Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PARTNER WITH DONORS TO ENRICH LIVES, FOSTER LIFELONG LEARNING AND ENGAGE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
- Income
- $3.3 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 19 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 59
- Highest pay
- $199,396, foundation president
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 19.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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 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 (4)
- $727,803 spent. PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP CHILDREN BECOME MORE CAPABLE, ENTHUSIASTIC READERS AND TO SUPPORT HEALTHY SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. OFFERED AT ALL 25 LIBRARY LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THESE PROGRAMS ARE HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE AND REACH UNDERSERVED AUDIENCES, AS 21% OF MARION COUNTY CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 18 LIVE IN POVERTY. EXAMPLES OF MAJOR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS THE FOUNDATION FUNDS ARE: SUMMER READING PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM, WHICH REWARDS CHILDREN FOR READING OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS, ENROLLS 22,000 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS WHO READ MORE THAN 16 MILLION MINUTES. ITS GOAL IS TO COUNTER SUMMER LEARNING LOSS. ON THE ROAD TO READING: EACH MONTH, THE LIBRARY PROVIDES STORY PROGRAMS TO APPROXIMATELY 60 HOME AND FAITH-BASED DAYCARES IN LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME AREAS. EACH SESSION CONSISTS OF A STORY PROGRAM AND A DELIVERY OF BAGS FILLED WITH PICTURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN TO ENJOY BETWEEN VISITS, AS WELL AS EARLY LITERACY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. PRESCHOOL PACKAGED PROGRAMS: PRESCHOOL CHILDREN ENGAGE IN LEARNING THROUGH INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES. PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS ALLOW CHILDREN AND PRESCHOOLERS TO EXPERIENCE ART, MUSIC, SPORTS AND MORE. READING READY TIME VIDEOS OFTEN ENGAGE MANY OF THE SAME PRESENTERS TO DO RECORDED PROGRAMS FOR CHILDCARE CENTERS AND CLASSROOMS THAT CANNOT ATTEND IN-PERSON PROGRAMS. EARLY LITERACY STAFF: PRIVATE FUNDS SUPPORT THE LIBRARY'S HERBERT SIMON EARLY LITERACY SPECIALIST WHO OVERSEES AND EVALUATES CHILDHOOD LITERACY PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS PART-TIME OUTREACH STAFF WHO IMPLEMENT ON THE ROAD TO READING. FALL FEST: HOSTED IN OCTOBER, THIS ANNUAL FESTIVAL CREATES A POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE THAT ENCOURAGES READING AND LITERACY FOR FAMILIES. LOCAL STUDENTS GRADES 7-12 ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT POEMS BASED ON THE ANNUAL THEME. TEN TEENS ARE THEN SELECTED TO READ THEIR POEMS FOR THE FALL FEST AUDIENCE. THIS EVENT ALSO FEATURES AN AFRICAN AMERICAN KEYNOTE SPEAKER WHO SERVES AS AN INSPIRATIONAL ROLE MODEL FOR TEEN ATTENDEES AS WELL AS OTHER INTERACTIVE SESSIONS. BUNNY BAGS: BUNNY BAGS ARE BAGS FULL OF AGE-APPROPRIATE PICTURE BOOKS FOR EARLY READERS THAT CAN BE CHECKED OUT BY BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS.
- $644,925 spent. THE FOUNDATION FUNDS SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND TECHNOLOGY TO HELP THE LIBRARY PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR PATRONS. MAJOR EXAMPLES INCLUDE: MARION COUNTY INTERNET LIBRARY: A COLLECTION OF ONLINE DATABASES THE LIBRARY ADMINISTERS AND SHARES WITH THE PUBLIC, HIGH SCHOOL MEDIA CENTERS, AND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF INDIANAPOLIS: THE LIBRARY CONTINUES DEVELOPING AND EXPANDING THIS INTERACTIVE ONLINE RESOURCE ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS' PAST AND PRESENT. DEVICE LENDING: TO HELP BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS DEVICE LENDING AT SEVERAL LIBRARY LOCATIONS ACROSS THE CITY. LIBRARY PATRONS CAN CHECK OUT WI-FI HOTSPOTS, CHROMEBOOKS OR BOTH TO USE AT HOME FOR JOB SEARCHES, EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND MORE.
- $270,407 spent. THE FOUNDATION FUNDS LIBRARY PROGRAMS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE CULTURES AND COMMUNITIES IN INDIANAPOLIS. SOME EXAMPLES OF MAJOR PROGRAMS INCLUDE: MEET THE ARTISTS: THIS TWO-MONTH EXHIBITION OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL BLACK ARTISTS CELEBRATES AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE. THE EXHIBIT'S WELL-ATTENDED GALA FEATURES LIVE PERFORMANCES, A FASHION SHOW AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE FEATURED ARTISTS. CONCERT SERIES: MUSICIANS FROM LOCAL ENSEMBLES PERFORM CONCERTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT CENTRAL LIBRARY AND SELECT BRANCHES, EXPOSING PATRONS TO A VARIETY OF MUSICAL STYLES. CENTER FOR BLACK LITERATURE & CULTURE: A DEDICATED SPACE AT CENTRAL LIBRARY CELEBRATES THE VIBRANT HERITAGE AND TRIUMPHS OF THOSE BORN OF AFRICAN ROOTS WHILE PROVIDING A PLACE FOR ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THIS RICH CULTURE THROUGH COLLECTIONS, RESOURCES, AND PROGRAMS. WORLD LANGUAGE PROGRAMS: NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS CAN IMPROVE THEIR LITERACY SKILLS THROUGH SEVERAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PATHWAYS TO LITERACY AND CONVERSATION CIRCLES. SOCIAL WORK: THE SOCIAL WORK TEAM PROVIDES REFERRALS FOR SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PATRONS TO RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONS GEARED TOWARD LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, OFFERING ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, BASIC NEEDS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND MORE.
- $487,532 spent. THE FOUNDATION FUNDS PROGRAMS THAT BOLSTER WORKPLACE SKILLS, OFFER TRAINING ON THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, PROVIDE OUTLETS FOR PURSUING HOBBIES, EXPLORING TOPICS OF INTEREST, AND GATHERING WITH FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SOME MAJOR EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS INCLUDE: JOB CENTER: ADULTS NEEDING SUPPORT IN JOB SEARCHES, RESUME WRITING AND MORE CAN MEET WITH DEDICATED STAFF AT THE EAST THIRTY-EIGHTH STREET BRANCH FOR ASSISTANCE. DIGITAL LITERACY: PROGRAMS INCLUDE COMPUTER CLASSES TAUGHT IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH, AS WELL AS WORKSHOPS AT A VARIETY OF SKILL LEVELS FOR ADULTS TO EXPLORE CODING. SEED LIBRARY: PATRONS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT GARDENING CAN RECEIVE FREE FLOWER, FRUIT, VEGETABLE, AND HERB SEEDS FROM THEIR LOCAL LIBRARY BRANCH. IN 2024, ALMOST 95,000 SEED PACKETS WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE INDYPL NETWORK. VARIOUS WORKSHOPS ON GARDENING, COOKING, PERSONAL FINANCE, AND HEALTH ARE EXAMPLES OF OTHER LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY THE LIBRARY AND FUNDED BY THE FOUNDATION. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL LIBRARY LOCATIONS (CENTRAL LIBRARY AND EACH BRANCH), AND OTHER ENHANCEMENTS TO LIBRARY PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIBRARY STAFF, AS WELL AS FUND ACTIVITIES TO SHOW APPRECIATION FOR LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1969.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.