Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Urban Libraries Council

EIN 36-3071241 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE URBAN LIBRARIES COUNCIL IS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING AND ADVANCING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES AS DYNAMIC, ACCESSIBLE PLACES FOR OPPORTUNITY, LEARNING AND INNOVATION. WE CONNECT PUBLIC LIBRARY LEADERS AND DRIVE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND URBAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
15
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$413,663, president and ceo

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

Fair: 59 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (5)
  1. $1.6 million spent. MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS: ULC IS AN INNOVATION AND ACTION TANK OF NORTH AMERICA'S LEADING PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS. WE DRIVE CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO ELEVATE THE POWER OF LIBRARIES AS ESSENTIAL, TRANSFORMATIVE INSTITUTIONS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. WE IDENTIFY SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FACING TODAY'S COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOP NEW TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES TO HELP LIBRARIES ACHIEVE STRONGER OUTCOMES IN EDUCATION, WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DIGITAL INCLUSION, AND RACE AND SOCIAL EQUITY.
  2. $1.1 million spent. HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: ULC IS LEADING THE WORK IN GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH AND INITIATIVES THAT ARE TESTING AND ENHANCING NEW WAYS THAT LIBRARIES SERVE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES. ULC'S WORK GENERATES NEW SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS, BEST PRACTICES AND TOOLS OF VALUE TO LIBRARIES. PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROMOTING EQUITABLE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND SERVE AS ESSENTIAL HUBS TO HELP BUILD STRONGER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. IN 2024, ULC LED THE CONVENING YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES INITIATIVE FUNDED BY THE WALMART FOUNDATION AND HUBS FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP FUNDED BY THE EWING MARION KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION.
  3. $459,150 spent. CONFERENCES: ULC'S CONFERENCES AND TRAINING FOCUS ON THE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT CHALLENGE LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
  4. $279,780 spent. EDUCATION: EDUCATION TRANSFORMS THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND IS THE FOUNDATION FOR STRONG, ECONOMICALLY VITAL COMMUNITIES. IN THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY, THE LIBRARY IS THE LEARNING INSTITUTION READY TO GUIDE AND SUPPORT CITIZENS AT EVERY AGE AND LEVEL OF NEED. IN 2024, ULC LED RESEARCH ON THE SCIENCE OF READING AND THE BARBERSHOP BOOKS INITIATIVE FUNDED BY THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES (IMLS).
  5. $99,137 spent. DIGITAL EQUITY: AS WELL-RESPECTED CIVIC INSTITUTIONS AND TRUSTED TECHNOLOGY HUBS, PUBLIC LIBRARIES PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO EQUITABLE DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES. LIBRARIES ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO ASSIST WITH MAKING EQUITABLE CHANGE IN THE DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM AFFORDING PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE. IN 2024, ULC LED RESEARCH ON AI ADOPTION AND THE ROLE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES AS WELL AS ITS NATIONAL BENCHMARKS FOCUSED ON DIGITAL INCLUSION AND EQUITY.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1992.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.