Library Support Network
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO RAISE MONEY FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES THROUGH SHARED KNOWLEDGE, PEER CONNECTION, AND COLLECTIVE IMPACT.
- Income
- $406,787
- Spending
- $323,120
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 5.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $180,000, 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 536% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
- $177,672 spent. COMMUNITY AND LEARNING: THE LIBRARY SUPPORT NETWORK CONNECTS AND EQUIPS THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDRAISING THROUGH PEER COMMUNITY, CONVENINGS, PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP LEARNING. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE LSN ONLINE COMMUNITY, MONTHLY CONVENINGS, WEBINARS, LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLES, AND THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDRAISING CONFERENCE (IPLFC), WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS, LIBRARY LEADERS, BOARD MEMBERS, AND SUPPORT ORGANIZATION STAFF FROM ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE HAVE ENGAGED THROUGH THE VARIOUS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING 250 CONFERENCE ATTENDEES.
- $52,209 spent. ADVISORY SUPPORT: LSN PROVIDES ADVISORY AND CONSULTING SERVICES TO HELP PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND THEIR FUNDRAISING PARTNERS STRENGTHEN STRATEGY, BOARD LEADERSHIP, ORGANIZATIONAL ALIGNMENT, AND FUNDRAISING READINESS. SERVICES INCLUDE BOARD RETREAT FACILITATION, CUSTOM STRATEGIC PLANNING, AND TAILORED TRAINING FOR ORGANIZATIONS AT KEY MOMENTS OF GROWTH OR TRANSITION. LESSONS FROM THIS WORK INFORM LSN'S BROADER FIELD-BUILDING EFFORTS, HELPING TRANSLATE INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERIENCE INTO PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE FOR THE SECTOR.
- $22,850 spent. FIELD-BUILDING AND COLLECTIVE EFFORTS: LSN LEADS SHARED CAMPAIGNS AND FIELD-BUILDING INITIATIVES THAT HELP PUBLIC LIBRARIES STRENGTHEN FUNDRAISING CAPACITY AND EXPAND AWARENESS OF THEIR VALUE. LIBRARY GIVING DAY PROVIDES FREE CAMPAIGN PLANNING TOOLS, BRANDED TEMPLATES, AND SAMPLE MESSAGING THAT HELP LIBRARIES OF ALL SIZES PARTICIPATE IN A SHARED DAY OF GIVING AND BUILD DIGITAL FUNDRAISING PRACTICES. LSN ALSO ENGAGES PHILANTHROPIC FUNDERS AND SECTOR PARTNERS TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDING NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT.
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 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 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 2025.
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.