Antiquarian Book School Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EDUCATE LIBRARIANS, COLLECTORS, AND ASPIRING BOOK SELLERS IN BEST PRACTICES FOR HANDLING AND SELLING BOOKS.
- Income
- $205,409
- Spending
- $171,301
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 29.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 45%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $8,000, executive director
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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 (1)
- $152,809 spent. THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THE ANTIQUARIAN BOOK SCHOOL FOUNDATION (ABSF) IS TO EDUCATE LIBRARIANS, COLLECTORS, AND ASPIRING BOOK SELLERS IN BEST PRACTICES FOR HANDLING AND SELLING BOOKS. WE PROVIDE AN ANNUAL WEEK-LONG SEMINAR WHERE LEADING SPECIALISTS SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES WITH RARE BOOK AND SPECIAL COLLECTION LIBRARIANS FROM UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES, PUBLIC LIBRARIES, HISTORICAL SOCIETIES AND ""FRIEND"" GROUPS OF SUCH INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS ASPIRING BOOKSELLERS AND COLLECTORS IN A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF THE RARE BOOK MARKET, BOTH ANTIQUARIAN AND MODERN. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)BASIC PROCEDURES AND PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED BOTH FORMALLY AND INFORMALLY THROUGH A SERIES OF LECTURES, DISCUSSIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS AND PRACTICAL HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS WITH EMPHASIS ON CATALOGING, PRICING, RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE, AND THE TOOLS AND MATERIALS OF BOOK PRODUCTION AS WELL AS BOOKSELLING IN THE ELECTRONIC AGE.THE ANTIQUARIAN BOOK SCHOOL FOUNDATION (ABSF) IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT, AND TAX-EXEMPT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION FOCUSED ON PROMOTING, MAINTAINING, AND EXPANDING THE STANDARDS OF THE ANTIQUARIAN BOOK TRADE. CABS-MINNESOTA, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE ABSF, IS AN ANNUAL WEEK-LONG INTENSIVE SEMINAR FOR BOOKSELLERS, PROSPECTIVE BOOKSELLERS, AND OTHERS WITH AN INTEREST IN THE ANTIQUARIAN AND SECOND-HAND BOOK MARKET.THE ABSF CONTINUES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FORMER BOOK SEMINARS, A FOR-PROFIT PARTNERSHIP WHICH OVER THE PAST 48 YEARS HAS EDUCATED MORE THAN 3,000 STUDENTS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. 55 STUDENTS ATTENDED THE 2025 CABS-MN SEMINAR AT ST. OLAF COLLEGE. CABS-MINNESOTA IS COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY IN THE ANTIQUARIAN AND RARE BOOK TRADE. WE BELIEVE THAT A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE TRADE WILL BENEFIT BOTH THE TRADE AND THE CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMUNITY AT LARGE BY EXPANDING PERSPECTIVES AND BY ENCOURAGING NEW COLLABORATIONS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT MANY TALENTED PROFESSIONALS IN CULTURAL HERITAGE PROFESSIONS DO NOT SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THE TRADE. AS ONE STEP TOWARD CENTERING NON-DOMINANT PERSPECTIVES, CABS-MINNESOTA HAS ESTABLISHED THE DIVERSE VOICES FELLOWSHIP TO BUILD A COHORT OF FELLOWS WHO HAVE A STRONG INTEREST IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE ANTIQUARIAN BOOK TRADE AND HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES ISOLATED IN OR DISTANCED FROM THE TRADE BY REASON OF RACE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABILITIES, AND/OR INCOME.THE FELLOWSHIP OFFERS A PROGRAM OF PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT DESIGNED AROUND FELLOWS' INTERESTS INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN THE ANNUAL WEEK LONG SEMINAR AND AN ADDITIONAL FIELD STUDY. THE INITIAL GROUP OF FIVE FELLOWS FINISHED THE COURSE IN 2022. FOUR FELLOWS COMPLETED THE PROGRAM IN 2025.
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 June 2009.
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.
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.