Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH IS TO FOSTER LITERACY, ENABLE EXPLORATION, AND CREATE CONNECTIONS WITH ALL OUR NEIGHBORS. SEE FULL DESCRIPTION IN SCHEDULE O.
- Income
- $48.2 million
- Spending
- $47.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 9.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 81%
- Employees
- 549
- Volunteers
- 189
- Highest pay
- $300,658, president &
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2536 of 36 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, 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 (2)
- $40.2 million spent. ANDREW CARNEGIE ONCE ENVISIONED PUBLIC LIBRARIES AS PLACES OF LEARNING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. SINCE 1895, CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH (CLP) HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR EVERY CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY FACING OUR COMMUNITY WHILE ALSO ENGAGING PEOPLE IN LITERACY AND LEARNING. WHILE BOOKS AND MATERIALS REMAIN THE HEART OF THE LIBRARY, CLP HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A COMMUNITY CORNERSTONE THAT FOCUSES ON EDUCATION, WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY. THE LIBRARY EMPOWERS PEOPLE OF THE PITTSBURGH REGION AND HELPS TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES THROUGH LIFELONG LEARNING, DIGITAL LITERACY, AND CONNECTIONS TO OTHERS. AT THE LIBRARY, IDEAS, PEOPLE, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS INTERACT TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
- LINE 1, DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION(CONTINUED): OUR VISION IS A STRONG, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY WITH THE LIBRARY AT ITS HEART THAT NURTURES INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE ACHIEVEMENT, ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE, AND A SENSE OF JOY AND BELONGING. AS A PUBLIC TRUST CREATED "FOR THE PEOPLE," CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH EMBRACES ITS ROLE IN PROVIDING OPEN AND FREE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER LITERACY, ENABLE EXPLORATION AND BUILD COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISMENTS (CONTINUED): COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS AND SPACES ARE THE CORE ELEMENTS OF CLP SERVICE TO MORE THAN 200,000 CARDHOLDERS AND 1,723,573 MILLION VISITORS IN 2025. IN 2025, CLP EXPANDED THE WORLD LANGUAGE COLLECTION, INCLUDING ADDING SPANISH CAREER, BUSINESS, AND NON-PROFIT BOOKS TO OUR CAREER, BUSINESS AND NON-PROFIT SERVICES DEPARTMENT. BOOK CLUB KITS WERE LAUNCHED, AND ADDITIONAL ITEMS WERE ADDED TO THE LIBRARY OF THINGS WHICH CONNECTS LIBRARY USERS WITH GAMES, PUZZLES, AND OTHER ITEMS THAT FACILITATE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS. 500 REUSABLE LICENSES FOR COURSES AND LEARNING ACCREDITATION IN AI, DATA ANALYTICS, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, ETC. THROUGH THE GOOGLE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM WERE ALSO PART OF OUR DIVERSE COLLECTION IN 2025. AS PART OF THE "BOOKS AROUND THE BLOCK" INITIATIVE, CLP IDENTIFIED AREAS WHERE LIBRARY ACCESS IS A CHALLENGE AND DISTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF FREE BOOKS TO NEIGHBORHOOD SITES LIKE STORES AND HEALTH CLINICS TO ENSURE EVERYONE CAN ENJOY A GOOD BOOK. THROUGH THE CALS COLLECTIONS PROGRAM, CLP SUCCESSFULLY OFFERED COLLECTION BOOST+ TO PROVIDE COLLECTION SUPPORT TO VARIOUS UNDER- RESOURCED COUNTY LIBRARIES BY PURCHASING NEW, IN-DEMAND TITLES