Nashville Public Library Foundation
Nashville Public Library Foundation reported $14.2 million in revenue and $4.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $67.36 went to program services, $13.71 to management and general costs and $18.93 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 87.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $164,893 (PRESIDENT). 1 person received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 231% 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 $4.7MFor 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 $14MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 67.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.7% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 18.9% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 87.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $164,893 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.49% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 98.7 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 31 of 31 | 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 expenseBegin bright is Nashville Public Library's early literacy campaign to set children up for kindergarten reading success through a groundbreaking transformational plan. Npl's approach includes delivering a "little library and corresponding resources to every childcare center in the county, providing in-person and on-demand digital trainings for parents and teachers, and enlisting a national research organization to study the impact over four years, creating an actionable, measurable model that will transform the early literacy landscape. Based on the success of the bringing books to life model…
Limitless libraries started in 2009 as a pilot project led by former mayor karl dean to provide metro Nashville Public (mnps) high schools with access to Nashville Public Library books and materials. Today, limitless libraries (ll) ensures students and educators have access to the best educational resources and library connections. Ll provides 81,000+ students and 5,000+ educators with access to over 2.3 million items at npl through automatic account creation, digital resources, collection development, and outreach support. The access provided eliminates transportation barriers by delivering…
In fye25 nplf contributed nearly $30,000 towards the votes for women exhibit at the main library, which tells the pivotal and dramatic story of nashville's role in winning women the right to vote with the passage of the 19th amendment. Courtyard concerts entertained attendees with free music by diverse local performers. The foundation also supports a diverse array of programming at each of the 21 branch locations including studio npl, a makerspace focused on steam initiatives, be well at npl that offers free fitness, nutrition and other health programs at the library, adult literacy…
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 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,053 | $0 | $10,840 | $164,893 |
1 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Nashville Public Library Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $165K (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–1b31 · 31 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 514
- Volunteers Part I, line 6153
Private foundation grants it received
36 private foundations reported grants to Nashville Public Library Foundation totaling $749K 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 Nashville Public Library Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Nashville Public Library Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Nashville Public Library Foundation spent in FY2025, $67.36 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Building Equity Sooner for TomorrowGreenville, SC · revenue $14M · programs 100.0% · FY2025
- Delaware State University FoundationDover, DE · revenue $14M · programs 98.3% · FY2025
- The Howard SchoolAtlanta, GA · revenue $14M · programs 70.8% · FY2025
- Seton Home Study SchoolFront Royal, VA · revenue $14M · programs 93.4% · FY2025
- Cornerstone Classical AcademyJacksonville, FL · revenue $14M · programs 99.3% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Nashville Public Library Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Nashville Public Library Foundation reported that 67.4% of its $4.7 million in expenses went to program services, 13.7% to management and general and 18.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Nashville Public Library Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Nashville Public Library Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $164,893, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Nashville Public Library Foundation get its money?
Of $14.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 87.9% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Nashville Public Library Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 62-1681766 as a 501(c)(3) organization (supporting organization, type iii functionally integrated), 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 202523359349300032 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202403589349301100 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401369349310335 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202213549349300216 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202103449349300720 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202043589349300024 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 62-1681766: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.