King County Library System Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The King County Library System Foundation promotes literacy, learning, and libraries by providing support beyond public funding for initiatives and resources that enable the King County Library System to better serve the needs of our community.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 62.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 69
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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 62.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 26 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.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (4)
- $507,640 spent. KCLS Summer Reading was granted approximately $226,000. For low-income youth, simple access to books is the main barrier to reading engagement. This annual summer program provides books for all ages and focuses on habituating reading through challenges, incentives, and programs. Approximately $205,000 was granted to support KCLS Library innovation. These programs include Design thinking training, Community Creator, and National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) climate action plan. Collectively, these programs are improving the ability of KCLS to utilize data and technology to better serve its increasingly diverse communities. The other programs funded total approximately $76,000. Agility fund includes one million Reads, Amharic and Tigrignan Storytime, Library Services Platform Research, Regional Retreat, Books to support Author Event and Continuous Imaginative Play Renton Library.
- $411,000 spent. Approximately $411,000 was granted to support Community Services & Outreach. A majority of this amount supported Peers in Libraries, approximately $304,000. This program connects library patrons who have barriers to obtaining basic needs met, are experiencing housing instability or are unhoused, or are living with HIV/AIDS with services and resources to move them toward stability and improved health. KCLS Extending Services to People Experiencing Homelessness program, increases access for people who experience barriers to utilizing library buildings and programs due to housing instability. This program brings library resources and programs to community locations such as tent cities, shelters, day centers, treatment clinics, food banks, and subsidized housing. Services include book distribution, hotspot lending, activity kits, referrals to public benefits, and early literacy programs. Services to patrons experiencing food insecurity program provides books and programming to ten food bank locations across our service area. each location receives $1,000 stipend for programming that includes story times, food literacy, and community resource navigation. The Welcoming Centers programs goal is to facilitate connections and create communities of belonging among immigrants, refugees, and new arrivals. It functions as a point of connection, a suite of wraparound services, and a resolution that all libraries are places of belonging.
- $370,000 spent. Accessibility and Inclusion programs were granted approximately $370,000. This set of programs advance DEI in our communities in a number of ways. First, Writers of Color Author Series a series of online programs featuring high-profile BIPOC authors. A BIPOC community leader from King County moderates each event. Next, Connect: Wi-Fi Hotspots and Laptops program makes internet access available to people who would not otherwise be able to access it by distributing laptops and hotspots to partner agencies that serve people who are experiencing housing insecurity, as well as low-income seniors, immigrants, refugees, and students. Connecting Older Adults Online program takes a holistic approach providing learning opportunities that build the digital skills necessary in todays world, and art and humanities activities that are necessary for emotional well-being as people age. Older adults and caregivers are served through 40 online digital literacy classes, 100 online arts classes, and an online author series. The LGBTQIA+ Intergen Peer Programming a pilot program in which library staff will collaborate with community organizations to develop a framework for designing intergenerational LGBTQIA+ Programming and will host a series of 3 programs based on that framework. Lastly, Memory Labs Funded by a grant from The Mellon Foundation, KCLS will work with community partners during the Memory Lab project to gather, amplify, and preserve the stories of patrons who have been impacted by systemic inequities, and language and cultural barriers.
- $253,000 spent. Approximately $253,000 was granted to support Lifelong Literacy & Learning Programs. These programs include Raising a Reader, Supporting Grade Level Reading, and Study Zone. Raising a Reader is a nationally recognized caregiver engagement and book delivery program, built upon research showing that childrens literacy increases when families are engaged in a regular reading routine and have access to high-interest books that are developmentally appropriate with diverse representation. Through partnerships with other agencies, we connect directly with high-priority audiences. KCLS provides developmentally appropriate and diverse books for young children and their families, which are distributed through community partners each week. Supporting Grade Level Reading OTTER & Sasquatch Award. A program that helps reluctant and eager readers alike develop and strengthen their love of reading by offering fun books, engaging activities, and the voice to vote for their favorite books of the year. Book sets are distributed using an equity lens prioritizing schools that are under-resourced. StudyZone, a volunteer-led program providing learning support in a consistent and positive environment allowing students to receive tutoring in all subjects. It also gives English language learners the opportunity to practice English conversation and reading with their peers and get homework help from tutors who speak a wide range of languages.
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
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 2024.
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 May 1995.
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.