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Westchester Library System

EIN 13-1882114 · Elmsford, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WESTCHESTER LIBRARY SYSTEM (WLS) COLLABORATES WITH THE 38 PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SERVICES AND TO ENHANCE AND SUPPORT LIBRARY SERVICE FOR MORE THAN 1,000,000 RESIDENTS. WLS IS ONE OF NEW YORK STATE'S 23 PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS.

Income
$7.3 million
Spending
$7.7 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
34
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$305,133, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 49 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • 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 December 31, 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 (2)
  1. $2.6 million spent. TECHNOLOGY - WLS ENCOURAGES THE COORDINATION AND SHARING OF RESOURCES AMONG MEMBERS, PROVIDES AND SUPPORTS THE TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE USED BY MEMBER LIBRARIES AND THEIR PATRONS, OFFERS STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING FOR ORGANIZATION AND MEMBER LIBRARY STAFF.
  2. $3.8 million spent. PUBLIC SERVICE - WLS PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF SERVICES TO ITS MEMBER LIBRARIES AND THE PUBLIC. THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS OFFERED ARE OPEN TO ALL, WITH A FOCUS TO SERVE UNDERSERVED AND MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS INCLUDING TEENS, SENIORS, JUSTICE IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS AND THE LITERACY CHALLENGED. THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES TO AND ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THESE GROUPS WLS PROGRAMS CONNECT INDIVIDUALS WITH ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND RESOURCES FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, LITERACY, EDUCATION, AND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES. IN SERVING ITS MEMBER LIBRARIES WLS BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE LIBRARY COMMUNITY AND LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, PROMOTE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGE AND EMPOWER THE PUBLIC THEY SERVE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 September 1966.

    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.