Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

California State Library Foundation

EIN 94-2787115 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY FOUNDATION IS THE INDEPENDENT PHILANTHROPIC PARTNER OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY IN STRENGTHENING INFORMATION RESOURCES WHICH ENRICH THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF CALIFORNIA AND ITS PEOPLE.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$550,136
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 81%
Employees
4
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$122,063, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 65% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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, 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. $66,211 spent. WE PURCHASED COLLECTIONS AND SUPPLIES, SUCH AS LIBRARY CARTS, FOR SUTRO LIBRARY AND OTHER STATE LIBRARY DEPARTMENTS.
  2. $55,986 spent. CALIFORNIA RESEARCH BUREAU'S HOMELESS YOUTH PROJECT - WE INFORMED STATE AND LOCAL POLICY MAKERS ABOUT ISSUES CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF HOMELESS AND RUNAWAY YOUTH. HELD POLICY EVENTS AND PUBLISHED POLICY RESEARCH REPORTS ON ISSUES CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF HOMELESS AND RUNAWAY YOUTH.
  3. $96,597 spent. OUR QUARTERLY PUBLICATION, BULLETIN, FEATURES INFORMATION ON NEW ITEMS IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY COLLECTION, ESSAYS BY NOTED AUTHORS AND STAFF, UPDATES ON SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, AND EXHIBITS SPONSORED BY THE FOUNDATION.
  4. $144,774 spent. THE BRAILLE AND TALKING BOOK LIBRARY USES THE DONATIONS GIVEN TO THE FOUNDATION TO ENHANCE THE LIBRARY SERVICES FOR CALIFORNIANS UNABLE TO READ STANDARD PRINT. THE CALIFORNIA HISTORY SECTION HOLDS A PREMIER COLLECTION FROM AND ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S RICH HISTORY. ITS VAULTS HOUSE THOUSANDS OF RARE MATERIALS AND ONE-OF-A-KIND PHOTOGRAPHS, LETTERS, AND EPHEMERAL ITEMS. WE SPONSORED EDUCATIONAL EVENT: SACRAMENTO SPEAKER SERIES, TO PROMOTE THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY AND CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY FOUNDATION. WE AWARDED KIBBEY CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY FELLOWSHIP, WHICH SUPPORTS PROJECTS AT THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY BY CURRENTLY ENROLLED COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF ACADEMIC DEGREE SOUGHT, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF FACULTY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 May 1982.

    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.