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Books for Africa
Books for Africa reported $28.6 million in revenue and $31.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $98.82 went to program services, $0.38 to management and general costs and $0.80 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $235,815 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 1 person received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 23% 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 $31MFor context, the median across 469 covered international, foreign affairs & national security charities: $89.04 programs, $8.28 management, $2.68 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 $29MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 98.8% | 86.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 0.4% | 8.0% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.8% | 2.6% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 99.5% | 96.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $235,815 | $341,362 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.76% | 1.06% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 5.5 | 7.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 20 of 20 | 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 expenseBooks for africa sent 162 shipments of approximately 2,851,027 books and digital books with an estimated value of $28,541,996 to 36 african countires. Books for africa receives funds for the shipment of books to africa, and this is the organization's only program. Additionally, books for africa allows donors to target donations to specific countries and provides feedback to donor when books have been shipped to their countries. 99% of total expenses are spent on program related expenses
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $206,366 | $0 | $29,449 | $235,815 |
1 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Books for Africa (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $236K (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–1b20 · 20 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 4No
- 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 519
- Volunteers Part I, line 69,118
Private foundation grants it received
9 private foundations reported grants to Books for Africa totaling $69,843 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 Books for Africa's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Books for Africa, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Books for Africa spent in FY2025, $98.82 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Center for Victims of TortureSaint Paul, MN · revenue $29M · programs 74.4% · FY2025
- Christel House InternationalIndianapolis, IN · revenue $29M · programs 79.1% · 2024
- British Schools & Universities FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $28M · programs 99.7% · 2025
- United Hands ReliefArlington, TX · revenue $29M · programs 93.0% · 2024
- Global Fund for WomenSan Francisco, CA · revenue $28M · programs 77.9% · FY2025
All international, foreign affairs & national security charities · Largest charities in Minnesota
Questions people ask
How much of Books for Africa's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Books for Africa reported that 98.8% of its $31.0 million in expenses went to program services, 0.4% to management and general and 0.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Books for Africa pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Books for Africa reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $235,815, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Books for Africa get its money?
Of $28.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 99.5% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Books for Africa a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 41-1627391 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 202512949349301571 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202423509349300402 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 (amended), object 202333409349300733 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202233359349300318 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202123259349300602 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202013209349301731 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 41-1627391: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.