Passes our checks

Sonoma County Public Library Foundation

EIN 68-0137105 · Santa Rosa, CA

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

What it says it does

EMPOWERING THE SONOMA COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM THROUGH FINANCIAL ENRICHMENT, COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, AND ADVOCACY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 73 out of 100.

Reserves
28 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 10.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 119% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15
Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 86 out of 100.

Independent board
25 of 25
10 of 10 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.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15
Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$2.4 million spent. AS PART OF ITS MISSION, THE SONOMA COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION (SCLF) RAISES AND DONATES FUNDS TO THE SONOMA COUNTY LIBRARY. SONOMA COUNTY HAS 14 LIBRARIES THAT SERVE OVER 2 MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR. MOST RECENTLY, THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN RAISING THE $3.6 MILLION NEEDED FOR THE COLLECTION, FURNITURE, FIXTURES, AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO BRING ALIVE THE ROSELAND REGIONAL LIBRARY CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION. THE LIBRARY IS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN EARLY SPRING 2027. IN ADDITION TO THE ROSELAND CAMPAIGN, THE FOUNDATION RECEIVES AND MANAGES CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ALL THE BRANCHES AND SELECTED INITIATIVES IN THE SYSTEM. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED $100,000 TO JUMPSTART PUBLIC EDUCATION REGARDING THE ULTIMATELY SUCCESSFUL VOTER ADOPTION OF MEASURE W, THE EXTENSION OF THE SALES TAX IN SUPPORT OF SCL OPERATIONS. DEDICATED TO ITS CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE SCL, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED FUNDS TO BRING TOGETHER THE 300+ EMPLOYEES FOR ALL-HANDS STAFF TRAINING DAY. IN CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, THE SCLF LAUNCHED A PROGRAM IN CONCERT WITH THE SANTA ROSA SYMPHONY IN WHICH THE SYMPHONY PERFORMS IN VARIOUS BRANCHED THROUHOUT THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. THE SCLF IS A CHAMPION IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE LIBRARY AND HAS ESTABLISHED ADVISORY BOARDS AND AN ADVOCACY ALERT NETWORK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

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