Friends of the Carpinteria Library

Overview

Mission

The organization helps improve access to literature for children and community members by providing a part time library assistant, purchasing library books and funding after-school performances for children at the library. The organization also pays for the alarm system.

What it reported doing in 2024

The organization operates a used bookstore providing the community with used books at very reasonable prices. Net proceeds fund the carpinteria public library with the library assistant, performances and library books.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 83% of the money available for current operations came from contributions.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The nonprofit carried out 100% of its reported program work directly.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
237075498
IRS 990 coverage
2013–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Headquarters
Carpinteria, CA, USA
Rating
93
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate

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The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. The filing reports that some governance safeguards are missing.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 92
  • Transparency & Controls: 100
  • Accountability: 88
  • Sustainability: 73
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 87.8%; rating input score 88
  • Program expense ratio: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited
  • Public monitoring controls: Limited
  • Public policy transparency: Limited
  • Public financial transparency: Limited
  • Impact reporting controls: Limited
  • Public relationship transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Public governance controls: Limited
  • Zakat policy transparency: Limited

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 14.7%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
  • Operating reserve ratio: 5.27; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 3.4% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 8.2% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 87.8% of revenue deployed · 100% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 14 of 14 board members independent · 5 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $186K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 14 people listed
  • Consistency: 13 of 13 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 12 annual filings from 2013 to 2024