Wilton Library Association Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE A LIFETIME OF DISCOVERY AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY, MEETING THE NEEDS OF THOSE WE SERVE BY INFORMING AND INSPIRING MINDS, AND ENRICHING AND CONNECTING LIVES. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES RELEVANT AND HIGH-QUALITY COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES TO THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN WILTON, SERVING AS THE TOWN'S CULTURAL AND LIFELONG LEARNING CENTER. AS A PRIVATE ENTITY SERVING THE PUBLIC GOOD, THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION LEVERAGES PUBLIC SUPPORT WITH INDIVIDUAL, CORPORATE, AND FOUNDATION FUNDING IN PURSUIT OF ITS GOALS.
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 73%
- Employees
- 47
- Volunteers
- 201
- Highest pay
- $187,757, 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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
10 of 10Gave 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
- $3.4 million spent. WILTON LIBRARY ("LIBRARY") HAS SERVED AS THE PRINCIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE TOWN SINCE 1895. THE LIBRARY AND ITS CONTENTS ARE OWNED BY WILTON LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, INC., WHICH IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF 20-24 MEMBERS. APPROXIMATELY THREE QUARTERS OF THE TRUSTEES ARE ELECTED DIRECTLY BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION AND UP TO ONE QUARTER ARE NOMINATED BY THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN PRIOR TO THEIR ELECTION BY ASSOCIATION MEMBERS. SINCE 1919, THE LIBRARY HAS RECEIVED PARTIAL FUNDING FROM THE TOWN. CURRENTLY APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET IS FUNDED BY AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE TOWN'S GENERAL FUND. THE BOARD CARRIES OUT AN ANNUAL APPEAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE PURCHASE OF ALL LIBRARY COLLECTION MATERIALS. THE REMAINDER OF OPERATING COSTS AND SOME MAJOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE FUNDED BY THE ASSOCIATION THROUGH FUND RAISING EVENTS, SPONSORSHIPS, GRANTS AND FEES. NINETY PERCENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION COST OF THE LIBRARY BUILDING, IN 1973, CAME FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS. THE BALANCE WAS PAID FOR WITH FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING FUNDS. IN RESPONSE TO GROWING USE OF ITS FACILITY AND SERVICES, THE LIBRARY COMPLETED AN $11.4 MILLION EXPANSION AND RENOVATION IN MARCH 2006. FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT INCLUDED $4.8 MILLION FROM BONDING AUTHORIZED BY THE TOWN MEETING IN MAY 2003. ADDITIONAL FUNDS CAME FROM THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000, PRIVATE DONATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $6.1 MILLION, AND PLEDGE PAYMENTS OF $6,065,400 NOT INCLUDING THE GRANT. A PURCHASE OF ADJACENT PROPERTY IN 1996 ENABLED THE EXPANSION TO BE LOGISTICALLY FEASIBLE. IT WAS FINANCED WITH $305,000 OF TOWN BONDS. THE LIBRARY HAS REIMBURSED THE TOWN FOR THIS DEBT SERVICE. THE LIBRARY IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF WILTON CENTER. CURRENTLY, 789,399 PRINT AND AUDIOVISUAL RESOURCES, ELECTRONIC DATABASES, PRINT AND ONLINE MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, DVDS, VIDEOS, MUSIC CDS, PUZZLES AND OTHER ITEMS COMPRISE ITS LENDING COLLECTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE LIBRARY OFFERS A COLLECTION OF DOWNLOADABLE E-BOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, MAGAZINES, TUTORIALS, STREAMING MUSIC, AND STREAMING MOVIES. THE LIBRARY WAS VISITED BY 229,644 PEOPLE TO USE MATERIALS AND COMPUTERS OR ATTEND PROGRAMS FROM JULY 2024 THROUGH JUNE 2025. OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THERE WERE 54,312 VISITS TO THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE, WHICH INCLUDED LOCATING, RESERVING, AND RENEWING ITEMS, DOWNLOADING AND STREAMING MUSIC AND LITERATURE, USING ELECTRONIC DATABASES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC RESOURCES, AND INTERACTING WITH ITS REFERENCE STAFF. THERE WERE 989 PROGRAMS ATTENDED BY 38,741 ADULTS, TEENS, AND CHILDREN. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDED CONCERTS, LECTURES, TRAINING PROGRAMS, LITERARY DISCUSSIONS, STORY TIMES IN-PERSON, AS WELL AS VIA ZOOM AND YOUTUBE LIVE. PATRONS ALSO ATTENDED MAKERS' WORKSHOPS IN THE INNOVATION STATION, WHICH OFFERED 3D PRINTING, ROBOTICS, AND OTHER STEAM RELATED INITIATIVES.IN JUNE 2025, WILTON LIBRARY UNVEILED A NEW AND SIGNIFICANT PARTNERSHIP WITH ASML. AN EXPANSION OF THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, ASML'S PARTNERSHIP WILL NOW PROVIDE BOTH MULTI-YEAR FUNDING AS WELL AS VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FOR A VARIETY OF INITIATIVES THAT WILL ENHANCE WILTON LIBRARY'S ABILITY TO SERVE AS WILTON'S CULTURAL AND INTELLECTUAL CENTER. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE GRANT IS APPROXIMATELY $810,000 OVER THREE YEARS. KEY INITIATIVES OF THE PARTNERSHIP INCLUDE FUNDING FOR AN ANNUAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, AN ASML AUTHOR SERIES, A NEW MONTHLY CHILDREN'S MUSIC PROGRAM, THE ADDITION OF A BLOOMBERG TERMINAL, A DIGITAL NAVIGATORS PROGRAM OFFERING ONE-ON-ONE TECH ASSISTANCE, ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY'S ROBOTICS TEAM AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT, AND A VARIETY OF TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1943.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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