFERS FREE AND ACCESSIBLE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES. STATISTICS FOR FYE 6/30/25: ADULT EDUCATION: LANGUAGE PATHWAYS RIFLI ESL PROGRAMS: 390 STUDENTS COMPLETED 12+ HOURS OF INSTRUCTION; 673 ADDITIONAL STUDENTS INQUIRED OR REGISTERED. 44 UNEMPLOYED LEARNERS OBTAINED JOBS WHILE ENROLLED; 100 RETAINED EMPLOYMENT AT EXIT. OVER 50% OF LEARNERS ATTENDING 40+ HOURS ADVANCED AT LEAST ONE EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONING LEVEL. 116 ADULTS COMPLETED DIGITAL LITERACY CLASSES; 219 NORTHSTAR DIGITAL LITERACY CERTIFICATES WERE EARNED. RIFLI LEAD TEACHER ANNA COUSINS WAS NAMED THE RITELL ADULT EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR. CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION: 130 PERMANENT RESIDENTS ENROLLED; 44 BECAME NATURALIZED U.S. CITIZENS AFTER PASSING USCIS INTERVIEWS. TECHNOLOGY PATHWAYS MICROSOFT EXCEL CERTIFICATION & DATA ANALYSIS PATHWAYS: 28 TOTAL LEARNERS ENROLLED; 26 COMPLETED. ALL 15 CERTIFICATION-TRACK LEARNERS EARNED MICROSOFT OFFICE SPECIALIST CERTIFICATES. OF THE 13 ENROLLED IN DATA ANALYSIS & VISUALIZATION, 11 EARNED DATA NAVIGATORS CERTIFICATION AND A DIGITAL BADGE. 3 LEARNERS COMPLETED ALL FOUR LEVELS OF THE PATHWAYS SERIES. DIGITAL EQUITY AND LEARNING PROJECTS 1,405 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED INDIVIDUALIZED HELP THROUGH THE RI ADULT EDUCATION INFORMATION CENTERS AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. 183 RESIDENTS (PRIMARILY LANDLORDS) ATTENDED SESSIONS ON RI ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS, OFFERED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. 700+ ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED INFORMATION THROUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS; 5,000 SPANISH-SPEAKING LISTENERS WERE REACHED THROUGH RADIO BROADCASTS. MORE THAN 600 ADULTS RECEIVED INFORMATION ON DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & TRAINING SERVICES; 16 PARTICIPATED IN FOCUS GROUPS INFORMING STATEWIDE WORKFORCE IMPROVEMENTS. 159 ADULTS RECEIVED ONE-ON-ONE DIGITAL SKILLS SUPPORT IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH. 103 LEARNERS PARTICIPATED IN 15 COMPUTER CLASSES, EARNING 100 NORTHSTAR CERTIFICATES. OVER 40 ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN 8 PLA DIGITALLEARN WORKSHOPS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, WITH STRONG REPORTED INCREASES IN CONFIDENCE. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PATHWAYS 107 ADULT EDUCATION PRACTITIONERS COMPLETED THE STATEWIDE ALL STAFF SURVEY (19 PROGRAMS). 47 PRACTITIONERS COMPLETED THE NEW ASYNCHRONOUS ADULT EDUCATION ORIENTATION COURSE. 66 TRAINING SESSIONS (96.5 HOURS) WERE OFFERED, WITH 650 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS AND 305 UNIQUE ATTENDEES. 276 SUPPORT TICKETS AND 2 ONE-ON-ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REQUESTS WERE COMPLETED. 36 NEW TRAINING RECORDINGS UPLOADED TO THE PLP YOUTUBE CHANNEL. 8 "TECH TUESDAY" SESSIONS OFFERED. 4 COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE FACILITATED BY PAID PRACTITIONERS. SPONSORSHIPS SUPPORTED PRACTITIONER ATTENDANCE AT NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONFERENCES (COABE AND CCWAD). 10 PRACTITIONER-LED BRITFRIT WORKSHOPS DELIVERED WITH COACHING SUPPORT. 19 PROGRAM VISITS COMPLETED, INVOLVING 77 PRACTITIONERS. 21 PRACTITIONERS JOINED THE DIGITAL SKILLS COHORT; 13 COMPLETED THE 8-WEEK PROGRAM. IMLS GRANT COMPLETED DISSEMINATION TOOLKIT, WEBINAR, AND PROJECT WEBSITE. TWO STAFF AND TWO TEEN ASSISTANTS PRESENTED PPL'S DATA FOR GOOD PROGRAM AT THE NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE LEARNING CONFERENCE IN ST. PAUL. YOUTH SERVICES: TEEN SERVICES 4,451 TEEN VISITS TO THE TEEN LOFT; 702 REFERENCE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. LAPTOPS USED 76 TIMES; 34 SCHOOL VISITS REACHED 485 STUDENTS. PROGRAMS SUMMER READING: 79 PARTICIPANTS; 50 ACTIVITY BAGS DISTRIBUTED. DATA FOR GOOD EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM: 16 TEENS + 2 TEEN ASSISTANTS COMPLETED 90 HOURS OF PAID STEM AND WORKFORCE TRAINING. FOUR SEMESTER-LONG RHODE CODERS PROGRAMS: 48 STUDENTS + 4 TEEN TAS RECEIVED TRAINING IN HTML/CSS, JAVASCRIPT, PYTHON, AND WEB DESIGN, INCLUDING WORK-READINESS INSTRUCTION. TEEN ELL SERIES: 15 STUDENTS (BROWN SWEARER CENTER PARTNERSHIP). COMIC WRITING INTENSIVE: 15 PARTICIPANTS. TEEN CREATIVE FELLOW: ONE FELLOW CREATED AN ORIGINAL BODY OF WORK THROUGH SPECIAL COLLECTIONS RESEARCH, CULMINATING IN A WORKSHOP AND EXHIBITION. CHILDREN'S SERVICES 5,112 VISITS TO THE CHILDREN'S ROOM; 650 REFERENCE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 237 STORYTIMES SERVED 4,187 ATTENDEES. 5 SCHOOL VISITS REACHED 115 STUDENTS. SUMMER READING: 38 PARTICIPANTS; 100 ACTIVITY KITS DISTRIBUTED. PROGRAMS STEM ADVANTAGE AND STEM CLUB: 23 SESSIONS; 232 YOUTH PARTICIPATED, SUPPORTED BY 35 TEEN MENTORS PER COHORT. YOUNG CREATORS SERIES: 5 CREATIVE DISCIPLINES OFF ERED; 146 PARTICIPANTS. THE WORKSHOP & MAKERSPACE: 652 OPEN STUDIO VISITS ACROSS 95 SESSIONS (YOUTH 159; TEENS 124; ADULTS 369). PROGRAMS E-COMMERCE ESSENTIALS: 12 TEENS COMPLETED A SEMESTER-LONG ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND DIGITAL MARKETPLACE CURRICULUM, WITH STIPENDS AND WORK-READINESS TRAINING. ROBOTICS WITH MICROBIT: 7 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN 12 HANDS-ON ENGINEERING SESSIONS (THAMES & KOSMOS PARTNERSHIP). PPL MAKERS: 3 COHORTS; 25 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS DEVELOPED SKILLS IN LASER CUTTING, 3D PRINTING,

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 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 November 6, 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 June 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 May 1919.

    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 November 4, 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.