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Prison Book Program

EIN 20-3235673 · Quincy, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN PRISON BY SENDING THEM FREE, HIGH-QUALITY BOOKS AND READING MATERIALS THAT MEET THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS & INTERESTS & TO PROVIDE AN ENGAGING VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE INSIDE & OUTSIDE THE AMERICAN PRISON SYSTEM.

Income
$593,203
Spending
$310,403
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
49.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
3
Volunteers
0

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 49.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $203,291 spent. MAILED PACKAGES OF BOOKS TO APPROXIMATELY 18,000 PRISONERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
  2. $12,508 spent. ALBERT WOODFOX MEMORIAL MINI FREEDOM LIBRARIES. MINI LIBRARY CONSISTING OF 30 BOOKS THAT HELP PEOPLE FIND HOPE, PURPOSE AND TRANSFORMATION IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. THE BOOKS ARE ENTRUSTED TO THE CASE OF AN INCARCERATED LIBRARIAN WHO CIRCULATES THEM AND MORE IMPORTANTLY ENSURES THAT THEY ARE DISCUSSED, PRISONER-TO-PRISONER, AS PEOPLE TRY TO GROW AND BETTER THEMSELVES.
  3. $2,606 spent. PUBLISHING AND DISTRIBUTION OF A BOOK CALLED 'INSIDER'S GUIDE TO JAILHOUSE LAW' WHICH IS A FREE LEGAL RESOURCE FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE THAT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE AND PRACTICAL OVERVIEW OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND IT DISCUSSES IMPORTANT LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES.
  4. $26,173 spent. BETTER WORLD BOOKS PROGRAM - USED GRANT FUNDS TO ACQUIRE FREQUENTLY REQUESTED, SELDOM DONATED BOOKS TO ADD TO THE PRISON BOOK PROGRAM'S INVENTORY TO SUPPLY READERS WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE MATERIALS THAT MATCH THEIR NEEDS AND INTERESTS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.