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St Louis County Library Foundation

EIN 43-1863977 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY IS TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO ENRICH MINDS, ENHANCE LIVES AND EXPAND PERSPECTIVES. THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO KEEPING OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM STRONG AND VIBRANT, THEREBY ENSURING A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$4.4 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
0
Volunteers
9

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 101% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

    32 of 32 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $464,980 spent. A GOAL OF THE FOUNDATION IS TO ENRICH THE LIBRARY'S EDUCATIONAL MISSION BY BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER AND PROVIDING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN. E-POP UP LIBRARY, LAUNCHED IN JUNE 2024, IS A COLLECTION OF POPULAR EBOOKS AND EAUDIOBOOKS ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE WHO SCANS A QR CODE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THERE WERE 1,927 CIRCULATIONS IN 2024. THROUGH THE BORN TO READ PROGRAM, THE FOUNDATION HAS PARTNERED WITH SEVEN ST. LOUIS AREA HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE NEW PARENTS WITH A BAG CONTAINING A BOARD BOOK, EARLY LITERACY INFORMATION, A CARD TO RECEIVE A SECOND BOOK, AND TWO CARDINALS VOUCHERS. PARENTS ALSO RECEIVE AN INVITATION TO CELEBRATE THEIR CHILD'S FIRST BIRTHDAY AT THE LIBRARY WHERE THEY WILL RECEIVE A THIRD BOOK. SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2015, THE FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED OVER 136,800 BAGS TO NEW PARENTS. THE SWEET READS BOOKMOBILE BRINGS BOOKS, OTHER LIBRARY MATERIALS, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE SUPPLIES TO NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PATRONS HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO LIBRARIES. PATRONS CAN TAKE HOME DONATED OR LIGHTLY USED BOOKS. COMMUNITY RESOURCE SUPPLIES INCLUDE GUN LOCKS, COVID TESTS, NARCAN KITS, FLOW KITS, AND LOCKING MEDICINE BAGS. IN 2024, OVER 27,800 LIBRARY ITEMS AND 900 COMMUNITY RESOURCE SUPPLIES WERE GIVEN OUT TO PATRONS. ACCESSIBILITY TOOLS ARE ANOTHER NEW ADDITION TO THE COLLECTION TO AID LOW VISION AND BLIND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THESE DEVICES AND KITS INCLUDE VIDEO MAGNIFIERS, TEXT-TO-SPEECH READERS, AND LED LAMPS. THROUGH THE EXCEL ADULT HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM, ST. LOUIS RESIDENTS AGES 25 AND OLDER HAVE THE CHANCE TO EARN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. SINCE 2017, OVER 160 STUDENTS HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM.
  2. $2.8 million spent. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT TO THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE CLARK FAMILY BRANCH AS WELL AS FUNDING FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT.
  3. $479,357 spent. THE FOUNDATION FURTHER PROMOTES READING BY HOSTING EVENTS WITH NOTED AUTHORS. THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION'S AUTHOR SERIES IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST POPULAR AUTHOR SERIES AT ANY PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE COUNTRY, BRINGING IN DOZENS OF AUTHORS AND THOUSANDS OF READERS TO SHARE MEMORABLE AND STIMULATING READINGS AND DISCUSSIONS. THERE ARE SEVERAL AUTHOR SERIES INCLUDING READING GARDEN, GALE MEDICAL ARTS, AND WESTFALL. THESE SERIES HIGHLIGHT AUTHORS WHO FOCUS ON YOUTH/TEENS, MEDICINE, AND POLITICS/HISTORY RESPECTIVELY. THERE WERE 33,000 ATTENDEES IN 2024 ALONE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS FESTIVALS INCLUDING THE STORYTELLING FESTIVAL AND THE TEEN BOOK FESTIVAL. FOR THE 2024 STORYTELLING FESTIVAL, THERE WERE 11,577 ATTENDEES AT 24 PUBLIC PROGRAMS, 39 SCHOOL VISITS, AND 9 SENIOR VISITS. THERE WERE 725 ATTENDEES AT THE 2024 TEEN BOOK FESTIVAL.

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 February 2000.

    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.