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Association of Research Libraries

EIN 52-0784198 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPOWER AND ADVOCATE FOR RESEARCH LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES TO SHAPE, INFLUENCE, AND IMPLEMENT INSTITUTIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL POLICY. WE DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS AND ENABLE STRATEGIC COOPERATION AMONG PARTNER INSTITUTIONS TO BENEFIT SCHOLARSHIP AND SOCIETY.

Income
$8.6 million
Spending
$8.7 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
36
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$362,423, executive director - cni

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

    11 of 11 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. $1.7 million spent. MEMBER EXPERIENCE:PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES AIMED AT 1) ENGAGING MEMBER INSTITUTIONS, THEIR LEADERSHIP, AND STAFF IN THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF ARL AND 2) HIGHLIGHTING THE VALUE AND IMPACT OF RESEARCH LIBRARIES. THESE PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AND EVENTS, COMMITTEE WORK AROUND VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND ISSUES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS (E.G. POSITION PAPERS, OP-EDS, VIDEO CONTENT) THAT HIGHLIGHT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF RESEARCH LIBRARIES TO THEIR PARENT INSTITUTIONS AND TO THE BROADER RESEARCH ENTERPRISE.
  2. $1.4 million spent. CNI - CORE FUNCTIONS:TO SUPPORT THE TRANSFORMATIVE PROMISE OF DIGITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCHOLARLY COMMUNICATION AND THE ENRICHMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PRODUCTIVITY.
  3. $1.2 million spent. DATA AND ANALYTICS:PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF EVIDENCE (FOR SENIOR DECISION MAKERS) THAT CAPTURES AND DEMONSTRATES THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND IMPACT OF RESEARCH LIBRARIES ON RESEARCH, TEACHING, AND LEARNING.
  4. $3.3 million spent. ADVOCACY & PUBLIC POLICY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, SCHOLARS AND SCHOLARSHIP, AND ARL ACADEMY.

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 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 March 1963.

    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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