Friends of the Library Montgomery County Md Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO STRENGTHEN, PROMOTE, AND CHAMPION MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES (MCPL).
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 4.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 217
- Highest pay
- $150,732, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 51% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (1)
- $1.2 million spent. FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND, INC. (FOLMC) SUPPORTS MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES (MCPL) AND PROMOTES LIFELONG LEARNING IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD, BY PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING, PROGRAMS, AND MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT TO MCPL TO AUGMENT PUBLIC FUNDING. FOLMC'S PRIMARY SOURCE OF FUNDING COMES FROM THE SALE OF DONATED BOOKS. MAJOR PROJECTS THAT FOLMC HAS SUPPORTED INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:CONTEMPORARY CONVERSATIONS: THIS SERIES BEGAN IN FY17 AND IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MCPL AND FOLMC LED BY THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. THE GOAL IS TO BRING NOTABLE SPEAKERS TO THE COUNTY'S LIBRARIES FOR TIMELY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ISSUES THE COMMUNITY, COUNTY, AND COUNTRY FACE.WORKSHOPS/CLASSES: FOLMC FUNDS THE ADVANCEMENT AND TRAINING FOR THE ENTIRE MCPL STAFF AT AN ANNUAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY WORKSHOP. STAFF SKILLS ARE STRENGTHENED THROUGH TEAM BUILDING AND NETWORKING ACTIVITIES AND AS WELL AS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TECHNOLOGY TRAINING TO BETTER SERVE THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMUNITY.MOSAIC: CELEBRATING DIVERSITY THROUGH CREATIVE WRITING: THIS ANNUAL PROGRAM TARGETS COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PROVIDES A CONSTRUCTIVE OUTLET FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION HIGHLIGHTING THE DIVERSE AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS OF THE STUDENTS. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WRITE ABOUT PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, FAMILY TRADITIONS, OR CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES THROUGH THE FORM OF POEMS, ESSAYS, OR SHORT STORIES. WINNING AND HONORABLE MENTION ENTRIES ARE PUBLISHED INTO AN ANTHOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTED TO THE SCHOOLS AND CATALOGED IN EACH LIBRARY BRANCH. WINNING AND HONORABLE MENTION STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO A RECEPTION IN MAY TO PRESENT FOR ONE MINUTE THEIR WORK, EXPERIENCE A KEYNOTE ADDRESSFROM A SUCCESSFUL AUTHOR, AND INTERACT WITH OTHER STUDENTS WITH SIMILAR INTERESTS. PARTNERS ARE MCPL AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN 2020 THIS PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE WRITING WORKSHOPS AND WAS APPROVED FOR MCPS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.LIBRARY LOVERS MONTH: EVERY FEBRUARY ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE IN ALL MCPL BRANCHES TO CELEBRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF LIBRARIES IN OUR COUNTY. A KICKOFF IS HELD WITH FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN. ALL MONTH LONG, PATRONS AT EVERY BRANCH ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE POSTCARDS DESCRIBING WHY THEY LOVE THEIR LIBRARY.LIBRARY SUPPORTER EVENTS: A VARIETY OF EVENTS ARE HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHICH FOCUS ON SUPPORTING AND CHAMPIONING THE LIBRARY COMMUNITY. ATTENDEES ENGAGE IN NETWORKING, BRAINSTORMING, AND GENERAL PLANNING FOR FUTURE LIBRARY INITIATIVES AND GOALS.BRANCH MCPL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS (FOLMC ALSO SUPPORTS): FOLMC EXCLUSIVELY FUNDS THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. OTHER EVENTS INCLUDE ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLUBS (FOR PATRONS LOOKING TO PRACTICEENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS), BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS, CHILDREN'S STORY TIMES, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS, AND MORE. WE ALSO FUND GRANTS TO MCPL WHICH SUPPORT A VARIETY OF INITIATIVES INCLUDING EARLY LITERACY CENTERS, COMPUTER STATIONS, AND DISCOVERY ROOMS FOR CHILDREN; GO! KITS - TAKE-HOME TECHNOLOGY PACKS WHICH INCLUDE BOOKS, SCIENCE KITS, AND IPADS PRE-LOADED WITH EDUCATIONAL APPS; STEM STATIONS AND VARIOUS OTHER PILOTED TECHNOLOGIES AND SOFTWARE.USED BOOKSTORES AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES: FOLMC OPERATES TWO AWARD-WINNING USED BOOKSTORES THAT PROVIDE QUALITY, GENTLY-USED MATERIALS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES TO CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE COUNTY. THE BOOKSTORE REVENUE SUPPORTS FOLMC PROGRAM EXPENSES AND FUNDS OTHER MCPL PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. OUR BOOKSTORES SERVE AS COMMUNITY STAPLES AND ARE HIGHLY REGARDED FOR HAVING A VARIETY OF QUALITY MATERIALS AND KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. ALSO OPERATE BRANCH BOOKSALES IN ADDITION TO THE USED BOOKSTORES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1995.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.