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Library of Michigan Foundation

EIN 38-2611742 · Lansing, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 44% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE, ADVOCATE, AND CONSISTENTLY WORK TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LIBRARY SERVICE TO THE STATE OF MICHIGAN AND ITS RESIDENTS.

Income
$205,494
Spending
$259,451
Spent on programs
44%
Reserves
41.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
1
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$59,975, chief director (ended 01/25)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 41.7 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 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    44% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • 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

    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

    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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (3)
  1. $57,305 spent. MICHIGAN NOTABLE BOOKSTHE MICHIGAN NOTABLE BOOKS PROGRAM PROMOTES THE WORK OF MICHIGAN BOOKS AND AUTHORS. EVERY YEAR THE LIBRARY OF MICHIGAN SELECTS TWENTY OUTSTANDING FICTION AND NON-FICTION TITLES ABOUT MICHIGAN. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES A TOUR OF LIBRARIES BY THE MICHIGAN NOTABLE AUTHORS WHO VISIT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE, ENGAGING RESIDENTS IN READINGS, LEARNING AND DIALOGUE. THE MICHIGAN NOTABLE BOOKS PROGRAM BROADENS PEOPLE'S UNDERSTANDING OF MICHIGAN'S HISTORY AND CULTURE AND RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THE EVENTS AND IDEAS THAT HELPED SHAPE MICHIGAN AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.
  2. $36,831 spent. STATE LIBRARIAN'S INNOVATION FUNDTHE STATE LIBRARIAN'S INNOVATION FUND PROVIDES FUNDING OF INNOVATION PROJECTS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE LIBRARY OF MICHIGAN AND THROUGHOUT THE MICHIGAN LIBRARY COMMUNITY. THIS FUND WILL ENABLE THE STATE LIBRARY TO EXPAND ITS ROLE IN ENCOURAGING EXPERIMENTATION AND INNOVATION IN LIBRARY TECHNOLOGIES AND SERVICES AND ENHANCING EXCELLENCE IN LIBRARY LEADERSHIP.THE LIBRARY OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATION STATE LIBRARIAN'S EXCELLENCE AWARD (SLEA) IS AWARDED TO A LIBRARY THAT EXEMPLIFIES EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE. TWO LIBRARY OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATION CITATIONS OF EXCELLENCE ARE ALSO AWARDED.THE MICHIGAN LIBRARY LEADERS PROGRAMTHE MICHIGAN LIBRARY LEADERS PROGRAM IS A RECOGNITION PACKAGE ESTABLISHED TO HONOR INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE A DEFINED LEVEL OF UNRESTRICTED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE LIBRARY OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATION OVER A ONE-YEAR PERIOD WITH A MULTI-YEAR COMMITMENT.
  3. $19,723 spent. BRAILLE AND TALKING BOOK LIBRARY (BTBL) (ANNA BREWER HOWELL FUND)THIS EXTRAORDINARY MICHIGAN BUREAU OF SERVICES FOR BLIND PERSONS PROGRAM SERVES INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND, VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR ARE PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO HOLD A BOOK OR TURN PAGES. BTBL PROVIDES FULL LIBRARY SERVICE TO ITS USERS BY MAILING BRAILLE BOOKS, TALKING BOOKS (ON DIGITAL CARTRIDGE) AND DESCRIBED VIDEOS. IT ALSO TEACHES PATRONS ABOUT ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY. MORE THAN 1,200 REQUESTS ARE FILLED PER DAY. BTBL CUSTOMERS PARTICIPATE IN THIS LENDING PROGRAM AT ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO THEM, WITH MATERIALS MAILED DIRECTLY TO THEIR HOMES. THE BTBL COLLECTION INCLUDES MORE THAN 12,271 DIGITAL TITLES, 10,615 BRAILLE TITLES AND 650 DESCRIBED VIDEOS. EVENTUALLY THE CIRCULATION OF CASSETTE BOOKS WILL CEASE AND ALL TALKING BOOKS WILL BE PROVIDED IN DIGITAL FORMAT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 September 2025.

    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 October 1985.

    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 November 4, 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.