Open Books Ltd
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OPEN BOOKS COLLECTS, GRANTS, AND SELLS USED BOOKS, PROVIDES COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND MOBILIZES PASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT LITERACY, IMPROVE READING AND WRITING SKILLS AND SPREAD THE LOVE OF READING AND WRITING IN CHICAGO AND BEYOND.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $3.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 82%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 468
- Highest pay
- $135,261, 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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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)
- $2.9 million spent. DURING THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR, OPEN BOOKS SERVED STUDENTS THROUGH BOOK ACCESS AND READING SUPPORT PROGRAMS. READING BUDDIES FOCUSED ON BUILDING FLUENCY, STUDENT CONFIDENCE, AND READING LEVEL GROWTH FOR EARLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AT SCHOOLS AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS IN NORTH LAWNDALE. OPEN BOOK'S EARLY LITERACY STORYTIME PARTNERED WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO ENGAGE CAREGIVERS AND FAMILIES IN FUNDAMENTAL LITERACY CONCEPTS THEY CAN PRACTICE AT HOME. TO BETTER PREPARE CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN SUCCESS, OPEN BOOKS EARLY CHILDHOOD RESIDENCY PROGRAM BROUGHT INSTRUCTORS INTO HOME DAYCARES. FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 0-5 PARTICIPATED IN DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY, A BOOK ACCESS INITIATIVE AIMED AT INCREASING BOOKS IN THE HOME. WE GRANTED OVER 95,000 BOOKS THROUGH CLASSROOM BOOK GRANTS, WHOLE SCHOOL BOOK GRANTS, AS WELL AS OUR FREE CHILDREN'S BOOK SECTION AT OPEN BOOKS PILSEN AND OPEN BOOKS NORTH LAWNDALE. IN ADDITION TO OPEN BOOKS'S LITERACY PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY EVENTS WERE A CORE PART OF OUR WORK WITH NORTH LAWNDALE READS. AS PART OF NORTH LAWNDALE READS, OPEN BOOKS MAINTAINED LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES AND BOOK NOOKS ACROSS NORTH LAWNDALE AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, AND PROVIDED FREE BOOKS AND LITERACY ACTIVITIES AT COMMUNITY EVENTS. IN JUNE 2025, OPEN BOOKS LAUNCHED OPEN BOOKS MOBILE, A PHYSICAL, ON-THE-GO, FREE BOOKSTORE THAT BRINGS HIGH-QUALITY BOOKS AND LITERACY RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITIES ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES OF CHICAGO.
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 June 2007.
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.
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.