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Reuben Mcmillan Free Library Association

EIN 34-6003201 · Youngstown, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF YOUNGSTOWN AND MAHONING COUNTY CONNECTS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES TO RELIABLE RESOURCES THAT INSPIRE LEARNING AND FOSTER ENRICHMENT. THIS MISSION IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH PROVIDING PRINT RESOURCES, MEDIA RESOURCES, COMPUTERS AND FREE WI-FI, AND THROUGH LEARNING FOCUSED ON PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH.

Income
$23.2 million
Spending
$22.5 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
23.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 90%
Employees
224
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$176,166, ceo & executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $12,615 spent. THE 2024 SUMMER DISCOVERY PROGRAM FOCUSED ON ENCOURAGING LITERACY AND LEARNING DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS TO PREVENT THE "SUMMER SLIDE" OF SKILLS, PARTICULARLY READING, THAT CAN OCCUR IN SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WHO AREN'T IN A FORMAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT DURING THOSE MONTHS. PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES WERE CHALLENGED TO COMPLETE READING ACTIVITIES AND ENGAGE WITH THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. LEARNING ACTIVITIES VARIED BY AGE LEVEL AND WERE CORRELATED TO OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONTENT STANDARDS. FOR EXAMPLE, ACTIVITIES LIKE HAVING A DANCE PARTY AND READING A BOOK ABOUT DANCING ENCOMPASSED THE STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LANGUAGE AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT. A FREE BOOK AND OTHER INCENTIVES WERE AWARDED TO THOSE WHO EARNED DAILY POINTS FOR THEIR READING OR ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, PROGRAMS WERE SCHEDULED TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN CONTINUED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION OPPORTUNITIES. PROGRAMS ARE SELECTED TO SUPPORT THE SUMMER DISCOVERY THEME AND MANY ARE PRESENTED BY SUBJECT AREA EXPERTS OR ENTERTAINERS FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR SYSTEM. WE HAD SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT WERE AVAILABLE ALL SUMMER LONG TO HELP ENGAGE YOUTH, TEENS, AND ADULTS IN EXPLORING SCIENCE CONCEPTS, READING, AND SOCIAL CONNECTION. BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM STAFF AND PATRONS, A LARGE CENTRAL KICKOFF EVENT WAS HOSTED AT A LOCAL PARK FOLLOWED BY INDIVIDUAL EVENTS AT EACH BRANCH. THE 2024 SUMMER DISCOVERY PROGRAM FOCUSED ON HELPING READERS ACHIEVE THE COMPLETION GOAL. WE SAW AN 18% INCREASE IN TOTAL REGISTRATION AND WE SAW A 47% COMPLETION RATE AMONG THOSE THAT SIGNED UP.
  2. $20.3 million spent. THE LIBRARY PROVIDES QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF MAHONING COUNTY THROUGH OUR 15 LOCATIONS. MAHONING COUNTY HAS 225,786 RESIDENTS AND 89,527 ARE REGISTERED BORROWERS. FOR MANY RESIDENTS, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS THEIR ONLY SOURCE OF COMPUTERS, INTERNET, AND/OR WI-FI. THE LIBRARY PROVIDES A LARGE NUMBER OF LEARNING PROGRAMS, HOMEWORK SUPPORT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE SUPPORT, AND REFERENCE WORK IN OUR BUILDINGS AND THROUGH OUR WEBSITE. WE ALSO HAVE A LARGE COLLECTION OF BOOKS, MUSIC, MOVIES, AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR CIRCULATION BOTH IN PRINT AND ONLINE AVAILABLE TO OUR CARDHOLDERS. OUR TRAVELING OUTREACH TEAM PROVIDES "POP-UP" LIBRARY SERVICE AND COLLECTIONS OFF-SITE TO VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING SCHOOLS, PARKS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY GATHERING LOCATIONS. OUR SPECIAL DELIVERY PROVIDES SERVICE TO THE HOMEBOUND AND ELDERLY.
  3. $100,714 spent. THE LIBRARY WAS PLEASED TO SEE OVER 108,616 PEOPLE AT A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT 2024. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDED STORY TIMES, STEAM-BASED PROGRAMS, LOCAL HISTORY PROGRAMS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AND OUR VERY POPULAR AND EXPANDING CULINARY LITERACY PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT OUR MISSION TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY TO GROW, TO SHARE, AND TO CREATE. WE PLACED A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON SUPPORTING COVID LEARNING LOSS RECOVERY THROUGH TWO PROGRAM SERIES SUPPORTED BY THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - FIRST LEGO LEAGUE AND KITCHEN LITERACY. THESE PROGRAMS REACHED SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE OVER MULTIPLE COUNTIES IN EFFORTS TO PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.
  4. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 October 1946.

    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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