Jefferson County Library Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Literacy and reading the annual summer reading program promotes reading for children and teens throughout the summer months so they don't lose their literacy skills - something known in educational circles as the "summer slide". The program also encourages parents and other adults to participate and serve as reading role models. Schools are also part of the program, and jclf provides cash prizes to five jeffco schools (ranging from elementary to high school) for the student population that reads the most number of minutes furing the eight-week program. Early childhood literacy jclf helps support various programs under this umbrella, including: raise a reader, 1,000 books before kindergarten and babies first books. Raise a reader provides a series of library-sponsored events and activities that encourage parents and caregivers to sing, write, read, play and talk - activities that engage and encourage children to gain essential early literacy skills. 1,000 books before kindergarten is a year-round program for children ages 0-5, and one that promotes pre-reading abilities (by having families read together) and assists parents/caregivers in selecting appropriate reading materials and in serving as their child's first teacher. Babies first books is an early literacy program aimed at new and first-time parent in jeffco. Free books of nursery rhymes (in english and spanish) are distributed via hospitals, wic, health clinics, etc., with a goal to encourage reading to infants as a way to develop a child's comprehension of language and a way to promote the special bond between parents and babies.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 98.5%; rating input score 99
• Program expense ratio: 69.9%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.76 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• 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: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -7.5%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.15; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.34; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 13.2%; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.9% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.4% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings