Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Seattle Public Library Foundation

EIN 91-1140642 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION INSPIRES THE COMMUNITY'S PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT, ADVOCACY FOR, AND PRIDE IN THE LIBRARY.

Income
$35.4 million
Spending
$7.6 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
54.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 78%
Employees
9
Volunteers
29
Highest pay
$210,319, chief financial officer

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. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 54.2 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 79% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 171% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 25 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
  1. $5.8 million spent. THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION REPRESENTED MORE THAN 7,500 DONORS IN 2024 WHO DECLARE THROUGH THEIR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THE LIBRARY IS A TREASURE IN OUR COMMUNITY. DONORS' COLLECTIVE INVESTMENTS ENHANCE THE LIBRARY ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT PUBLIC FUNDING PROVIDES. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS EXPANDING THE LIBRARY'S COLLECTIONS, PROVIDING MORE THAN 54 FREE, EQUITY-BASED PROGRAMS AT LIBRARY BRANCHES, AND SERVICES TO HELP EVERYONE CONNECT TO RESOURCES THAT WILL BETTER THEIR LIVES. PRIVATE SUPPORT ALSO STRENGTHENS THE LIBRARY'S CAPACITY TO INNOVATE AND ADAPT TO CHANGE AND ALLOWS THE LIBRARY TO EXPERIMENT, EVALUATE THE RESULTS, AND INVEST RESOURCES IN AREAS THAT HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT IN CREATING AN EQUITABLE SOCIETY WHERE ALL SEATTLE RESIDENTS CAN THRIVE. IN 2024, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED MORE THAN $6.5 MILLION IN GRANTS AND DIRECT PROGRAM SUPPORT, OF WHICH OVER $5 MILLION WAS IN CASH GRANTS AND SUPPORT TO THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY. THESE GRANTS SUPPORT SIX PATRON SERVICE PRIORITIES: COLLECTIONS AND RESOURCES YOUTH AND FAMILY LEARNING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY AND ACCESS REIMAGINED SPACES AND SEATTLE CULTURE AND HISTORY. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS LIBRARY TRAINING, STAFF DEVELOPMENT, AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES TO HELP KEEP THE LIBRARY A LEADER IN ITS FIELD. THE LARGEST CASH GRANT, OVER $1.8 MILLION, SUPPORTED THE LIBRARY'S COLLECTIONS AND RESOURCES. THESE FUNDS ALLOWED THE LIBRARY TO PURCHASE BOOKS, E-BOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, DVDS, AND MUSIC FOR ALL AGES, AS WELL AS BOOKS AND MATERIALS FOR NUMEROUS LIBRARY PROGRAMS. CURRENTLY, ONE IN EVERY THREE NEW ITEMS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE LIBRARY IS PURCHASED WITH FOUNDATION FUNDS. A GRANT OF OVER $1 MILLION SUPPORTED VARIOUS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING MOBILE SERVICES TO REACH OLDER ADULTS, PRESCHOOL STUDENTS, AND OTHER PATRONS WITH BARRIERS TO VISITING BRANCHES, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ART PROGRAMS TO ENGAGE NONTRADITIONAL LIBRARY AUDIENCES.GRANTS OF OVER $735,000 IN THE TECHNOLOGY AND ACCESS ARENA SUPPORTED UPGRADED TECHNOLOGY, IMPROVED ACCESS TO LIBRARY RESOURCES FOR TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND DIGITAL MEDIA LEARNING PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTED THE LIBRARY'S SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES, GIVING OVER $576,000 IN GRANT FUNDS TO SPONSOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS SUMMER OF LEARNING, HOMEWORK HELP, RAISING A READER, THE GLOBAL READING CHALLENGE, AND OTHER INITIATIVES TO HELP CHILDREN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTED THE LIBRARY'S EFFORTS TO REIMAGINE ITS SPACES TO BETTER SERVE GROWING POPULATIONS WITH GRANTS TOTALING OVER $546,000 IN 2024. GRANTS TOTALING OVER $304,000 WERE PROVIDED FOR SPECIALIZED STAFF TRAINING, STRATEGIC SUPPORT, AND SEATTLE CULTURE AND HISTORY. THE FOUNDATION ADVOCATES FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES THROUGH THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ACTION NETWORK, A GRASSROOTS SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTERS TO CONTACT ELECTED OFFICIALS IN SUPPORT OF INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS. IN 2022, THE FOUNDATION LAUNCHED THE LIBRARY SUPPORT NETWORK (LSN) AS A MODEL FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDRAISING AND ADVOCACY ACROSS NORTH AMERICA TO COMMUNICATE, ENGAGE, AND COLLABORATE FOR PEER SUPPORT, INFORMATION SHARING, AND DEEP LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. THE LSN WAS ENVISIONED TO HELP DEVELOP AND AMPLIFY PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDRAISING AND ADVOCACY WORK. IT IS BUILT ON THE CONCEPT OF CREATING A NETWORK FOR PEER-TO-PEER SHARING AND INITIATIVES FOR COLLECTIVE IMPACT THAT RESULT IN OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES BEING BETTER ABLE TO SUPPORT THE EVER-CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. IT ALSO MAKES RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MANY SMALL AND RURAL LIBRARIES WHICH ARE OFTEN ONLY AVAILABLE TO LARGER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH FUNDRAISING ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS AND RELATED CONFERENCES. AND IT WILL FACILITATE ELEVATING MORE RACIAL DIVERSITY AND SUPPORT ACTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR SECTOR LEADERSHIP. TOTAL OTHER PROGRAM AND ADVOCACY SUPPORT WAS $852,000 IN 2024. IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, THE FOUNDATION HAS HELPED SECURE $572 MILLION IN PUBLIC FUNDING THROUGH THE CITY BUDGET AND LEVY MEASURES.

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 June 1981.

    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.

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.