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Louisville Free Public Library Foundation Inc

EIN 61-0969361 · Louisville, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF THE LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
6
Volunteers
37
Highest pay
$162,004, 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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 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 (2)
  1. $4.1 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O
  2. IN FY25, THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION PROVIDED $3.9 MILLION IN DIRECT PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY (LFPL), WHICH OFFERS FREE, YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES AT 18 LIBRARY LOCATIONS. ONGOING PROGRAMS THAT ARE UNDERWRITTEN, IN PART, BY THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION RANGE FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS (STORYTIME, 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN CHALLENGE, ETC.), TO ACT/SAT PREPARATION FOR TEENS TO ADULT BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS, AUTHOR EVENTS, SHORT COURSES ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS, IMMIGRANT SERVICES SUCH AS CITIZENSHIP STUDY GROUPS AND ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLUBS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS AND RESOURCES. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION, LFPL OFFERED ANNUAL EVENTS THAT INCLUDED THE HOW-TO FESTIVAL, SUMMER READING, AND THE "BOOKS AND BREWS" ADULT WINTER READING PROGRAM. PATRONS ALSO HAD FREE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, INTERNET, AND LFPL'S ONLINE RESOURCES THAT INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL PLATFORMS SUCH AS LINKEDIN LEARNING. IN FY25, THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION SUCCESSFULLY GRANTED FUNDS TO LFPL, ALLOWING THEM TO: IMPLEMENT THE 2025 SUMMER READING PROGRAM, WHICH HELPED 37,669 YOUTH TO READ 400,000 BOOKS AND ENGAGE IN 1,600 PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY LIBRARIANS FOR FAMILIES ACROSS THE LFPL SYSTEM. COMPLETE RENOVATIONS AND REOPEN THE PARKLAND AND PORTLAND LIBRARIES. BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AT THE HISTORIC MAIN LIBRARY AND CONTINUE CONSTRUCTION ON THE FERN CREEK LIBRARY. THROUGH ITS ONE LIBRARY, ONE LOUISVILLE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION PROVIDED OVER $3.1 MILLION TOWARD THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS. GROW THE LIBRARY'S REVOLVING COLLECTION AND EXPAND LFPL'S "FOREVER BOOK" OUTREACH INITIATIVE. A $225,000 ANONYMOUS GIFT PROVIDES 78,000 NEW BOOKS FOR CHILDREN ACROSS 25 LOUISVILLE ZIP CODES. LAUNCH A NEW MOBILE PUPPETRY PROGRAM BASED AT THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL LIBRARY. THIS LITERATURE-BASED INITIATIVE WILL FEATURE ROTATING PUPPET SHOWS AND HANDS-ON STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS AT BRANCHES AND COMMUNITY SPACES ACROSS LOUISVILLE. PURCHASE 50 SENSORY KITS DESIGNED FOR THE NEURODIVERSE YOUTH, OFFERING FAMILIES HANDS-ON, SENSORY-FRIENDLY TOOLS THAT PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT, ENRICHMENT, AND COMFORTABLE EXPLORATION BOTH IN THE LIBRARY AND AT HOME. THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION ALSO CONTINUED ITS COMPREHENSIVE ADVOCACY AND ENGAGEMENT WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND LOCAL CITIZENS AND BUSINESS TO EDUCATE AND INFORM THEM ON THE RESOURCES AND MANY FREE SERVICES OFFERED AT THE LFPL.

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

  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 June 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 July 1980.

    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.