Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Jefferson County Library Foundation Inc

EIN 23-7029313 · Wheat Ridge, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE JEFFERSON COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT AND ENRICH THE CAPABILITIES, RESOURCES AND SERVICES OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY THROUGH FUNDRAISING AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS THAT BENEFIT OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

Income
$817,396
Spending
$878,518
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
-0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 58%
Employees
8
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$115,816, executive di

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

Weak: 44 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    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

    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 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 (2)
  1. $579,896 spent. LITERACY AND READING THE ANNUAL SUMMER READING PROGRAM PROMOTES READING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS SO THEY DON'T LOSE THEIR LITERACY SKILLS - SOMETHING KNOWN IN EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES AS THE "SUMMER SLIDE". THE PROGRAM ALSO ENCOURAGES PARENTS AND OTHER ADULTS TO PARTICIPATE AND SERVE AS READING ROLE MODELS. SCHOOLS ARE ALSO PART OF THE PROGRAM, AND JCLF PROVIDES CASH PRIZES TO FIVE JEFFCO SCHOOLS (RANGING FROM ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL) FOR THE STUDENT POPULATION THAT READS THE MOST NUMBER OF MINUTES FURING THE EIGHT-WEEK PROGRAM. EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY JCLF HELPS SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS UNDER THIS UMBRELLA, INCLUDING: RAISE A READER, 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN AND BABIES FIRST BOOKS. RAISE A READER PROVIDES A SERIES OF LIBRARY-SPONSORED EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO SING, WRITE, READ, PLAY AND TALK - ACTIVITIES THAT ENGAGE AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO GAIN ESSENTIAL EARLY LITERACY SKILLS. 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 0-5, AND ONE THAT PROMOTES PRE-READING ABILITIES (BY HAVING FAMILIES READ TOGETHER) AND ASSISTS PARENTS/CAREGIVERS IN SELECTING APPROPRIATE READING MATERIALS AND IN SERVING AS THEIR CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER. BABIES FIRST BOOKS IS AN EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM AIMED AT NEW AND FIRST-TIME PARENT IN JEFFCO. FREE BOOKS OF NURSERY RHYMES (IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH) ARE DISTRIBUTED VIA HOSPITALS, WIC, HEALTH CLINICS, ETC., WITH A GOAL TO ENCOURAGE READING TO INFANTS AS A WAY TO DEVELOP A CHILD'S COMPREHENSION OF LANGUAGE AND A WAY TO PROMOTE THE SPECIAL BOND BETWEEN PARENTS AND BABIES. LITERACY AND READING THE ANNUAL SUMMER READING PROGRAM PROMOTES READING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS SO THEY DON'T LOSE THEIR LITERACY SKILLS - SOMETHING KNOWN IN EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES AS THE "SUMMER SLIDE". THE PROGRAM ALSO ENCOURAGES PARENTS AND OTHER ADULTS TO PARTICIPATE AND SERVE AS READING ROLE MODELS. SCHOOLS ARE ALSO PART OF THE PROGRAM, AND JCLF PROVIDES CASH PRIZES TO FIVE JEFFCO SCHOOLS (RANGING FROM ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL) FOR THE STUDENT POPULATION THAT READS THE MOST NUMBER OF MINUTES FURING THE EIGHT-WEEK PROGRAM. EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY JCLF HELPS SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS UNDER THIS UMBRELLA, INCLUDING: RAISE A READER, 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN AND BABIES FIRST BOOKS. RAISE A READER PROVIDES A SERIES OF LIBRARY-SPONSORED EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO SING, WRITE, READ, PLAY AND TALK - ACTIVITIES THAT ENGAGE AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO GAIN ESSENTIAL EARLY LITERACY SKILLS. 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 0-5, AND ONE THAT PROMOTES PRE-READING ABILITIES (BY HAVING FAMILIES READ TOGETHER) AND ASSISTS PARENTS/CAREGIVERS IN SELECTING APPROPRIATE READING MATERIALS AND IN SERVING AS THEIR CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER. BABIES FIRST BOOKS IS AN EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM AIMED AT NEW AND FIRST-TIME PARENT IN JEFFCO. FREE BOOKS OF NURSERY RHYMES (IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH) ARE DISTRIBUTED VIA HOSPITALS, WIC, HEALTH CLINICS, ETC., WITH A GOAL TO ENCOURAGE READING TO INFANTS AS A WAY TO DEVELOP A CHILD'S COMPREHENSION OF LANGUAGE AND A WAY TO PROMOTE THE SPECIAL BOND BETWEEN PARENTS AND BABIES.
  2. $33,846 spent. VOLUNTEER SUPPORT: PROVIDES OVERSIGHT AND RECOGNITION OF THE FRIENDS OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY MEMBERSHIP GROUP AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS THAT ASSIST WITH THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1969.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.