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Arts, Culture, Humanities : Libraries, Historical Societies and Landmark Preservation (Grantmaking/Grants Payable)

The Library Foundation

Enhancing our library's leadership, innovation and reach

four stars

93.40

620 Southwest Fifth Avenue Suite 1025
Portland, OR 97204
tel: (503) 223-4008   Web Site
EIN: 93-1190983

Board Leadership
Eva Kripalani
Board Chair

CEO
Merris Sumrall
Chief Executive Officer

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 93.40 four stars
  Financial 93.83 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 93.00 four stars
This rating was published 06/01/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

The Library Foundation enhances Multnomah County Library's innovation and reach, helping the library address emerging community needs through private support. Since 1995, gifts to the foundation have helped the library reach tens of thousands of children at risk of low literacy, breathe new life into aging buildings and buy books that capture hearts and minds.

Last year's accomplishments show just how much a small nonprofit can accomplish in partnership with a strong public library. Supporters helped the library strengthen/expand 13 programs, reach more than 210,000 people and made more than 120,000 books and materials available to children and adults. The foundation and the library work together, in a strong partnership, to determine where private funds can have the greatest impact, particularly for children and families at risk.

The Library Foundation enhances Multnomah County Library's innovation and reach, helping the library address emerging community needs through private support. Since 1995, gifts to the foundation have helped the library reach tens of thousands of children at risk of low literacy, breathe new life into aging buildings and buy books that capture hearts and minds.

Last year's accomplishments show just how much a small nonprofit can accomplish in partnership with a strong public library. Supporters helped the library strengthen/expand 13 programs, reach more than 210,000 people and made more than 120,000 books and materials available to children and adults. The foundation and the library work together, in a strong partnership, to determine where private funds can have the greatest impact, particularly for children and families at risk.

Impact Information

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Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

four stars

93.83

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

93.00

This rating was published 06/01/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 86.3%
  Administrative Expenses 10.2%
  Fundraising Expenses 3.3%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.03
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 5.91
  Program Expenses Growth 4.3%
  Liabilities to Assets 1.8%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by The Library Foundation on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by The Library Foundation on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
The Library Foundation (OR) 93.40 four stars
Chicago Public Library Foundation (IL) 87.52 three stars
Greenwich Library (CT) 87.49 three stars
Friends of the Hennepin County Library (MN) 92.21 four stars
Westerly Public Library and Wilcox Park (RI) 86.29 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $2,392,492
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $5,072
Total Contributions $2,397,564
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $2,397,564
   Other Revenue $326,001
TOTAL REVENUE $2,723,565
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $2,307,937
   Administrative Expenses $264,716
   Fundraising Expenses $86,068
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $2,658,721
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $64,844
   
Net Assets $20,059,481

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
School-age Literacy Programs $779,025 33.8%
Early Literacy Programs $425,857 18.5%
Lifelong Learning Programs $95,202 4.1%

Ratings History
The Library Foundation has received 5 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2019-06 06/01/2020 93.40 four stars
2018-06 07/01/2019 93.53 four stars
2017-06 12/01/2018 95.77 four stars
2016-06 07/01/2017 93.78 four stars
2016-06 06/01/2017 92.78 four stars
2015-06 06/01/2016 95.35 four stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-06 09/01/2015 89.39 three stars
2013-06 06/01/2014 88.76 three stars
2012-06 07/01/2013 89.59 three stars
2011-06 05/01/2012 84.47 three stars
2010-06 11/01/2011 91.26 four stars
2010-06 09/20/2011 88.96 three stars
 
CN 1.0
2010-06 07/01/2011 80.26 three stars
2009-06 08/01/2010 82.89 three stars
2008-06 07/01/2009 95.63 four stars
2007-06 08/01/2008 95.37 four stars
2006-06 03/01/2008 92.30 four stars
2005-06 03/01/2006 80.63 three stars
2004-06 12/01/2005 70.36 two stars
2003-06 04/01/2005 53.79 zero star

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 93-1190983
Name in IRS Master File LIBRARY FOUNDATION INC SERVING THE PEOPLE OF MULTNOMAH COUNTY
NTEE Code A70
NTEE Classification Humanities Organizations
NTEE Type Arts, Culture and Humanities
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (994) Described in section 170(b)1)(a)(vi) of the Code
(92) Literary activities
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date March, 1996
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • June, 2018
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$142,350 5.35% Merris Sumrall Chief Executive Officer

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
The Library Foundation (OR) 93.40 four stars
Madison Public Library Foundation (WI) 90.27 four stars
Westerly Public Library and Wilcox Park (RI) 86.29 three stars
Nantucket Atheneum (MA) 88.49 three stars
Long Beach Public Library Foundation (CA) 90.73 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

The Library Foundation
620 Southwest Fifth Avenue
Suite 1025
Portland, OR 97204
tel: (503) 223-4008
fax: (503) 223-4386
EIN: 93-1190983

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Eva Kripalani
Board Chair

CEO

Merris Sumrall
Chief Executive Officer

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