Montclair Free Public Library Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO DEVELOP PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FOR THE MONTCLAIR FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMS, COLLECTION ENHANCEMENT, AUGMENTED SERVICES, CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS THAT EXCEED MUNICIPAL FUNDING.
- Income
- $631,256
- Spending
- $591,726
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 26.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 107
- Highest pay
- $157,332, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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 (3)
- $406,318 spent. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS SUMMER READING, STORY TIMES, COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS, LITERACY INITIATIVES, AND THE OPEN BOOK / OPEN MIND CULTURAL SERIES. MORE THAN 190,000 VISITS TO THE MONTCLAIR PUBLIC LIBRARY TOOK PLACE IN 2025, AND THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT BENEFIT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. WHILE MUNICIPAL FUNDING PROVIDES FOR BASIC LIBRARY SERVICES (STAFFING, UTILITIES, BUILDING MAINTENANCE, ETC.), THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PROGRAMMING AND SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT MAKE OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY TRULY UNIQUE. FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY TO PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS, THE FOUNDATION HELPS EXPAND THE LIBRARY'S REACH AND PROVIDES NEEDED SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
- THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE LIBRARY OF THINGS, ALLOWING LIBRARY PATRONS TO BORROW ITEMS SUCH AS TOOLS, BOARD GAMES, AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. FUNDING FROM THE FOUNDATION ENABLES THE LIBRARY TO OFFER EXPANDED ACCESS TO DIGITAL RESOURCES SUCH AS HOOPLA AND KANOPY AS WELL AS RESEARCH TOOLS LIKE THE EBSCO BUNDLE, FREE TO ALL LIBRARY CARD HOLDERS.
- THE FOUNDATION FUNDS SPECIAL PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE ETUK BOOKMOBILE, WHICH BRINGS A LIBRARY EXPERIENCE TO ALL CORNERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE BOOKMOBILE CAN BE FOUND AT SCHOOLS, SENIOR CENTERS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, EXPANDING ACCESS AND RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS OF THE LIBRARY. THE FOUNDATION ALSO FUNDS THE MUSEUM PASS PROGRAM, MAKING VISITS TO OVER A DOZEN MUSEUMS AVAILABLE TO PATRONS AT NO COST. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FUNDING, THE FOUNDATION PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN RAISING AWARENESS AND ADVOCATING FOR THE MONTCLAIR PUBLIC LIBRARY'S NEEDS IN THE MONTCLAIR COMMUNITY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 December 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 April 2003.
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.
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.