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Pequot Library Association

EIN 06-0672790 · Southport, 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

PEQUOT LIBRARY'S MISSION IS TO BRING CULTURE TO LIFE, INCLUDING LITERATURE, ART, SCIENCE AND THE HUMANITIES. THE LIBRARY SERVES A BROAD AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OFFERS A CIRCULATING COLLECTION OF BOOKS AND MEDIA, ORGANIZES A CHANGING SCHEDULE OF ART AND HISTORY EXHIBITIONS, PRESENTS NUMEROUS MUSIC PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
19.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
21
Volunteers
330
Highest pay
$161,937, 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 19.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 25

    20 of 20 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. $1.3 million spent. PEQUOT LIBRARY ENRICHES LIVES BY SERVING THE CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND INTELLECTUAL NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE LIBRARY COLLECTS, PRESERVES, AND MAKES ACCESSIBLE A COLLECTION OF RARE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, AND ARCHIVES; PROVIDES PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES; ORGANIZES ENGAGING PROGRAMS ABOUT HISTORY, LITERATURE, AND THE ARTS; CURATES SPECIAL COLLECTIONS EXHIBITIONS; AND HOSTS COMMUNITY-WIDE GATHERINGS IN A HISTORIC SETTING.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUANCE OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS HISTORIC BUILDING: PEQUOT LIBRARY IS PROUD TO BE THE STEWARD OF A HISTORIC BUILDING DESIGNED BY NOTED AMERICAN ARCHITECT ROBERT H. ROBERTSON, COMMISSIONED BY PEQUOT'S PROMINENT FOUNDER, VIRGINIA MARQUAND MONROE. THE LIBRARY WAS THE PHILANTHROPIC GIFT OF MRS. MONROE TO THE VILLAGE OF SOUTHPORT, WHO HOPED IT WOULD BE A CENTER OF LEARNING AND CULTURE WITH PROGRAMS AS "FREE AS AIR TO ALL". PEQUOT LIBRARY'S HISTORIC BUILDING IS A LATE 19TH-CENTURY ROMANESQUE REVIVAL STONE STRUCTURE FEATURING A TWO-STORY STACKS WING WITH A GLASS FLOOR AND A NEARLY ACOUSTICALLY-PERFECT AUDITORIUM WITH A MODEST 1970S ADDITION AND A GREAT LAWN SUITABLE FOR A VARIETY OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. PEQUOT IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND, IN 2018, RECEIVED THE CONNECTICUT TREASURES AWARD FROM THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, CT CHAPTER. LIBRARY SERVICES AND CIRCULATING COLLECTION: PEQUOT LIBRARY CURATES A CIRCULATING COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 101,000 ITEMS WITH BOOKS FOR ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUNG ADULTS, PLUS MEDIA ITEMS LIKE AUDIOBOOKS, ADDING 1,719 NEW ITEMS IN 2024-2025. PEQUOT LIBRARY CIRCULATED 30,189 ITEMS FROM ITS COLLECTIONS TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING INTERLIBRARY LOANS AND SEED LIBRARY, WITH 43% OF THOSE ITEMS BEING CHILDREN'S MATERIALS. PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH; IN 2024-2025, PEQUOT LIBRARY OFFERED A TOTAL OF 580 PROGRAMS AND EVENTS TO PATRONS OF ALL AGES, INCLUDING 27 SCHOOL PROGRAMS, WHICH REACHED 1,042 STUDENTS, AND 194 SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES LIKE CRAFTS FOR YOUTH VISITORS, WHICH GARNERED 3,545 PARTICIPANTS. YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS INCLUDE AUTHOR TALKS, EXHIBITIONS, MUSICAL AND LIVE PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, BOOK CLUBS, SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS, LECTURES, SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENT TOURS, WALKING TOURS OF HISTORIC SOUTHPORT, AND NUMEROUS CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAMS. THE LIBRARY ALSO COLLABORATES WITH THE TWO OTHER PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN TOWN, LOCAL SCHOOLS, AND COUNTLESS PEER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AREA. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS HAVE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ONLINE EXHIBITIONS AND VIRTUAL AUTHOR TALKS. PEQUOT DESIGNS THESE PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITIONS USING ITS NOTABLE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS OF RARE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, AND ARCHIVES AS INSPIRATION. SPECIAL EVENT FUNDRAISERS INCLUDE USED BOOK SALES, A PARTY INSPIRED BY DERBY DAY, THE SOUTHPORT GARDEN STROLL AND OTHER EVENTS UNIQUE TO PEQUOT LIBRARY LIKE AUTHOR TALKS AND COMMUNITY ART SHOWS. IN 2024-2025, PROGRAM ATTENDANCE TOTALED 32,216 (INCLUDES 3,545 PARTICIPANTS IN SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES AND VIEWS OF PRE-RECORDED PROGRAMMING); 26,244 PATRONS UTILIZING LIBRARY SERVICES IN PERSON AND WHEN COMBINED WITH WEB USERS VISITING THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE, PEQUOT SERVED A TOTAL OF 142,460 PATRONS. PEQUOT FURTHER SERVES THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE BOOKS FOR TEACHERS' PROGRAM, SUPPORTED BY GRANT FUNDING FROM THE RENE B. FISHERFOUNDATION. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWED THE LIBRARY TO PROVIDE FREE BOOKS TO 313 TEACHERS IN BRIDGEPORT, NEW HAVEN, AND OTHER LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES WHO SHOPPED AT THE ANNUAL SUMMER BOOK SALE AND THE ANNUAL MIDWINTER BOOK SALE. THE LIBRARY ALSO DONATED BOOKS TO AREA SENIOR CENTERS AND OTHER GROUPS IN NEED OF GENTLY USED BOOKS. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS; THE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS OF RARE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, AND ARCHIVES ARE PART OF THE ORIGINAL LEGACY OF PEQUOT LIBRARY. VIRGINIA MARQUAND MONROE, IN COLLABORATION WITH HER HUSBAND, ELBERT MONROE, AND HER ADVISOR, REVEREND WILLIAM HOLMAN, CAREFULLY SELECTED AND GIFTED TO THE LIBRARY AN EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION OF AMERICANA MATERIALS CENTERING AROUND THE FOUNDING OF THE NATION. MARY CATHERINE HULL WAKEMAN, ANOTHER SOUTHPORT PHILANTHROPIST, ALSO FUNDED AND CONTRIBUTED AN INCREDIBLY VALUABLE PORTION OF THE LIBRARY'S ORIGINAL COLLECTION. IN 2024-2025, PEQUOT LIBRARY'S SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AROUND 30,000 RARE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, AND DOCUMENTS FROM THE 15THCENTURY AND EARLIER TO PRESENT, THAT HELP ILLUMINATE THE HISTORY OF THE LOCAL AREA AND BEYOND. NEARLY 2,000 OF THE RARE, PUBLISHED WORKS AND MANUSCRIPTS ARE CURRENTLY ON LONG-TERM LOAN TO YALE UNIVERSITY'S BEINECKE RARE BOOK AND MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY. CURRENT AND RECENT EXHIBITIONS OF THE SPECIAL COLLECTION HAVE INCLUDED THE BEYOND THE BATTLEFIELD: THE PEQUOT SWAMP FIGHT IN PUBLIC MEMORY; TREASURED TOMES: RARE BOOKS AND THEIR COLLECTORS; THE TINDERBOX OF THE CIVIL WAR: 1830S ABOLITIONISM IN CONNECTICUT; EARLY AMERICAN CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND THE SHAPING OF NATIONAL IDENTITY.

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 1950.

    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.