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Open Library Foundation

EIN 81-4396672 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION SEEKS TO ENABLE AND SUPPORT COLLABORATION AMOUNG LIBRARIANS, TECHNOLOGISTS, DESIGNERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND VENDORS TO SHARE EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES AND TO CREATE INNOVATIVE NEW SOFTWARE AND RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT LIBRARIES.

Income
$843,542
Spending
$752,245
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    12 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

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. $471,427 spent. FOLIO : FOLIO IS A COLLABORATION OF LIBRARIES, DEVELOPERS AND VENDORS BUILDING AN OPEN SOURCE LIBRARY SERVICES PLATFORM. IT SUPPORTS TRADITIONAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONALITY AND CAN BE EXTENDED INTO OTHER INSTITUTIONAL AREAS. FOLIO INSTITUTED A MEMBERSHIP MODEL IN FY22, ATTRACTING 32 PAID INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS IN ITS FIRST YEAR, FOR TOTAL MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS OF $295,000. A DOZEN INSTITUTIONS IMPLEMENTED FOLIO IN THIS TIME PERIOD, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO NEARLY 50 ACROSS THE WORLD IN EUROPE, NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA, AND ASIA. THREE MAJOR RELEASES WERE COMPLETED. ELECTIONS FOR FY25 FOR THE COMMUNITY, PRODUCT, AND TECHNICAL COUNCILS WERE SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT.
  2. $188,284 spent. WOLFCON : WOLFCON 2024 MEETING OCCURRED IN SENATE HOUSE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON IN SEPTEMBER 2024.
  3. $3,809 spent. VUFIND : ONE MAJOR AND ONE MINOR RELEASE WERE COMPLETED. A VIRTUAL USER AND DEVELOPER SUMMIT WAS HELD ONLINE AND IN-PERSON IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2024. A REGISTERED SERVICE PROVIDER PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED, AND FIVE ORGANIZATIONS BECAME PROJECT SUPPORTERS DURING THE YEAR.
  4. $10,087 spent. BITCURATOR CONSORTIUM: ENGAGES IN PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT PRACTITIONERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CURATION OF BORN-DIGITAL MATERIALS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF FREE AND OPEN-SOURCE TOOLS. INFORMATION ABOUT AN ACTIVE BITCURATOR CONSORTIUM AFFILIATED PROJECT IS MANAGED THROUGH ITS HOST'S WEBSITE, ACCESSIBLE VIA THE SECTIONS BELOW.

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 April 2017.

    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.