Free Library of New Hope & Solebury
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SHARING KNOWLEDGE; ENRICHING LIVES
- Income
- $423,608
- Spending
- $366,182
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 73 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 53%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 21
- Highest pay
- $79,500, director
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.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 73.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 92 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $273,383 spent. THE FREE LIBRARY OF NEW HOPE AND SOLEBURY IS A PA FORWARD GOLD STAR LIBRARY THAT HAS PROVIDED EXCELLENT LIBRARY SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC FOR OVER 100 YEARS. USERS ARE GRANTED FREE AND EQUAL ACCESS TO A LARGE COLLECTION OF CHILDREN'S AND ADULT BOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, DVDS, NEWSPAPERS, AND MAGAZINES. ADDITIONALLY, THE LIBRARY OFFERS A NON-TRADITIONAL COLLECTION OF AN ONLINE E-LIBRARY, BUSINESS AND CONSUMER DATABASES, MUSEUM PASSES, PRELOADED TABLETS, KINDLES AND S.T.E.A.M. KITS. FREE WIRELESS ACCESS AND PUBLIC USE COMPUTERS AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES ROUND OUT THE OFFERINGS. AS A MEMBER OF THE BUCKS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM, THE LIBRARY HAS RECIPROCAL BORROWING PRIVILEGES WITH OTHER AREA LIBRARIES AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHICH ENHANCES ITS USER SERVICES. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDTL INFO. A PROFESSIONAL STAFF PROVIDES REFERENCE GUIDANCE, READER'S ADVISORY SERVICES AND COMPUTER ASSISTANCE.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PROGRAMMING -THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM (SRP): SPREAD OVER THREE MONTHS, THE SRP SERVED OVER 1,700 CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGH JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST BY HOSTING ART WITH ANITA, THE DA VINCI SCIENCE CENTER, LOLLY HOPWOOD AND THE PLAY PATROL COMPANY, AMONG OTHER REGULAR PROGRAMS LIKE WEEKLY STORYTIME AND CHILDREN'S YOGA.OUR ADULT CRAFTING PROGRAM SERIES, INCLUDING EMBROIDERY, KNITTING, FELTING, ADULT WRITERS GROUP AND AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL JOURNALING, SERVED APPROXIMATELY 100 PATRONS A MONTH AND ARE NOW ESTABLISHED AS RECURRING MONTHLY OR BIWEEKLY PROGRAMS.THE TWEEN/TEEN PROGRAM EXPANSION WAS MADE TO INCLUDE A CHESS CLUB, NERD STUDIO, MAGIC THE GATHERING CLUB AND A POKEMON LUNCH CLUB. THESE PROGRAMS COLLECTIVELY SERVED 40 TWEENS/TEENS A WEEK DURING THE HEIGHT OF SUMMER.
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
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 December 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 May 1950.
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.