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Library Foundation Inc Serving the People of Multnomah County

EIN 93-1190983 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY AND CREATES A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR CHILDREN BY SUPPORTING, EXPANDING AND ADVOCATING FOR MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY'S INNOVATIVE AND GROUNDBREAKING WORK. GIFTS, LARGE AND SMALL, MAKE THIS WORK POSSIBLE.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
47.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
9
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$146,637, executive dir.

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 47.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (4)
  1. $530,868 spent. EARLY LITERACY PROGRAMS THAT MOTIVATED FAMILIES TO READ TOGETHER REACHED MORE THAN 100,000 BABIES, YOUNG CHILDREN AND PARENTS. ENGAGING BOOKS, PARENT EDUCATION, AND STORYTIMES ENABLED PARENTS TO BECOME THEIR CHILD'S FIRST, BEST, AND MOST PERMANENT TEACHER. EVERY CHILD A READER REACHED 31,000 YOUNG CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS, SENDING BOOKS HOME IN 30 LANGUAGES, MOTIVATING FAMILIES TO READ TOGETHER AT HOME. STORYTIMES REACHED 52,000 CHILDREN AND PARENTS AT LIBRARY LOCATIONS, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND AT HOME. THE WIC PARTNERSHIP REACHED 20,000 LOW-INCOME MOMS AND CHILDREN WITH LITERACY EDUCATION. DIA DE LOS NINOS ENGAGED 5,000 CHILDREN AND PARENTS WITH BILINGUAL LITERACY PROGRAMS. THE NEW PARENT PROGRAM SENT 4,900 NEWBORNS AND PARENTS HOME WITH LITERACY EDUCATION AND AN INTRODUCTION TO LIBRARY SERVICES.
  2. $342,770 spent. SCHOOL-AGE LITERACY PROGRAMS REACHED ALL K-12 STUDENTS IN 7 SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH BOOKS AND PROGRAMS THAT CEMENT READING SKILLS AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS. SUMMER READING ENGAGED NEARLY 90,000 CHILDREN AND TEENS WITH A FUN INTERACTIVE GAME. LIBRARY CONNECT CONNECTED 115,000 STUDENTS TO LIBRARY SERVICES, INCLUDING RESEARCH CONTENT, HOMEWORK HELP AND TUTORING SUPPORT. 21,000 CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN MORE THAN 30 LANGUAGES WENT HOME WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN THROUGH OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING 300 SITES AT PARKS, FREE LUNCH LOCATIONS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
  3. $1.3 million spent. BUILDING PROJECTS - IN 2020, MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY LAUNCHED A 6-YEAR BUILDING PLAN TO MEET THE 21ST CENTURY NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY BY BUILDING OR EXPANDING 8 LIBRARIES, INCREASING OUR SYSTEM'S SPACE BY NEARLY 60%. THIS YEAR, HOLGATE, MIDLAND, AND NORTH PORTLAND LIBRARIES REOPENED, WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND TEENS ACCESSING CUTTING-EDGE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND INTERACTIVE SPACES MADE POSSIBLE BY DONORS TO THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION. SUPPORT THIS YEAR INCLUDED: INTERACTIVE EARLY LEARNING SPACES ($1,055,500); FLEXIBLE STEAM EQUIPMENT FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS ($89,026); DEDICATED SPACES FOR TEENS TO STUDY, GATHER, AND CONNECT ($39,179); A SECURE OUTDOOR CHILDREN'S GARDEN AT EAST COUNTY LIBRARY ($100,000).
  4. $1.3 million spent. LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS REACHED MORE THAN 30,000 TEENS, ADULTS AND SENIORS LAST YEAR, WITH FREE ARTS, CULTURAL, AND HUMANITIES PROGRAMS, INCLUDING EVERYBODY READS, A COMMUNITY-WIDE READING PROGRAM TRANSFORMED HOW STUDENTS AND ADULTS EXPERIENCE READING, WRITING, AND THE WRITTEN WORD. ($180,118); SUPPORT FOR LIBRARY COLLECTIONS AND LOCATIONS. ($152,524); ADVOCACY SUPPORT FOR FUTURE LIBRARY BALLOT MEASURE ($300,000); STAFF TIME AND PROGRAM SERVICES FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ACTIVITIES ($686,774).

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 October 13, 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 March 1996.

    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 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.