Seattle Public Library Foundation
Seattle Public Library Foundation reported $10.1 million in revenue and $8.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.35 went to program services, $15.58 to management and general costs and $7.07 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 68.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $237,306 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 33% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $8.3MFor 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 $10MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.3% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.6% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.1% | 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 | 68.1% | 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 | $237,306 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.87% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 3 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 167.6 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 27 of 27 | 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 expenseThe Seattle Public Library Foundation channels the generosity of more than 8,300 donors into direct support for the Seattle Public Library, funding collections, programs, and services above and beyond what public dollars provide. In 2025, the foundation provided more than $6.5 million in funding and direct program support, including over $5.9 million in cash funding and support to the Seattle Public Library, across six patron service priorities: collections and materials, youth and family learning, community engagement and economic development, technology and access, welcoming spaces, and…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $210,207 | $0 | $27,099 | $237,306 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,040 | $0 | $35,291 | $220,331 |
| SR. DIR OF COMMUNICATION & ADVOCACY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $123,475 | $0 | $41,244 | $164,719 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Seattle Public Library Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $458K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
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–1b27 · 27 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 58
- Volunteers Part I, line 628
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MORGAN STANLEY WEALTH MANAGEMENT Investment management | $192,563 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
27 private foundations reported grants to Seattle Public Library Foundation totaling $444K 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 Seattle 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 Seattle Public Library Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Seattle Public Library Foundation spent in 2025, $77.35 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Westminster Christian AcademyOpelousas, LA · revenue $10M · programs 85.1% · FY2025
- Sandhills Independent School CorporationSouthern Pines, NC · revenue $10M · programs 79.1% · FY2025
- Greenwood Christian AcademyGreenwood, IN · revenue $10M · programs 81.6% · FY2025
- South Valley Charter SchoolMorgan Hill, CA · revenue $10M · programs 86.6% · FY2025
- Inspire Charter AcademyEast Baton Rouge, LA · revenue $10M · programs 91.0% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Seattle Public Library Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Seattle Public Library Foundation reported that 77.3% of its $8.3 million in expenses went to program services, 15.6% to management and general and 7.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Seattle Public Library Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Seattle Public Library Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $237,306, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Seattle Public Library Foundation get its money?
Of $10.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 68.1% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Seattle Public Library Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 91-1140642 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 202642589349301854 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502949349301450 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202402639349300725 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202342659349301024 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202222639349300747 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202112669349301246 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202012819349300426 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 91-1140642: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.