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Stonington Free Library Association

EIN 06-0665194 · Stonington, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE STONINGTON FREE LIBRARY, INC'S PURPOSE IS TO ENRICH LIVES AND BUILD COMMUNITY BY BRINGING INFORMATION, IDEAS AND PEOPLE TOGETHER.

Income
$967,528
Spending
$911,041
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
73.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
28
Volunteers
166
Highest pay
$81,717, library dire

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 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 73.1 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 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 95% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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. $722,573 spent. THE LIBRARY SERVES OVER 4,200 CARD HOLDERS WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES. WE HAVE A COLLECTION OF OVER 32,000 PRINT MATERIALS AND OVER A MILLION DIGITAL LIBRARY TITLES. WE ALSO PROVIDE ACCESS TO MANY ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES, ALL FREE OF CHARGE. OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS RUN OFF-SITE BOOK GROUPS AT THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND AT AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, AS WELL AS 6 LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES AROUND TOWN. OUR STAFF RUNS LIBRARY PROGRAMS REACHING OVER 5,000 CHILDREN THROUGH THE YEAR TO ENCOURAGE EARLY LITERACY, INCLUDING OUTREACH TO LOCAL SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS, STORY TIMES, SUMMER AND WINTER READING PROGRAMS AND MANY SPECIAL ACTIVITIES. OUR ADULT PROGRAMS REACH OVER 3,700 THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE ORGANIZE LECTURE SERIES, KNITTING GROUPS, READING PROGRAMS, TECH HELP SESSIONS, BOOK CLUBS, HOMEBOUND DELIVERY, POETRY READINGS, VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS, INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING, A SEED LIBRARY, MUSEUM PASSES, PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERS, HOTSPOTS, CHROMEBOOKS, KINDLES AND WIFI. ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC. THE LIBRARY SERVES OVER 4,200 CARD HOLDERS WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES. WE HAVE A COLLECTION OF OVER 32,000 PRINT MATERIALS AND OVER A MILLION DIGITAL LIBRARY TITLES. WE ALSO PROVIDE ACCESS TO MANY ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES, ALL FREE OF CHARGE. OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS RUN OFF-SITE BOOK GROUPS AT THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND AT AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, AS WELL AS 6 LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES AROUND TOWN. OUR STAFF RUNS LIBRARY PROGRAMS REACHING OVER 5,000 CHILDREN THROUGH THE YEAR TO ENCOURAGE EARLY LITERACY, INCLUDING OUTREACH TO LOCAL SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS, STORY TIMES, SUMMER AND WINTER READING PROGRAMS AND MANY SPECIAL ACTIVITIES. OUR ADULT PROGRAMS REACH OVER 3,700 THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE ORGANIZE LECTURE SERIES, KNITTING GROUPS, READING PROGRAMS, TECH HELP SESSIONS, BOOK CLUBS, HOMEBOUND DELIVERY, POETRY READINGS, VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS, INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING, A SEED LIBRARY, MUSEUM PASSES, PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERS, HOTSPOTS, CHROMEBOOKS, KINDLES AND WIFI. ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

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 October 13, 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 February 1943.

    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 October 21, 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.