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Denver Tool Library

EIN 47-1610698 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE DENVER TOOL LIBRARY (DTL) IS A COMMUNITY-BASED, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO A WIDE VARIETY OF TOOLS, SKILLS, AND RESOURCES FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT, GARDENING, WOODWORKING, AND MORE. WE EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES BY FOSTERING RESOURCE SHARING, SKILL-BUILDING, AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

Income
$625,486
Spending
$633,580
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
13
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$101,562, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 41 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 3 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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. $122,748 spent. TOOL LIBRARY - A COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO PURCHASING EXPENSIVE TOOLS. PROVIDED AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO OVER 5,000 TOOLS FOR OVER 900 MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS, EMPOWERING THEM TO UNDERTAKE HOME REPAIRS, CREATIVE PROJECTS, AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, FOSTERING SELF-RELIANCE AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY VIA RESOURCE SHARING.
  2. $250,961 spent. CLASSES - OFFERED A DIVERSE RANGE OF ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE WORKSHOPS TEACHING PRACTICAL SKILLS IN AREAS LIKE WOODWORKING, METALWORKING, AND HOME REPAIR, BUILDING INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, FOSTERING COMMUNITY LEARNING, AND ENSURING SAFE TOOL USAGE. EMPLOYED OVER A DOZEN LOCAL ARTISTS AS TEACHERS, SERVING OVER 3400 STUDENTS ANNUALLY.
  3. $27,686 spent. OPEN WORKSHOP - PROVIDED SUPERVISED ACCESS TO THE DTL'S INDUSTRIAL-SIZED TOOLS AND LARGER WORKSPACE FOR TRAINED INDIVIDUALS TO WORK ON PERSONAL PROJECTS, FOSTERING SKILL APPLICATION, COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, AND CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LIBRARY'S RESOURCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 June 2016.

    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.

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.