Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FRIENDS OF THE FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION), FOUNDED IN 1973, IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS THE 54-BRANCH FREE LIBRARY SYSTEM BY ESTABLISHING AND ASSISTING A NETWORK OF NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED FRIENDS GROUPS WHO STRENGTHEN AND STEWARD THEIR LOCAL LIBRARY; ADVOCATING FOR STABLE, EQUITABLE AND SIGNIFICANT LIBRARY SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIAS CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
- Income
- $147,942
- Spending
- $230,293
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 61.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 78%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 8
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 61.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 56% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 72% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
0 of 7Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $207,263 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND FRIENDS GROUPS AS THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION TO 54 AFFILIATE LIBRARY FRIENDS GROUPS, THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS FUNCTION IS TO ESTABLISH NEW GROUPS AND BUILD THE CAPACITY OF EXISTING GROUPS BY RECRUITING AND TRAINING VOLUNTEER LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO ASSISTING THEIR LOCAL LIBRARY BRANCH THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF BOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS, AND THE SPONSORSHIP OF RELEVANT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. OPEN, WELL-FUNCTIONING AND HIGHLY UTILIZED LIBRARIES ARE MODERN DAY COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT PROVIDE PUBLIC COMPUTERS AND FREE WORLD-WIDE WEB ACCESS, AND ACT AS SAFE HAVENS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND LEARNING CENTERS FOR NEW AMERICANS AND JOB-SEEKERS. LIBRARIES HELP STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY THOSE AT-RISK. THROUGH TRAINING, ENHANCEMENT TECHNIQUES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT, THE ORGANIZATION BUILDS LEADERS BY ASSISTING FRIENDS GROUPS TO DEVELOP THE CIVIC AND ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY SET AND MEET THEIR GOALS TO PROMOTE, ADVOCATE FOR, AND EXPAND LIBRARY SERVICES. THE ORGANIZATIONS 2009 PUBLICATION LIBRARY FRIENDS; A BEST PRACTICES MANUAL, PROVIDES AN OPERATIONAL GUIDE FOR GROUPS OF ALL CAPACITIES IN ORDER TO AID AND INCREASE THEIR ACTIVITIES AND STEWARDSHIP. BOOK PROGRAM THE BOOK CORNER CONTINUES AS A VIBRANT HUB TO RECEIVE AND RESELL GOOD QUALITY BOOKS AT MODEST PRICES IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE ORGANIZATION AND GROUPS OF NEIGHBORHOOD STEWARDS, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA, WILL CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE AND ADVOCATE FOR CUTTING EDGE SERVICES; AND CONTINUE TO EDUCATE CITIZENS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS - ENHANCING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE VALUE OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE LIFE OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA AND THE REGION. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND FRIENDS GROUPS AS THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION TO 54 AFFILIATE LIBRARY FRIENDS GROUPS, THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS FUNCTION IS TO ESTABLISH NEW GROUPS AND BUILD THE CAPACITY OF EXISTING GROUPS BY RECRUITING AND TRAINING VOLUNTEER LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO ASSISTING THEIR LOCAL LIBRARY BRANCH THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF BOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS, AND THE SPONSORSHIP OF RELEVANT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. OPEN, WELL-FUNCTIONING AND HIGHLY UTILIZED LIBRARIES ARE MODERN DAY COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT PROVIDE PUBLIC COMPUTERS AND FREE WORLD-WIDE WEB ACCESS, AND ACT AS SAFE HAVENS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND LEARNING CENTERS FOR NEW AMERICANS AND JOB-SEEKERS. LIBRARIES HELP STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY THOSE AT-RISK. THROUGH TRAINING, ENHANCEMENT TECHNIQUES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT, THE ORGANIZATION BUILDS LEADERS BY ASSISTING FRIENDS GROUPS TO DEVELOP THE CIVIC AND ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY SET AND MEET THEIR GOALS TO PROMOTE, ADVOCATE FOR, AND EXPAND LIBRARY SERVICES. THE ORGANIZATIONS 2009 PUBLICATION LIBRARY FRIENDS; A BEST PRACTICES MANUAL, PROVIDES AN OPERATIONAL GUIDE FOR GROUPS OF ALL CAPACITIES IN ORDER TO AID AND INCREASE THEIR ACTIVITIES AND STEWARDSHIP. BOOK PROGRAM THE BOOK CORNER CONTINUES AS A VIBRANT HUB TO RECEIVE AND RESELL GOOD QUALITY BOOKS AT MODEST PRICES IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE ORGANIZATION AND GROUPS OF NEIGHBORHOOD STEWARDS, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA, WILL CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE AND ADVOCATE FOR CUTTING EDGE SERVICES; AND CONTINUE TO EDUCATE CITIZENS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS - ENHANCING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE VALUE OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE LIFE OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA AND THE REGION.
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
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 June 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 September 1974.
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.