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Passes our checks

Lyrasis

EIN 23-1365979 · Alpharetta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LYRASIS EMPOWERS LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES AND MUSEUMS THROUGH CONTENT SERVICES, OPEN TECHNOLOGIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS THAT EXPAND ACCESS TO INFORMATION, PRESERVE CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND ADVANCE THE SHARED GOALS OF OUR MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. COLLABORATIVELY, WE BUILD A FUTURE THAT IS INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE, ACCESSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE.

Income
$136.0 million
Spending
$137.8 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
100
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$362,285, ceo

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 76% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $130.2 million spent. LYRASIS CREATES AND SUSTAINS TECHNOLOGIES, SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE UNIQUELY DESIGNED TO HELP LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES, MUSEUMS AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS ACCESS AND SHARE THEIR VITAL COLLECTIONS, DATA AND KNOWLEDGE. THE ORGANIZATION HELPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS BE MORE EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE AND IMPACTFUL TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.LYRASIS IS A LEADER IN OPEN TECHNOLOGIES, HOSTING, DATA-MIGRATION, CONTENT LICENSING, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTED SOFTWARE PROGRAMS FOR LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES, MUSEUMS AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE.LYRASIS NEGOTIATES BEST-IN-CLASS GROUP LICENSE AGREEMENTS AND MORE EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE PRICING FOR ELECTRONIC RESOURCES AND SERVICES. WE WORK AT SCALE TO SIMPLIFY LIBRARY ACQUISITION WORKFLOWS AND STRENGHTHEN VALUE ON INVESTMENT FOR OUR MEMBERS. LYRASIS ADVANCES A BROAD ARRAY OF OPEN ACCESS PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER DIVERSE INSTITUTIONS TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SCHOLARLY COMMUNICATION.LYRASIS BUILDS NEW COMMUNITIES TO FOSTER DATA EXCHANGE AND INTEROPERABILITY SERVICES THAT ENHANCE SCHOLARLY COMMUNICATION, SUCH AS THE ORCID US AND LYRASIS DATACITE COMMUNITIES.

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 March 1937.

    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.