Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library reported $13.9 million in revenue and $15.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $98.03 went to program services, $1.31 to management and general costs and $0.66 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 69.0% of the total. Government grants made up 60.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $105,000 (State Director). 1 person received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 375% between 2020 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $15MFor 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
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $14MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 98.0% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 1.3% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 69.0% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 60.2% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 27.8% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $105,000 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.69% | 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 | 9.4 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 9 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseDolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) focuses its efforts on the promotion of early childhood literacy for the general public. DPIL's educational program of providing books to children across all 88 counties within the State of Ohio helps develop the character and capability of young children prior to entering formal schooling through early exposure to high quality, age appropriate books intended to develop a foundation of basic literacy skills needed for reading and writing
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $105,000 | $0 | $0 | $105,000 |
| Executive Director Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $89,024 | $0 | $0 | $89,024 |
1 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $194K (Part IX, line 5).
7 filings since FY2019 (8 mo.)
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b9 · 9 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13No
- Document retention policy Part VI 14No
- 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 56
- Volunteers Part I, line 69
Private foundation grants it received
4 private foundations reported grants to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library totaling $226K 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 Dolly Parton's Imagination 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 Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Dolly Parton's Imagination Library spent in 2025, $98.03 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Honor Society of Nursing Sigma Theta Tau InternationalIndianapolis, IN · revenue $14M · programs 81.9% · FY2025
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- University of Maryland Family Medicine Associates PaBaltimore, MD · revenue $14M · programs 79.4% · FY2025
- Wabash Area DevelopmentEnfield, IL · revenue $14M · programs 97.3% · FY2025
- New Mexico Educational Assistance FoundationAlbuquerque, NM · revenue $14M · programs 54.0% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library reported that 98.0% of its $15.3 million in expenses went to program services, 1.3% to management and general and 0.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Dolly Parton's Imagination Library pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Dolly Parton's Imagination Library reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $105,000, for the role of State Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Dolly Parton's Imagination Library get its money?
Of $13.9 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 69.0% came from contributions and grants (including 60.2% from government grants) and 27.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-1826095 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202632339349300968 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202511429349300606 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403069349301205 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202321949349301537 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202201539349300845 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202111669349301416 · read the filing
- FY2019 (8 mo.): Form 990 for the 8-month short period ending December 31, 2019, object 202042669349301204 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-1826095: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.