Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library reported $177.5 million in revenue and $172.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $88.47 went to program services, $8.30 to management and general costs and $3.23 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.9% of the total. Government grants made up 92.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $760,670 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 88 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 6% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $172MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $177MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 88.5% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.3% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.2% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 92.2% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $760,670 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.44% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 88 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.4 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 36 of 36 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseNeighborhood libraries:during the FY25 period, Brooklyn Public Library continued to advance several projects through the design process. These self-managed projects included phase ii of the central library branch renovation under its multi-phase master plan; the renovation of the walt whitman library, which will include a new dedicated teen space & new reading garden that reuses the bas reliefs from the former brooklyn heights branch; reconstruction of the canarsie branch with a new building doubling the size of the existing branch that will include dedicated children's and teen areas, with a…
Central library:central library is the largest Public Library in brooklyn. At 352,000 square feet, it accounts for one-third of the library's total physical plant. In march, central library hosted night in the library: the sky above brooklyn: the philosophy of the sublime, an all-night series of events, talks, and performances focused on civic engagement and critical thinking. Guests included astra taylor, red moten, sarah lewis, and many others.(continued on schedule o)once again, central hosted the brooklyn robotics league (brl) finals in january 2025. Brl hosted 15 teams participating in…
Special programs:bpl offers programs for people of all backgrounds and ages. In addition to the branch programs described above, bpl hosts teen tech time and homework help sessions, citizenship and hse test preparation, career and business development resources, free cultural events, and much more. A representative sample of our special programs:bookmatchprovides patrons with reading lists specially curated by bpl librarians.(continued on schedule o)bklyn incubator supports and funds the development of new initiatives by librarians and staff, with training and mentoring on program design…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $697,188 | $0 | $63,482 | $760,670 |
| EVP FINANCE/CFO Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $279,960 | $0 | $83,341 | $363,301 |
| CHIEF LIBRARIAN Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $262,879 | $0 | $80,335 | $343,214 |
| VP OF FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $239,379 | $0 | $75,042 | $314,421 |
| TEAM COORDINATOR CUSTODIAN/MAINTAINER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $242,057 | $0 | $66,812 | $308,869 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $242,477 | $0 | $57,682 | $300,159 |
| VP OF ARTS AND CULTURE Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $259,152 | $0 | $34,807 | $293,959 |
| EVP OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $214,207 | $0 | $71,768 | $285,975 |
88 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Brooklyn Public Library (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.9M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b36 · 36 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 51,521
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,124
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| GILBANE BUILDING COMPANY Construction | $2,532,195 |
| SHAWMUT WOODWORKING & SUPPLY Construction | $2,238,890 |
| DONNELLY MECHANICAL CORP Hvac contractor | $1,937,319 |
| MODEL OF ARCHITECTURE SERVING Architectural services | $699,314 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 72 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
79 private foundations reported grants to Brooklyn Public Library totaling $2.9M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Brooklyn Public Library's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Brooklyn Public Library, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Brooklyn Public Library spent in FY2025, $88.47 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Anderson UniversityAnderson, SC · revenue $177M · programs 89.2% · FY2025
- American College of SurgeonsChicago, IL · revenue $177M · programs 78.7% · FY2025
- Art Center College of DesignPasadena, CA · revenue $177M · programs 93.6% · FY2025
- Dallas Baptist UniversityDallas, TX · revenue $178M · programs 78.8% · FY2025
- Area Cooperative Educational ServicesNew Haven, CT · revenue $177M · programs 100.0% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Brooklyn Public Library's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Brooklyn Public Library reported that 88.5% of its $172.4 million in expenses went to program services, 8.3% to management and general and 3.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Brooklyn Public Library pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Brooklyn Public Library reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $760,670, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Brooklyn Public Library get its money?
Of $177.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 97.9% came from contributions and grants (including 92.2% from government grants) and 0.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Brooklyn Public Library a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 11-1904261 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202641289349300329 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521279349301527 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401299349302395 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321259349300712 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241229349300904 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141259349302519 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 11-1904261: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.