King County Library System Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Accessibility and Inclusion programs were granted approximately $370,000. This set of programs advance DEI in our communities in a number of ways. First, Writers of Color Author Series a series of online programs featuring high-profile BIPOC authors. A BIPOC community leader from King County moderates each event. Next, Connect: Wi-Fi Hotspots and Laptops program makes internet access available to people who would not otherwise be able to access it by distributing laptops and hotspots to partner agencies that serve people who are experiencing housing insecurity, as well as low-income seniors, immigrants, refugees, and students. Connecting Older Adults Online program takes a holistic approach providing learning opportunities that build the digital skills necessary in todays world, and art and humanities activities that are necessary for emotional well-being as people age. Older adults and caregivers are served through 40 online digital literacy classes, 100 online arts classes, and an online author series. The LGBTQIA+ Intergen Peer Programming a pilot program in which library staff will collaborate with community organizations to develop a framework for designing intergenerational LGBTQIA+ Programming and will host a series of 3 programs based on that framework. Lastly, Memory Labs Funded by a grant from The Mellon Foundation, KCLS will work with community partners during the Memory Lab project to gather, amplify, and preserve the stories of patrons who have been impacted by systemic inequities, and language and cultural barriers.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 98.7%; rating input score 99
• Program expense ratio: 88.2%; rating input score 88
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.99 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd 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: 7 of 7 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: 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: 19.1%; rating input score 76; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 6.88; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.1% per year; rating input score 100; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 8.2% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 11.7% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings