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American Bookbinders Museum

EIN 26-3235193 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE TELL THE STORY OF THE BOOK, PRESENTING THE ART OF WESTERN BOOKBINDING AS A HAND PROCESS THROUGH EARLY MECHANIZATION, PROMOTING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF BOOK PRODUCTION ON THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

Income
$450,002
Spending
$391,817
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
4
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$128,000, executive di

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 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (3)
  1. $301,450 spent. THE AMERICAN BOOKBINDERS MUSEUM IS THE ONLY MUSEUM OF ITS KIND IN NORTH AMERICA. IT CELEBRATES AND EXPLORES THE HISTORY, CULTURE AND TOOLS OF BOOKBINDING FROM ITS EARLIEST FORMS THROUGH THE CHANGES AND INNOVATIONS OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. ONCE YOU VISIT THE AMERICAN BOOKBINDERS MUSEUM, YOU WILL NEVER LOOK AT A BOOK THE SAME WAY. OPEN FROM 10M-4PM, TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, WE OFFER AUDIO AND SELF-GUIDED TOURS.
  2. WE SEEK TO EXPAND THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF BOOKBINDING AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE MASTER PRACTITIONERS OF THIS HISTORICAL CRAFT BY OFFERING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM'S EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF EQUIPMENT, BOOKS AND EPHEMERA. THE AMERICAN BOOKBINDERS MUSEUM HAS A UNIQUE COLLECTION OF BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS AND HISTORICAL RECORDS ABOUT BOOKBINDING, PUBLISHING, AND LABOR HISTORY, THE TOOLS AND MATERIALS USED IN BOOKBINDING, AND A COLLECTION OF APPROXIMATELY 450 DECORATED PUBLISHERS' BINDINGS DATING FROM 1830-1950. ACCESS TO THE COLLECTION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE TO IDENTIFY ITEMS FOR USE ONSITE
  3. WE ARE PROUD TO BE A PARTICIPATING MEMBER IN THE NATION-WIDE MUSEUMS FOR ALL PROGRAM, OFFERING FREE ADMISSION TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND THE BLUE STAR PROGRAM OFFERING FREE ADMISSION TO ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY. THE ABM PROGRAMS AT LEAST THREE TEMPORARY SPECIAL EXHIBITS ANNUALLY, PARTNERING WITH ARTISANS, BOOKBINDERS, HISTORIANS AND COLLECTORS. PAST EXHIBITS HAVE FEATURED CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORICAL ARTISANAL BINDINGS, HISTORICAL EVENTS, SPECIFIC BINDING STYLES AND LITERARY GENRES, APPEALING TO BOOK LOVERS YOUNG AND OLD. IN ADDITION, WE OFFER HOW-TO, HISTORICAL AND BINDING RELATED SUBJECTS AS PUBLIC LECTURES AND SPECIAL COMMUNITY EVENTS. OUR ABILITY TO OFFER TOURS, LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, AND SPECIAL EXHIBITS AND SPECIAL EVENTS COMES FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DONATIONS, UNDERWRITING ALL MUSEUM ACTIVITIES

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

  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 2025.

    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 February 2009.

    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.

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