Illinois Library Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ADVOCATING FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST -1. DEVELOP AND PROMOTE STRONG PUBLIC POLICY RELATED TO LIBRARIES, LITERACY, AND LIFELONG LEARNING;2. DEFEND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION; AND3. INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE VALUE OF LIBRARIES TO SOCIETY.PROMOTING EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION -1. PROVIDE OUTSTANDING PROGRAMS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT;2. SUPPORT THE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CULTURALLY AND RACIALLY DIVERSE WORKFORCE FOR LIBRAIRIES;3. PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY PUBLICATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS; AND4. CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERSHIP.MANAGING THE PRESENT TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE -IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, ILA WILL USE ITS RESOURCES WISELY AND MAINTAIN A FLEXIBLE STRUCTURE THAT PROMOTES THE DIVERSE INTERESTS AND BROAD PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS.
- Income
- $3.8 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 7.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $191,379, excutive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 June 30, 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 (5)
- $700,583 spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE, REACHING FORWARD CONFERENCE, WORKSHOPS, FORUMS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS AND ADVANCE MEMBERS' NETWORKING CAPABILITIES.
- $2.2 million spent. "I-READ AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS - TO DISSEMINATE PRINTED MATTER PROMOTING AND EXPLAINING THE USE OF LIBRARIES FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE "I-READ" PROGRAM PROVIDES SUMMER READING MATERIALS TO LIBRARY DISTRICTS.
- $209,401 spent. MEMBERSHIP - TO PROVIDE JOURNAL AND WEEKLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER TO MEMBERS FOR NETWORKING AND LIBRARY INFORMATION.
- $232,747 spent. PUBLIC POLICY AND AWARDS - TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH A FOCUS ON LIBRARY NEEDS AND DEVELOPMENTS AND TO PROVIDE AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE LEADERS IN THE LIBRARY FIELD FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- AWARDS - TO RECOGNIZE LEADERS IN THE LIBRARY FIELD FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1955.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.