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The Trustees of the New York Society Library

EIN 13-1635307 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIBRARY WAS FOUNDED IN 1754 BY THE NEW YORK SOCIETY, A CIVIC-MINDED GROUP FORMED IN THE BELIEF THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS WOULD HELP THE CITY OF NEW YORK TO PROSPER.

Income
$31.4 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 87%
Employees
34
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$175,539, head librarian

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 87% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 775% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $3.1 million spent. EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONSTHE LIBRARY IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR READING, REFERENCE,EXHIBITIONS, AND MANY EVENTS, WITH CIRCULATION AND OTHER SERVICES BYSUBSCRIPTION. AT END OF 2024, THE LIBRARY COUNTED 3,098 FAMILY, DUAL,INDIVIDUAL, E-MEMBERSHIP AND SCHOOL/INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIPS. THELIBRARY HOUSES A COLLECTION OF OVER 300,000 VOLUMES, AND CIRCULATEDAPPROXIMATELY 55,000 TITLES TO MEMBERS IN 2024 AND LENT OUT 513 BOOKS TO 282 LIBRARIES IN 47 STATES THROUGH ITS INTERLIBRARY LOAN SERVICE.CONTINUE ON SCHEDULE OTHE LIBRARY OFFERS A DIVERSE CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR READERS,WRITERS, AND CHILDREN, WITH MOST EVENTS OPEN TO BOTH MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS.THE LIBRARY OFFERED OVER 276 PROGRAMS IN 2024, WITH PROGRAMMING HELDIN-PERSON, VIRTUALLY, AND HYBRID, WITH AN AUDIENCE IN THE THOUSANDS.THE ASSUNTA, IGNAZIO, ADA, AND ROMANO PELUSO EXHIBITION GALLERY, OPENTO THE PUBLIC, SHOWCASES RARE BOOKS AND MATERIALS ON LITERARY ANDHISTORICAL THEMES. IN 2024, THE LIBRARY OPENED ITS 270TH ANNIVERSARYEXHIBITION, TITLED A BELIEF IN BOOKS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 1934.

    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.