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Triangle Research Libraries Network

EIN 85-1016955 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TRIANGLE RESEARCH LIBRARIES NETWORK (TRLN) IS A COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATION OF DUKE UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO MARSHAL THE FINANCIAL, HUMAN, AND INFORMATION RESOURCES OF THEIR RESEARCH LIBRARIES THROUGH COOPERATIVE EFFORTS IN ORDER TO CREATE A RICH AND UNPARALLELED KNOWLEDGE ENVIRONMENT THAT FURTHERS THE UNIVERSITIES' TEACHING, RESEARCH, LEARNING, AND SERVICE MISSIONS.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 75%
Employees
0
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$154,749, executive director thru 04/25

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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.8 million spent. IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT OF A SHARED LIBRARY CATALOG AND OF RESOURCE-SHARING SOFTWARE SYSTEMS AND ACTIVITIES. THE SHARED LIBRARY CATALOG ALLOWS ANY USER AT THE FOUR TRLN MEMBER LIBRARIES TO SEARCH FOR AND REQUEST MATERIALS HELD AT ALL FOUR TRLN MEMBER INSTITUTIONS.
  2. $19,500 spent. MEMBER INSTITUTIONS AND TRLN ALL PAY ANNUALLY TOWARDS A COURIER VAN SERVICE THAT DELIVERS LIBRARY MATERIALS REQUESTED THROUGH THE SHARED LIBRARY CATALOG TO MEMBER CAMPUSES.
  3. $18,949 spent. TRLN ANNUAL MEETING. ON JULY 29, 2024, TRLN HELD A MEETING WITH 292 REGISTRANTS. THERE WAS ONE KEYNOTE SPEAKER, A LEADERSHIP PANEL, AND A VARIETY OF PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS ACROSS A RANGE OF TOPICS FOCUSED ON THE THEMESE OF MENTORSHIP, LIBRARY SYSTEMS MIGRATION (ALMA IMPLEMENTATION), INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND AI. A FULL SCHEDULE AND MORE EVENT INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT HTTPS://TRLN.ORG/EVENT/2024-TRLN-ANNUAL-MEETING.

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 September 2020.

    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.