American Library Association
American Library Association reported $40.4 million in revenue and $55.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.56 went to program services, $20.29 to management and general costs and $2.15 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 47.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $253,540 (ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 37 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 21% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $55MFor 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 August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $40MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.6% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 20.3% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.2% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 36.7% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.7% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 47.5% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $253,540 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.46% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 37 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 13.7 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 14 | 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 expenseMutual membership benefit programs, general/other: membership services provided in conjunction with member participation. Personal and organizational members totaled approximately 45,000 as of august 31, 2025
Mutual membership benefit programs, general/other: conferences enable members to keep abreast of the latest technological capabilities, new publications, and trends in the profession. Three major conferences, several national forums, and various institutes were held during the year
Publishing: publishing of trade journals and books to aid the profession. Published trade journals and books on a variety of topics of interest to the profession during the year
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $215,888 | $0 | $37,652 | $253,540 |
| INTERIM ASSOC EXEC DIR (THRU 5/2/25) Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $224,129 | $0 | $24,934 | $249,063 |
| DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $213,139 | $0 | $25,673 | $238,812 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $218,329 | $0 | $15,576 | $233,905 |
| INTERIM EXEC. DIRECTOR (THRU 7/31/25) Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $224,587 | $0 | $0 | $224,587 |
| CHIEF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Key employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $206,311 | $0 | $10,816 | $217,127 |
| DIR OF INFRASTRUCTURE (THRU 7/7/25) Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $157,738 | $0 | $47,356 | $205,094 |
| DIRECTOR OF ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $158,326 | $0 | $31,183 | $189,509 |
37 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from American Library Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.1M (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–1b14 · 14 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5224
- Volunteers Part I, line 66,413
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| VC4 LLC (VISION CREATIVE) Audio visual services | $1,449,450 |
| GLOBAL EXPERIENCE SPECIALIST INC Trade show & exhibitions services | $797,084 |
| FABLEVISION INC Professional services for tm4k kits & di | $457,926 |
| LSC COMMUNICATIONS Printing services | $453,141 |
| BDO USA LLP It consulting services | $446,552 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 39 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
15 private foundations reported grants to American Library Association totaling $3.1M 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 American Library Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for American Library Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 American Library Association spent in FY2025, $77.56 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- University School of NashvilleNashville, TN · revenue $40M · programs 83.1% · FY2025
- California Institute of Integral StudiesSan Francisco, CA · revenue $40M · programs 60.9% · FY2025
- Bethany CollegeBethany, WV · revenue $40M · programs 79.1% · FY2025
- Proverbs 226Concord, NC · revenue $40M · programs 90.8% · 2024
- Project Kitty HawkChapel Hill, NC · revenue $40M · programs 60.8% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of American Library Association's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, American Library Association reported that 77.6% of its $55.0 million in expenses went to program services, 20.3% to management and general and 2.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does American Library Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation American Library Association reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $253,540, for the role of ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does American Library Association get its money?
Of $40.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 36.7% came from contributions and grants (including 1.7% from government grants) and 47.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is American Library Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-2166947 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 August 31, 2025, object 202601839349300110 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202521959349302157 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202401939349301700 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202301929349300935 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202221939349301902 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202111939349301471 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-2166947: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.