Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
237351482
IRS 990 coverage
2013–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-N 2010
Location
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Phone
2155674569
Rating
86
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate

Reported finances

Revenue
$147,942
Expenses
$230,293
Assets
$1,195,778
Liabilities
$9,551

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

8 people listed

People named in this filing

  • YVETTE HILL ROBINSON (CO-CHAIR OF)
  • LINDA COLWELL-SMITH (CO-CHAIR OF)
  • MYRA PARKER (TREASURER)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Friends of the free library of philadelphia, inc. (the organization), founded in 1973, is an independent, nonprofit organization that supports the 54-branch free library system by establishing and assisting a network of neighborhood-based friends groups who strengthen and steward their local library; advocating for stable, equitable and significant library services for the city of philadelphias children and adults.

What it reported doing in 2024

Community outreach and friends groups as the umbrella organization to 54 affiliate library friends groups, the community outreach programs function is to establish new groups and build the capacity of existing groups by recruiting and training volunteer leaders who are committed to assisting their local library branch through the purchase of books and other materials, and the sponsorship of relevant educational programs. Open, well-functioning and highly utilized libraries are modern day community centers that provide public computers and free world-wide web access, and act as safe havens for children and youth and learning centers for new americans and job-seekers. Libraries help stabilize neighborhoods, especially those at-risk. Through training, enhancement techniques and technical support, the organization builds leaders by assisting friends groups to develop the civic and organizational skills needed to effectively set and meet their goals to promote, advocate for, and expand library services. The organizations 2009 publication library friends; a best practices manual, provides an operational guide for groups of all capacities in order to aid and increase their activities and stewardship. Book program the book corner continues as a vibrant hub to receive and resell good quality books at modest prices in support of the mission of the organization. The organization and groups of neighborhood stewards, in collaboration with the free library of philadelphia, will continue to emphasize and advocate for cutting edge services; and continue to educate citizens and elected officials - enhancing their understanding of the value of the public library in the life of the city of philadelphia and the region.

Operating model

Revenue model
Earned-program. 78% of the money available for current operations came from fees and other program revenue.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Expenses are high relative to revenue and program spending has declined or grown slowly.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 86
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 94
  • Sustainability: 40
  • Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 90%; rating input score 90
  • 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

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 6 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 86
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -55.7%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.19; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -3.3% per year; rating input score 0; 20th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 5.2% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 15.6% per year; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 90% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 8 of 8 board members independent · 6 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $207K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 8 people listed
  • Consistency: 21 of 21 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 11 filing years from 2013 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 5/100.
  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Document-retention policy not reported.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 47/100.