Massachusetts Center for the Book Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTER FOR THE BOOK, CHARTERED AS THE COMMONWEALTH AFFILIATE OF THE CENTER FOR THE BOOK IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, IS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP CHARGED WITH DEVELOPING, SUPPORTING, AND PROMOTING CULTURAL PROGRAMMING THAT WILL ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF BOOKS AND READING AND ENHANCE THE OUTREACH POTENTIAL OF MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARIES.
- Income
- $444,618
- Spending
- $417,870
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 7.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 97%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $88,250, executive director
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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
- $64,603 spent. ANNUAL MASSACHUSETTS BOOK AWARDS - PROMOTES BOOKS BY MASSACHUSETTS WRITERS IN LIBRARIES AND THROUGH AUTHOR PROGRAMS. POSTERS, BOOKMARKS, TENT CARDS DISTRIBUTED FOR READING PROMOTION DISPLAYS. AUTHORS INTRODUCED TO LIBRARIANS AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO LEGISLATORS AT A STATE HOUSE EVENT. STATEWIDE BENEFIT. OVER 450 BOOKS CONSIDERED.
- $14,039 spent. MASS KIDS LIT FEST, TIMED TO CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK, IS PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND LIBRARIES ACROSS HAMPSHIRE, HAMDEN, FRANKLIN AND BERKSHIRE COUNTIES. THE SECOND ANNUAL FESTIVAL REEACHED OVER 1200 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGH SCHOOL VISITS, AUTHOR WORKSHOPS, AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES.
- $8,405 spent. ANNUAL LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE, STATEWIDE STUDENT READING/WRITING PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. 1600 STUDENT PARTICIPANTS.
- $265,827 spent. OTHER PROGRAM INITIATIVES INCLUDE THE READING CHALLENGE,A READING PROMOTION PROGRAM RUN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALMOST 200 PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES; 20,000 SETS OF MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED EACH PROGRAM YEAR; OTHER LITERACY PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMING, LITERACY PLACEMAKING, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MAPS, TRAILS, AND ARCHIVES, TO INCREASE CULTURAL TOURISM AS WELL AS TO LEVERAGE LIBRARY RESOURCES IN COMMUNITY REDVELOPMENT EFFORTS; AND NATIONAL AND REGIONAL COLLABORATIONS TO ENHANCE CULTURAL ACTIVITY IN MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARIES.
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 October 13, 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 December 2004.
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 October 21, 2026.
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