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Chester Springs Library

EIN 23-2655912 · Chester Sprgs, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SERVE THE AREA BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO MATERIALS, SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE EDUCATION, LIFELONG LEARNING, EARLY LITERACY, LEISURE OPPORTUNITIES, INDIVIDUAL GROWTH, AND CONNECTIONS THAT BUILD A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY

Income
$204,014
Spending
$221,151
Spent on programs
51%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 78%
Employees
8
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$61,685, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    51% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $3,864 spent. IN 2024, OUR PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, FAMILIES, AND ADULTS CONTINUED TO BE WELL ATTENDED AND WELL LOVED. OUR PROGRAMS BUILD COMMUNITY AND ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION TO PROMOTE EDUCATION, LEARNING, AND RECREATION. WE HELD 406 IN-PERSON PROGRAMS ATTENDED BY 8,967 PEOPLE. THE FRAMEWORK FOR OUR PROGRAMS IS ESTABLISHED AND CONSISTS OF PRESCHOOL STORY TIMES THREE DAYS PER WEEK, ONE PLAY DOUGH MORNING EACH WEEK, AND MAKINMUSIC FOR YOUNG CHILDREN ONCE A MONTH. SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS INCLUDED BI-MONTHLY STEM CLASSES FOR HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS. OUR ADULT PROGRAMS INCLUDED A WEEKLY CROCHET GROUP AND A MONTHLY BOOK DISCUSSION. SOME OF OUR STAND-ALONE PROGRAMS HAVE NOW BECOME STAPLES THAT WE REPEAT. PEOPLE ASSOCIATE THEM WITH OUR LIBRARY AND LOOK FORWARD TO THEM EACH YEAR. EXAMPLES FROM 2024 INCLUDED THE ANNUAL BUBBLE FESTIVAL (HIGHLIGHTED IN THE 2025 PA SUMMER READING SHOWCASE), THE AUGUST FAIRY TALE FAIR, THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR DAY INTERGENERATIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS TO DECORATE THE LIBRARY, THANKSGIVING CENTER PIECE MAKING WEEKLONG DROP IN, AND SUMMER MOSAICS CLASSES LED BY THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR.
  2. $1,145 spent. THE LIBRARY CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH WEST PIKELAND TOWNSHIP PARKS AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION TO OFFER A SUMMER IN THE PARKS SERIES OF FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, SPRING AND FALL YOGA CLASSES AT PINE CREEK PARK, AND A COMMUNITY EGG HUNT IN THE SPRING. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE WITH HISTORIC YELLOW SPRINGS, INC., A CULTURAL NONPROFIT, FOR THE DECEMBER ANNUAL HOLIDAY STROLL, THE MOTHER'S DAY ART IN THE VILLAGE EVENT, AND THE FALL ANNIVERSARY OF THE VILLAGE OF HISTORIC YELLOW SPRINGS. IN DECEMBER, WE PURCHASED A MOVIE THEATER STYLE POPCORN MAKER TO ADD MORE FUN AND ENJOYMENT FOR OUR LIBRARY USERS DURING EVENTS LIKE THESE. OUR PROGRAMMING AND OUR PARTNERSHIPS CONTRIBUTE TO THE VALUE WE OFFER BY ALLOWING US TO REACH MORE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND SHARE OUR RESOURCES WITH OTHER NONPROFITS THAT SERVE THE SAME PEOPLE.
  3. $29,290 spent. PENNSYLVANIA STATE LIBRARY LAW REQUIRES AT LEAST 12% OF A LIBRARY'S OPERATING EXPENSES SHALL BE SPENT ON COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT. CHESTER SPRINGS LIBRARY CONTINUED TO MEET THIS OBLIGATION IN 2024. THE NUMBER OF ITEMS IN THE LIBRARY'S CATALOG WAS 16,549 ITEMS. THIS CONSISTED OF BOOKS, MAGAZINES, DVDS, MUSIC CDS, AUDIOBOOKS ON CD, PLAY-AWAYS, MAGAZINES, BOOK CLUB KITS, AND A LIBRARY OF THINGS (CIRCULAR LOOMS, GELLI ARTS PRINTING KITS, AND DISC GOLF SETS). WE ALSO CONTRIBUTED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO THE LIBRARY SYSTEM'S ELECTRONIC RESOURCE COLLECTION OF DOWNLOADABLE E-BOOKS, E-AUDIO BOOKS, AND E-MAGAZINES. OUR TOTAL CIRCULATION OF MATERIAL (PHYSICAL ITEMS AND E-RESOURCES) WAS 66,948. CIRCULATION OF CHILDREN'S PHYSICAL MATERIALS INCLUDED IN THIS AMOUNT WAS 21,948. IN 2024, CHESTER SPRINGS SPENT 13.24% FOR COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 December 1991.

    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 November 4, 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.