Friends of the Multnomah County Library
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FRIENDS OF THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY (FOL) ADVOCATES FOR AND SUPPORTS OUR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC LIBRARY. THE FOL PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AND SPONSORS (CONT'D ON SCH O)
- Income
- $696,182
- Spending
- $478,922
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 32.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 140
- Highest pay
- $43,116, executive di
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 32.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
- $116,394 spent. BOOK SALES FRIENDS OF THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY OPERATES TWO POPULAR BOOKSTORES, THE FRIENDS LIBRARY STORE AND ROSE CITY READS. BOOKS, MEDIA (DVDS, CDS, ETC) AND GIFT ITEMS ARE OFFERED TO MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT THE TWO RETAIL STORES. THE BOOKS ARE DONATED (IN-KIND) TO THE ORGANIZATION FROM INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH THE COMMUNITY WHO TEND TO BE LIBRARY ENTHUSIASTS. THE SUPPORTED LIBRARY ALSO DONATES RETIRED ITEMS FROM ITS INVENTORY. PROCEEDS ARE FUNNELED BACK INTO THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY TO FUND VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO RECEIVES OTHER REVENUE FROM A PARTNERSHIP WITH THRIFTBOOKS, WHO ACCEPTS THE DISCARDED MATERIALS THAT AREN'T QUALITY-WORTHY TO BE RESOLD IN THE STORES.
- $44,068 spent. SPECIALTY/ONLINE SALES: USING DONATED MATERIALS, FRIENDS OF THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY OFFERS ITS MOST VALUABLE BOOKS AND EPHEMERA THROUGH OUR ONLINE SALES PROGRAM WITH AMAZON AND ABEBOOKS. THERE IS ALSO A DESIGNATED SECTION IN OUR STORES WHERE THESE UNIQUE ITEMS ARE SOLD DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC.
- $162,000 spent. LIBRARY GRANTMAKING: FRIENDS OF THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY FUNDS ONGOING PROGRAMMING SUCH AS THE READ4LIFE ADULT SUMMER READING PROGRAM AND LIBRARY WORKERS APPRECIATION WEEK. FUNDING WAS ALSO EXTENDED FOR AN OUTREACH EFFORT THAT PROVIDED MOBILE PHONE POWER CHARGERS FOR PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. FUNDING IS PROVIDED AT THE REQUEST OF THE LIBRARY. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTES ON ALL LIBRARY GRANT REQUESTS.
- (CON'T FROM PART I) ACTIVITIES WHICH ENGAGE PEOPLE WHO VALUE OUR LIBRARY.
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
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 June 2025.
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 September 2017.
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.