The Queens Borough Public Library
The Queens Borough Public Library reported $171.7 million in revenue and $157.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.41 went to program services, $12.28 to management and general costs and $0.31 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.3% of the total. Government grants made up 95.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $354,933 (COO & SVP). 143 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 15% 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 $157MFor 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 $172MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.3% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.3% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 95.6% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $354,933 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.23% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 143 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 10.2 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 19 | 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 expenseThe Queens Borough Public Library (qpl) employs approximately 1,500 people, with more than 85% living in the five boroughs. As of june 30, 2025, qpl is proud to serve approximately 1.7 million cardholders and maintain a collection of nearly 3.8 million items. During the year, new card registrations increased by more than 11,000 to approximately 115,000, while total circulation grew by 2.2 million to 10.9 million. Total gate count approached 6.6 million, reflecting an increase of 255,000 visits. Computer sessions also rose by 143,000 to nearly 1 million annually, and wi-fi sessions increased…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COO & SVP Officer, 39.2 hrs/week | $266,495 | $5,439 | $82,999 | $354,933 |
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 30.0 hrs/week | $261,781 | $87,260 | $3,127 | $352,168 |
| CHIEF LIBRARIAN & SVP Officer, 38.4 hrs/week | $244,914 | $10,205 | $80,143 | $335,262 |
| CFO & SVP THRU 04/23/2025 Officer, 38.0 hrs/week | $242,296 | $12,752 | $64,213 | $319,261 |
| VP, ITD Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $215,346 | $0 | $81,936 | $297,282 |
| COS & SVP Officer, 32.0 hrs/week | $197,449 | $49,362 | $47,962 | $294,773 |
| VP, RISK MANAGEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $218,666 | $0 | $72,790 | $291,456 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL & SVP Officer, 38.0 hrs/week | $217,715 | $11,459 | $60,627 | $289,801 |
143 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Queens Borough Public Library (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.8M (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–1b19 · 19 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 51,543
- Volunteers Part I, line 6646
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| UNIVERSAL PROTECTION SERVICE Security services | $1,782,897 |
| PRESTIGE PLUMBING & HEATING INC Plumbing services | $1,533,733 |
| KELAIR INC Air condition maintenance & repair | $798,995 |
| APPLIED DESIGN INITIATIVE LLC Design & architect services | $659,778 |
| MAC CONTRACTOR INC Construction services | $596,536 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 26 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
2 private foundations reported grants to The Queens Borough Public Library totaling $350 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 The Queens Borough 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 The Queens Borough Public Library, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Queens Borough Public Library spent in FY2025, $87.41 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Maryville University - St LouisSt Louis, MO · revenue $172M · programs 82.0% · FY2025
- Shenandoah UniversityWinchester, VA · revenue $172M · programs 88.0% · FY2025
- Wheaton CollegeNorton, MA · revenue $171M · programs 90.4% · FY2025
- University of Massachusetts FoundationNewton, MA · revenue $173M · programs 61.1% · FY2025
- Punahou SchoolHonolulu, HI · revenue $171M · programs 83.7% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of The Queens Borough Public Library's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Queens Borough Public Library reported that 87.4% of its $157.3 million in expenses went to program services, 12.3% to management and general and 0.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Queens Borough Public Library pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Queens Borough Public Library reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $354,933, for the role of COO & SVP (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Queens Borough Public Library get its money?
Of $171.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 97.3% came from contributions and grants (including 95.6% from government grants) and 0.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Queens Borough Public Library a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 11-1904262 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 202611189349301011 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501159349301890 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411139349300736 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331119349301423 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221089349300727 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101039349301110 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 11-1904262: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.