The Free Books a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The purpose of the Free Books Project is the distribution of free books celebrating the joy of reading and promotion of literacy initiatives in communities with limited access to books
- Income
- $124,052
- Spending
- $90,849
- Reserves
- 15 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Highest pay
- $12,000, executive director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending October 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)
- $19,238 spent. Pop-Up Libraries PULs Three days each week we set up tables as mobile book give-away stations in high-traffic locations--the Walter Rand Transportation Center Cathedral Kitchen and outside a methadone clinic--in Camden New Jersey--and give away books to those who might not otherwise have access to literature We also host Pop-Up Libraries at community events hosted by partnering organizations PULs are manned by members of our organization and community volunteers We serve approximately 500 people per month PULs is the original program of The Free Books Project formerly Camden County Pop-Up-Library and has been continuously maintained by Tom Martin our founder and Executive Director since the start in 2017
- $26,704 spent. Book Arks Book Arks are semi-permanent wooden structures painted by local artists installed in high-traffic low-income neighborhoods and stocked with free books by our book ark manager or volunteer local book ark stewards We currently maintain about 150 Book Arks throughout the region most concentrated in Camden with some in Lindenwold Willingboro Philadelphia and a few scattered throughout Atlantic City Bridgeton Newark and Trenton Labor to build and install the arks is donated and we pay local artists to decoratively paint each ark inspired by the location it will be installed We give away about 100000 books annually through the arks
- $25,512 spent. Kids Alley Twice a month we visit a local after-school program to host story-time and other literacy-related programming to promote and celebrate the joy of reading This serves about 15 kids per event Examples of programming include Local author visit - author comes and reads to the students and we purchase books from the author so each kid goes home with their own new copy Book Read Discussion read together and have the kids talk about what they liked what surprised them or what new words they learned Career Theme Day Use books about different jobs and let the kids share what they want to be when they grow up I Spy Game Hide objects or pictures from the story around the room or on paper and have them find them based on clues Its great for patience word recognition and attention Scavenger Hunt Word Search Something simple tied to the storys theme which gets them moving and thinking at the same time Story Drawing Sharing Have the kids draw their favorite scene or character after the story and explain why they picked it
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending October 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending October 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.