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Brooklyn Public Library

EIN 11-1904261 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IT IS THE MISSION OF THE LIBRARY TO ENSURE THE PRESERVATION AND TRANSMISSION OF SOCIETY'S KNOWLEDGE, HISTORY AND CULTURE, AND TO PROVIDE THE PEOPLE OF BROOKLYN WITH FREE AND OPEN ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR EDUCATION, RECREATION AND REFERENCE.

Income
$177.5 million
Spending
$172.4 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 92%
Employees
1,521
Volunteers
1,124
Highest pay
$760,670, president & ceo

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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    36 of 36 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 (3)
  1. $112.8 million spent. NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES:DURING THE FY25 PERIOD, BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY CONTINUED TO ADVANCE SEVERAL PROJECTS THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS. THESE SELF-MANAGED PROJECTS INCLUDED PHASE II OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY BRANCH RENOVATION UNDER ITS MULTI-PHASE MASTER PLAN; THE RENOVATION OF THE WALT WHITMAN LIBRARY, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A NEW DEDICATED TEEN SPACE & NEW READING GARDEN THAT REUSES THE BAS RELIEFS FROM THE FORMER BROOKLYN HEIGHTS BRANCH; RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CANARSIE BRANCH WITH A NEW BUILDING DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THE EXISTING BRANCH THAT WILL INCLUDE DEDICATED CHILDREN'S AND TEEN AREAS, WITH A MULTIPURPOSE ROOM AND UPPER-LEVEL TERRACE AREA; AND FINALLY THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW LOTS BRANCH WITH DECIDED TEENS AND CHILDREN'S AREAS, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)DOUBLE HEIGHT MULTIPURPOSE ROOM, AND ADULT LEARNING CENTER ALL WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY SPACES SPECIFICALLY RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WISH TO RESPOND TO THE SITE'S HISTORICAL GROUNDING IN THE NEW LOTS AREA. ADDITIONALLY, THE LIBRARY CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION ON SEVERAL BRANCH RENOVATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM'S CATCHMENT AREA.IN 2025, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS, WE LAUNCHED BEGINNER ESOL CLASSES IN 25 BRANCH LIBRARIES ACROSS BPL. IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD, COLLEAGUES FROM ADULT LEARNING, OUTREACH SERVICES, HR, FINANCE, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, ONS, AND BRANCH STAFF SET UP AND STAFFED THESE CLASSES TO MEET THE LANGUAGE LEARNING NEEDS OF NEW MIGRANTS TO THE CITY AND ANYONE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO START.IN FY2025, THE NEIGHBORHOOD BRANCH LIBRARIES CIRCULATED 8,926,870 ITEMS AND HOSTED OVER 55,000 PROGRAMS, WITH PATRON ATTENDANCE OF OVER 668,000. IN ADDITION, PATRONS VISITED OUR BRANCHES OVER 5,000,000 TIMES DURING FY2025.
  2. $24.7 million spent. CENTRAL LIBRARY:CENTRAL LIBRARY IS THE LARGEST PUBLIC LIBRARY IN BROOKLYN. AT 352,000 SQUARE FEET, IT ACCOUNTS FOR ONE-THIRD OF THE LIBRARY'S TOTAL PHYSICAL PLANT. IN MARCH, CENTRAL LIBRARY HOSTED NIGHT IN THE LIBRARY: THE SKY ABOVE BROOKLYN: THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE SUBLIME, AN ALL-NIGHT SERIES OF EVENTS, TALKS, AND PERFORMANCES FOCUSED ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CRITICAL THINKING. GUESTS INCLUDED ASTRA TAYLOR, RED MOTEN, SARAH LEWIS, AND MANY OTHERS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ONCE AGAIN, CENTRAL HOSTED THE BROOKLYN ROBOTICS LEAGUE (BRL) FINALS IN JANUARY 2025. BRL HOSTED 15 TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN BPL'S TOURNAMENTALL WITH SIZABLE CROWD SUPPORT FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS CHEERING THEM ON. THE KINGS BAY BRANCH TEAM TOOK THE CROWN THIS YEAR FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, WITH WASHINGTON IRVING LIBRARY TAKING SECOND PLACE AND CORTELYOU LIBRARY COMING IN THIRD. IN FY2025, THE CENTRAL LIBRARY CIRCULATED 858,814 ITEMS AND HOSTED 27,287 PROGRAMS, WHICH HAD PATRON ATTENDANCE OF OVER 155,000. IN ADDITION, OUR CENTRAL LIBRARY BRANCH WAS VISITED BY OVER 966,000 PATRONS DURING FY2025.
  3. $15.0 million spent. SPECIAL PROGRAMS:BPL OFFERS PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND AGES. IN ADDITION TO THE BRANCH PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ABOVE, BPL HOSTS TEEN TECH TIME AND HOMEWORK HELP SESSIONS, CITIZENSHIP AND HSE TEST PREPARATION, CAREER AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES, FREE CULTURAL EVENTS, AND MUCH MORE. A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF OUR SPECIAL PROGRAMS:BOOKMATCHPROVIDES PATRONS WITH READING LISTS SPECIALLY CURATED BY BPL LIBRARIANS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)BKLYN INCUBATOR SUPPORTS AND FUNDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW INITIATIVES BY LIBRARIANS AND STAFF, WITH TRAINING AND MENTORING ON PROGRAM DESIGN, PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT. POWERUP IN 2003, THE POWERUP BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION WAS LAUNCHED TO SUPPORT AND GROW BROOKLYN'S ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND SMALL BUSINESSES. SINCE 2003, WE HAVE NURTURED 11,046 INDIVIDUALS WITH OVER 1,440 BUSINESS PLANS AND AWARDED MORE THAN $641,000 IN CASH AND IN-KIND GIFTS TO BROOKLYN ENTREPRENEURS. OUR SUCCESS STORIES INCLUDE MORE THAN 100 COMPANIES WITH A PASSION FOR FOOD AND DRINK, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, MEDIA AND FASHION, EDUCATION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY EVERYTHING THAT MAKES BROOKLYN GREAT.BARD AT BPL PROVIDES A FULLY ACCREDITED, FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO TRADITIONAL LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION TO NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DETERRED, DISCOURAGED, OR EXCLUDED FROM HIGHER EDUCATION.TEEN TAKEOVERS BRANCH COUNCILTEEN TAKEOVERS BRANCH COUNCIL IS AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHERE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PLAN, ORGANIZE, PROMOTE, AND HOST AFTER-HOURS PUBLIC PROGRAMS FOR OTHER TEENS. INTERNS LEARN ABOUT EVENT PLANNING, CREATING A BUDGET, AND PROGRAM PROMOTION.UNIVERSITY OPEN AIR IS A SERIES OF OUTDOOR COURSES IN PROSPECT PARK TAUGHT BY PROFESSORS AND RESEARCHERS TRAINED OUTSIDE THE U.S. WHO MAY FACE OBSTACLES TEACHING IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS.TEEN TECHIES TEACHES DIGITAL SKILLS TO STUDENTS 14 TO 18 AND PREPARES THEM TO SERVE ON BPL'S VOLUNTEER TEAM, WHERE THEY HELP PATRONS MAKE USE OF THE LIBRARY'S MANY FREE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES.

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 October 1959.

    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.