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Chicago Public Library Foundation

EIN 36-3480353 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1986 AS AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO CONNECTING PRIVATE INVESTMENT WITH INNOVATIVE AND COMMUNITY-RESPONSIVE PROGRAMMING THAT LEVERAGES OUR LIBRARY'S CITY-WIDE FOOTPRINT, RESOURCES, AND COMMITMENT TO LIFELONG LEARNING. IN TRUE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, THIS INFUSION OF PHILANTHROPIC RESOURCES HAS HELPED TO LAUNCH AND SUSTAIN RESOURCES THAT EMPOWER CHICAGOANS OF ALL AGES LIVING AND WORKING IN THE CITY'S 77 NEIGHBORHOODS.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$5.9 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
45 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
11
Volunteers
77
Highest pay
$256,480, president & 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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 45.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 45 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. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    47 of 47 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 (4)
  1. $1.4 million spent. IN A KNOWLEDGE-DRIVEN ECONOMY, EDUCATION CAN OPEN THE DOOR TO JOBS, INNOVATION, AND MORE. YET, FOR MANY CHICAGO STUDENTS, AFFORDABLE OUT-OF-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES REMAIN LIMITED. DONOR-POWERED PROGRAMS SUCH AS SUMMER LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND AFTERSCHOOL HOMEWORK HELP LEVERAGE OUR LIBRARY'S CITY-WIDE 81-BRANCH FOOTPRINT, RESOURCES, AND COMMITMENT TO LIFELONG LEARNING TO HELP ENSURE THAT ALL OUR CITY'S CHILDREN HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO THRIVE EARLY IN LIFE AND BEYOND.
  2. $1.6 million spent. CHICAGO'S WORLD-RENOWNED ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR FUELS CREATIVE, ECONOMIC, AND INNOVATIVE GROWTH. BUT MANY CHICAGOANS ARE SHUT OUT FROM THE HOLISTIC BENEFITS OF THE ARTS DUE TO HIGH COSTS. OUR CITY, IN TURN, MISSES OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ELEVATED AND ENRICHED BY THE INCLUSION OF DIFFERENT VOICES AND VIEWPOINTS. THESE PROGRAMS INVITE ALL CHICAGOANS TO EXPLORE WAYS OF EXPRESSING THEMSELVES AND IMAGINING NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR THEIR LIVES, THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND CHICAGO.
  3. $613,832 spent. WITH ONLINE LEARNING, TELEHEALTH, SERVICES, AND REMOTE EMPLOYMENT ON THE RISE, INTERNET ACCESS AND DIGITAL LITERACY ARE MORE VITAL TODAY THAN EVER BEFORE. YET, MANY ADULTS AND OLDER ADULTS LACK THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO NAVIGATE OUR DIGITAL WORLD. THESE PROGRAMS WORK TO BRIDGE THIS SKILL AND RESOURCE GAP KNOWN AS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE THROUGH USER-FRIENDLY VIDEO-BASED MODULES ON CHICAGO DIGITALLEARN AND ONE-TO-ONE DIGITAL LITERACY LESSONS WITH A TRAINED DIGITAL NAVIGATOR.
  4. $264,929 spent. OTHER PROGRAMMATIC EXPENDITURES INCLUDE BRANCH PROGRAMS AND OTHER LIBRARY PROGRAMS THAT ARE HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

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 July 1987.

    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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