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Queens Library Foundation Inc

EIN 11-3009405 · Jamaica, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE QUEENS LIBRARY FOUNDATION IS THE FUNDRAISING ARM OF QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY. INCORPORATED IN 1988, THE MISSION OF THE QUEENS LIBRARY FOUNDATION IS TO RAISE FUNDS FROM FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS TO SUPPORT THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFERED BY QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Income
$5.7 million
Spending
$4.4 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
8.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
0
Volunteers
341
Highest pay
$354,933, coo & svp

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: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.6 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 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 64% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 19 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $3.0 million spent. THE QUEENS LIBRARY FOUNDATION RAISED $4,255,365 FROM FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES AND COLLECTIONS OF QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY. THIS INCLUDED RESTRICTED GRANTS TOTALING $1.2 MILLION FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES, COLLEGE READINESS, AND WORKFORCE TRAINING; $185,000 FOR STEM PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH; $183,500 FOR SUMMER READING PROGRAMMING; $110,000 FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL LITERACY AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS; $105,000 FOR THE NEW AMERICANS PROGRAM; $75,000 FOR CLIMATE LITERACY WORKSHOPS; $75,000 FOR JOB TRAINING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP WORKSHOPS; $55,000 FOR DIGITAL ARCHIVES; AND $25,000 FOR ARTS AND OTHER PROGRAMMING. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION DISBURSED RESTRICTED DONATIONS OF $193,081 TO COMMUNITY LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE QUEENS LIBRARY SYSTEM, AND $149,765 FOR BOOKS. THE QUEENS LIBRARY FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO MANAGE MULTI-YEAR GRANTS SECURED IN PREVIOUS YEARS WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE QUEENS NAME EXPLORER DIGITAL MAP; THE UPGRADE OF THE LIBRARY'S DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM; ENRICHMENT AND LITERACY ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS; JOB TRAINING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS AT RAVENSWOOD AND OTHER LOCATIONS; AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND STEM PROGRAMMING AT THE HUNTERS POINT LIBRARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER. UNRESTRICTED GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS AWARDED TO THE QUEENS LIBRARY FOUNDATION WERE USED TO SUPPORT COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. THESE INCLUDED $137,507 IN MINI-GRANTS OF UP TO $2,500 DISTRIBUTED TO COMMUNITY LIBRARIES FOR PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES AND COLLECTIONS; AND $25,000 FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL GIVEAWAYS. THE QUEENS LIBRARY FOUNDATION ALSO SECURES IN-KIND DONATIONS TO HELP SUPPORT THE LIBRARY'S PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES. IN FY2025, THIS INCLUDED 1,090 BACKPACKS STUFFED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND 375 SEED PENCILS FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL GIVEAWAYS; 450 NEW BOOKS; 120 CASES OF BOTTLED WATER FOR GIVEAWAYS AT EVENTS; GAMING SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE FOR RAVENSWOOD TEEN PROGRAMMING; AND 75 WEBCAMS FOR LIBRARY COMPUTERS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ORGANIZED 23 CORPORATE VOLUNTEER EVENTS TO MAINTAIN AND PLANT LIBRARY GARDENS, ORGANIZE AND STAFF A PROM ATTIRE GIVEAWAY, ASSEMBLE LITERACY KITS, AND LEAD FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS.

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 August 1990.

    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.