FOR THEM TO ADD TO THEIR COLLECTIONS. INITIATIVES LIKE CARDFEST, WHICH PROVIDES EVERY PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS) STUDENT WITH AN ACTIVE LIBRARY CARD, ENSURE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES HAVE ACCESS TO THE MILLIONS OF PRINT BOOKS, MAGAZINES, DVDS, AUDIOBOOKS, ELECTRONIC BOOKS, ACADEMIC JOURNALS, DATABASES AND ARCHIVES IN OUR COLLECTIONS. LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IS DRIVEN BY OUR GOALS TO PROVIDE RESPONSIVE SERVICES AND TO NURTURE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. STORYTIMES, TEEN TIME, JOB AND CAREER PRESENTATIONS, BOOK CLUBS, LOCAL HISTORY PRESENTATIONS AND SEASONAL SPECIAL EVENTS ARE CORE PROGRAMS THAT BRING PEOPLE INTO OUR LOCATIONS EVERY DAY. IN ADDITION, THE VIVIAN ANN DAVIDSON HEWITT INITIATIVE-NAMED IN HONOR OF THE FIRST BLACK LIBRARIAN AT CLP-EXPANDED IN 2025 WITH AN ARTIST IN RESIDENCE SERIES AT FIVE BRANCHES, WHICH INCLUDED COMMUNITY DINNERS AND ARTMAKING FOR ALL AGES. THE GREATER PITTSBURGH BOOK FESTIVAL WELCOMED MORE THAN 8,000 ATTENDEES TO CLP - MAIN IN MAY, BRINGING WRITERS, READERS, BOOKSELLERS, AND VENDORS FROM THROUGHOUT OUR REGION TOGETHER FOR LECTURES, WORKSHOPS AND BOOK-RELATED ACTIVITIES. THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM CONCLUDED WITH THE ANNUAL SUMMER READING EXTRAVAGANZA IN AUGUST. CLP AND ITS USERS CELEBRATED 145,000 BOOKS READ BY PITTSBURGHERS OVER THE SUMMER. THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY LAW LIBRARY (ACLL) HOSTED THE LEGAL INFORMATION AND ELDER JUSTICE FAIR AND OFFERED MANY ADDITIONAL LEGAL PROGRAMS IN HYBRID FORMATS. THE LIBRARY OF ACCESSIBLE MEDIA FOR PENNSYLVANIANS (LAMP) HOSTED THEIR LARGEST SOMATOSENSORY TACTILE ART EXHIBIT WITH 33 SCULPTURES BY 22 ARTISTS AND MORE THAN 200 ATTENDEES. CLP HAS 20 PHYSICAL LOCATIONS WHERE EVERYONE CAN ACCESS FREE INTERNET AND WIFI, ENJOY OUR COLLECTIONS AND PROGRAMS, GET ASSISTANCE FROM LIBRARY STAFF, AND CONNECT WITH NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE THE LEARNING DISABILITIES ASSOCIATION OF PITTSBURGH WHO PROVIDES WEEKLY TUTORING AT CLP - BROOKLINE AND CLP - HILL DISTRICT. IN THE AFTERMATH OF DAMAGING STORMS THAT SWEPT THROUGH THE CITY IN APRIL, CLP BRANCHES PROVIDED THOUSANDS OF NEIGHBORS WITH ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY, WIFI, CELL PHONE CHARGING EQUIPMENT, PCS AND LAPTOPS FOR REMOTE SCHOOL AND WORK, DAY AFTER DAY. CLP INVESTED IN CREATING WELCOMING, ACCESSIBLE, VIBRANT SPACES FOR ALL AGES IN MANY WAYS FROM MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR CHILDREN OUTSIDE OF CLP - BEECHVIEW, CLP - HOMEWOOD, CLP - ALLEGHENY AND CLP - MAIN TO UPDATED HVAC AT CLP - WOODS RUN. WHEN INDIVIDUALS CAN'T COME TO PHYSICAL LIBRARY LOCATIONS, CLP BRINGS THE LIBRARY TO THEM. LAMP SHIPPED MORE THAN 1 MILLION TALKING BOOKS TO BLIND AND PRINT-DISABLED RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. CHILDREN'S AND TEEN LIBRARY STAFF BRING BOOKS, ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION TO SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS. STAFF MAINTAIN COMMUNITY COLLECTIONS AND THE COMMUNITY ARCHIVIST BROUGHT SCANNING EQUIPMENT TO EVERY BRANCH FOR "COMMUNITY SCAN DAYS" THAT ENHANCE LIBRARY ARCHIVES AND HELP INDIVIDUALS PRESERVE THEIR PERSONAL HISTORIES.
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 November 6, 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 January 1952.
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 November 4, 2026.
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