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Friends of the New Orleans Public Library

EIN 72-6028003 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1957, FRIENDS OF THE NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT NEW ORLEANS HAS AN EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM THAT MEETS THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF ITS COMMUNITY.

Income
$376,755
Spending
$341,980
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
54.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
4
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$60,750, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 54.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    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, 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 (5)
  1. $108,163 spent. THE BEST BUY TEEN TECH CENTER IS AN INTEREST-BASED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR TEENS TO EXPERIMENT AND MASTER VARIOUS NEW TECHNOLOGIES WITH HELP FROM THEIR PEERS AND ADULT MENTORS. THE CENTER IS EQUIPPED WITH TECHNOLOGY AND MULTIMEDIA TOOLS THAT CAN BE USED FOR MUSIC AND VIDEO PRODUCTION, INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING, GRAPHIC DESIGN, AND MORE. THE BEST BUY TEEN TECH CENTER IS DESIGNED TO BE A SAFE, COMFORTABLE, AND ENGAGING SPACE FOR TEENS. MEMBERSHIP IS LIMITED TO YOUTH AGES 1318. MEMBERS MUST COMPLETE A MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND GET SIGNED PERMISSION FROM A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE.
  2. $58,647 spent. FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FUNDING FOR ONGOING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR ALL AGES THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. FNOPL FUNDS PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: EARLY LITERACY, YOUTH AND TEENS, ADULTS AND SENIORS. WORKFORCE AND ADULT EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH, AS WELL AS THE CITY ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND THE REACH CENTER.
  3. $57,071 spent. BOOK SALES AND GIVEAWAYS - FNOPL PROMOTES LITERACY THROUGH ITS ONGOING BOOK SALES. THE BOOK SALES OCCUR ONLINE AND EACH WEEK AT TWO PHYSICAL LOCATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION HAS POPUP BOOK SALES AT VARIOUS COMMUNITY EVENTS. FREE BOOKS ARE GIVEN TO LOCAL TEACHERS, SENIOR CENTERS, THE JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER, AND MORE.
  4. $40,076 spent. READING PROGRAMS/BOOK DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM - THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS ONGOING LITERACY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SUMMER READING, EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY, ADULT LITERACY PROGRAMS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES BILINGUAL BOOKS AND STORY TIME. THE ORGANIZATION GIVES OVER 100,000 FREE BOOKS TO LOCAL SCHOOLS, NURSING HOMES, HOSPITALS, SHELTERS, ETC. AS PART OF ITS MISSION TO GET BOOKS INTO AS MANY HANDS AS POSSIBLE.
  5. $27,009 spent. THE ORGANIZATION CONTRACTS WITH LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY TO OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS TO NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY EMPLOYEES PURSUING A MASTER OF LIBRARY SCIENCE DEGREE.

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 2024.

    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 February 1957.

    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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