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The New York Public Library Astor Lenox and Tilden Foundations

EIN 13-1887440 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY IS TO INSPIRE LIFELONG LEARNING, ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE, AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$693.2 million
Spending
$425.4 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
13.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 61%
Employees
3,872
Volunteers
667
Highest pay
$1.6 million, chief investment officer

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 93% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 75% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

    34 of 35 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

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • The branch libraries welcomed 9 million visits.Work delivered
  • Cardholders borrowed 17 million items.Work delivered
  • Patrons raised 4.2 million reference inquiries at branch libraries.Work delivered
  • Branch library programs had attendance of 1.2 million.Work delivered
  • The research centers welcomed approximately 4.2 million on-site patrons.Work delivered
  • The research centers sponsored more than 3,100 programs.Work delivered
  • Research center programs had almost 155,000 attendees.Work delivered
  • Staff responded to 294,000 reference inquiries.Work delivered
  • Staff processed and described more than 1,500 linear feet of collections.Work delivered
  • Staff inventoried nearly 8,700 audio/visual items.Work delivered
  • Processing resulted in 55,200 archives space components.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $233.7 million spent. THE BRANCH LIBRARIES - THE SERVICES OF THE 88 BRANCH LIBRARIES EXTEND FAR BEYOND LENDING BOOKS AND MATERIALS. OUR BRANCHES ARE SAFE AND WELCOMING SPACES WHERE PATRONS ATTEND PROGRAMS, ACCESS COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET, AND ENGAGE WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES. NYPL PROVIDES FREE, HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION SUPPORT TO PATRONS OF ALL AGES THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, FROM AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT AND TEEN SERVICES TO ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES AND JOB SUPPORT. NYPL'S CENTER FOR EDUCATORS & SCHOOLS HELPS EDUCATORS BRING THE LIBRARY'S COLLECTIONS AND EXPERTISE INTO THE CLASSROOM. VITAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES ENGAGE NEW PATRONS, SUCH AS ASYLUM SEEKERS, AND CONNECT THEM TO CRITICAL LIBRARY RESOURCES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) IN FISCAL 2025, THE BRANCH LIBRARIES WELCOMED 9 MILLION VISITS AND HAD 2.4 MILLION CARDHOLDERS WHO BORROWED 17 MILLION ITEMS AND RAISED 4.2 MILLION REFERENCE INQUIRIES. THE LIBRARY OFFERED MORE THAN 90,000 PROGRAMS FOR PATRONS OF ALL AGES - INCLUDING STORYTIMES FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS, CREATIVE CLASSES FOR SENIORS, AND MORE - WITH ATTENDANCE OF 1.2 MILLION. OUR CIRCULATING COLLECTIONS INCLUDE 8.3 MILLION ITEMS FROM BOOKS, E-BOOKS, AND E-AUDIOBOOKS TO DVDS, "STEAM" DISCOVERY KITS FOR STUDENTS, MATERIALS FOR THE BLIND, AND MORE.
  2. $138.4 million spent. THE FOUR RESEARCH CENTERS - THE STEPHEN A. SCHWARZMAN BUILDING; THE THOMAS YOSELOFF BUSINESS CENTER; THE SCHOMBURG CENTER FOR RESEARCH IN BLACK CULTURE; AND THE LIBRARY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS - CONTINUE TO EXPAND ACCESS TO OUR COLLECTIONS, WELCOME NEW AUDIENCES, AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCHERS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE RESEARCH CENTERS WELCOMED APPROXIMATELY 4.2 MILLION ON-SITE PATRONS AND SPONSORED MORE THAN 3,100 PROGRAMS WITH ALMOST 155,000 ATTENDEES. LIBRARY STAFF RESPONDED TO 294,000 REFERENCE INQUIRIES. THE LIBRARY'S COLLECTION HOLDS 49 MILLION ITEMS, PRIMARILY BOOKS AND BOOK-LIKE MATERIALS, BUT ALSO PERSONAL PAPERS, ARCHIVES, PHOTOGRAPHS, AUDIO RECORDINGS, FILMS, MAPS, SHEET MUSIC, PRINTS AND CLIPPINGS. IN KEEPING WITH OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR ALL, OUR WORLD-RENOWNED COLLECTIONS ARE OPEN TO ALL AND HELP SOLIDIFY BOTH THE LIBRARY AND NEW YORK CITY AS A HOME FOR KNOWLEDGE AND SCHOLARSHIP. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) THE RESEARCH CENTERS HAVE AN EXTENSIVE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION PROGRAM TO ENSURE THE DISCOVERABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF COLLECTION ITEMS AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR LIFE CYCLE. TO MAKE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS ACCESSIBLE, STAFF PROCESSED AND DESCRIBED MORE THAN 1,500 LINEAR FEET OF COLLECTIONS AND INVENTORIED NEARLY 8,700 AUDIO/VISUAL ITEMS, RESULTING IN 55,200 ARCHIVES SPACE COMPONENTS AND MORE THAN 1,000 CATALOG ITEM RECORDS. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS ARE ALSO CONTROLLED, PRESERVED AND TRANSPORTED FOR EXHIBITIONS, DIGITIZATION, CURATORIAL REQUESTS AND RESEARCH PURPOSES. THIS YEAR, THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED ACCESSING 38,000 ITEMS AND CONTAINERS, DIGITIZING ALMOST 12,000 MEDIA ITEMS (VIDEO, FILM, AND RECORDED SOUND), AND SECURELY TRANSPORTING ALMOST 15,000 COLLECTION OBJECTS.

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 November 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.