Literary Classics of the United States Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE LIBRARY OF AMERICA IS TO FOSTER GREATER APPRECIATION FOR OUR NATION'S LITERARY HERITAGE BY PUBLISHING, AND KEEPING PERMANENTLY IN PRINT, AUTHORITATIVE EDITIONS OF AMERICA'S BEST AND MOST SIGNIFICANT WRITING.
- Income
- $6.2 million
- Spending
- $6.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 29.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 47%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $323,338, president & publisher
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. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $4.4 million spent. THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S STATED EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO ASSURE ACCESS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO ESSENTIAL WORKS OF THE AMERICAN LITERARY AND HISTORICAL TRADITION IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE AMERICAN PAST THROUGH ITS LITERARY AND HISTORICAL ACHIEVEMENTS. ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION RELATE TO ONE PROGRAM, THIS PROGRAM IS KNOWN AS THE LIBRARY OF AMERICA. THE MISSION IS CARRIED OUT BY COMPILING, EDITING AND PUBLISHING INEXPENSIVELY PRICED AND TEXTUALLYACCURATE EDITIONS OF AMERICA'S BEST AND MOST SIGNIFICANT WRITINGS OF THE PAST. THE BOOKS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO LIBRARIES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, BOOK STORES, AND DIRECTLY TO INDIVIDUALS, THUS MAKING THEM WIDELY AVAILABLE TO SCHOLARS, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND THE ENTIRE GENERAL PUBLIC. TO DATE, THE LIBRARY OF AMERICA HAS PUBLISHED IN EXCESS OF 450 VOLUMES OF LITERATURE, POETRY, AND ANTHOLOGIES, AND, ON AVERAGE, TEN NEW VOLUMES ARE ADDED ANNUALLY. MOST OF THE WORKS ARE KEPTPERMANENTLY IN PRINT IN ORDER TO ASSURE CONTINUED ACCESS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE EXACT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PROVIDED ACCESS TO OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE WORKS OF OUR GREATEST AMERICAN AUTHORS THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE LIBRARY OF AMERICA IS NOT KNOWN. HOWEVER, OVER 3,500 LIBRARIES WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCES HAVE ACQUIRED THE WORKS FROM THISPROGRAM, AND APPROXIMATELY 300,000 VOLUMES ARE DISTRIBUTED ANNUALLY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH BOOKSTORES. TO DATE OVER TEN MILLION VOLUMES HAVE BEEN PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED ACCESS TOTHESE ESSENTIAL WORKS OF AMERICAN LITERATURE THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED ON BY THE LIBRARY OF AMERICA.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1979.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.