Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← THE FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by THE FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA.

Totals

Total revenue
$11,696,527
Total expenses
$14,105,423
Contributions and grants received
$10,054,005
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$299,654
Investment income
$1,006,119
Other revenue
$336,749
Total assets, end of year
$46,623,503
Total liabilities, end of year
$3,770,382
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$42,853,121
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$10,162,329
Management and general expenses
$1,898,985
Fundraising expenses
$2,044,109
Program service expenses (Part III)
$10,162,329

Program services were 72.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $304,000

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $3,764,441

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $5,985,564

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $167,473

  • 2a · Program service revenue: LECTURE SERIES

    total $261,348 · related or exempt $261,348

  • 2b · Program service revenue: FREE LIBRARY SERVICES

    total $28,197 · related or exempt $28,197

  • 2c · Program service revenue: SALES-BOOKS & PUBLIC

    total $8,283 · related or exempt $8,283

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $1,826 · related or exempt $1,826

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,006,119 · excluded $1,006,119

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $203,985 · excluded $203,985

  • 11a · Other revenue: VENDED SYSTEMS

    total $100,610 · excluded $100,610

  • 11b · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME

    total $32,154 · excluded $32,154

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $132,764

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $930,099 · program services $480,083 · management and general $295,391 · fundraising $154,625

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $3,077,618 · program services $1,581,284 · management and general $982,659 · fundraising $513,675

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $109,872 · program services $61,863 · management and general $31,185 · fundraising $16,824

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $251,128 · program services $141,396 · management and general $71,278 · fundraising $38,454

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $804,236 · program services $177,694 · management and general $50,187 · fundraising $576,355

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $155,412 · program services $21,500 · management and general $133,152 · fundraising $760

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $32,000 · program services $32,000

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $276,930 · fundraising $276,930

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $112,898 · program services $55,454 · management and general $57,444

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $5,428,024 · program services $5,050,634 · management and general $285,336 · fundraising $92,054

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $297,539 · program services $270,892 · fundraising $26,647

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $506,739 · program services $312,024 · management and general $105,908 · fundraising $88,807

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $108,863 · program services $87,050 · management and general $21,783 · fundraising $30

  • 17 · Travel

    total $22,842 · program services $12,001 · management and general $6,935 · fundraising $3,906

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $142,505 · program services $70,696 · management and general $19,286 · fundraising $52,523

  • 20 · Interest

    total $39,564 · program services $39,564

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $3,466 · management and general $3,466

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $79,476 · program services $1,875 · management and general $73,851 · fundraising $3,750

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS

    total $885,146 · program services $877,416 · management and general $330 · fundraising $7,400

  • 24b · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES

    total $505,324 · program services $179,438 · management and general $135,588 · fundraising $190,298

  • 24c · Other expenses: LIBRARY MATERIALS

    total $235,411 · program services $235,411

  • 24d · Other expenses: DUES & PUBLICATIONS

    total $53,185 · program services $30,386 · management and general $21,728 · fundraising $1,071

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $47,146 · program services $443,668 · management and general -$396,522

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $32,731 · end of year $84,775

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $4,067,895 · end of year $3,903,306

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $5,872,674 · end of year $4,687,311

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $948,745 · end of year $1,527,014

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $98,305 · end of year $112,452

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $284,291

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $263,810

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $23,947 · end of year $20,481

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $30,530,551 · end of year $34,152,897

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $4,327,817 · end of year $2,135,267

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,126,585 · end of year $1,938,864

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $500,000 · end of year $500,000

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,515,381 · end of year $1,331,518

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $586,887 · end of year $2,960,582

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $42,173,812 · end of year $39,892,539

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND ADVOCACY TO ADVANCE THE MISSION OF THE FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA WHILE STEWARDING AND PROMOTING OUR SPECIAL COLLECTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PHILADELPHIANS AND BEYOND.

  • PUBLIC PROGRAMS: TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR LITERACY, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ON BEHALF OF THE FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA. EXAMPLES OF SUCH PROGRAMS INCLUDE: THE LITERACY ENRICHMENT AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM (LEAP), ONE BOOK ONE PHILADELPHIA, SCIENCE IN THE SUMMER, TEEN PROGRAMMING, CULINARY LITERACY, CHRONICLING RESISTANCE, THE AUTHOR LECTURE SERIES, AND SUMMER READING PROGRAM.

    Expenses $4,680,425 · Revenue $271,379

  • FACILITIES RENOVATIONS: PRIMARILY TO MAKE RENOVATIONS TO THE BRANCH LIBRARIES.

    Expenses $4,245,931

  • COLLECTIONS AND PRESERVATION: TO ENHANCE THE LIBRARY'S PROMINENT RESEARCH COLLECTIONS, SUCH AS THE FLEISHER COLLECTION, DICKENS COLLECTION, POE COLLECTION, MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS, ETC.

    Expenses $592,365 · Revenue $28,275

  • LIBRARY CAPITAL PROJECTS: TO RENOVATE AND ENHANCE THE CENTRAL BRANCH OF THE LIBRARY.

    Expenses $448,400

  • TECHNOLOGY: TO SUPPLEMENT THE LIBRARY'S TECHNOLOGICAL NEEDS SUCH AS WEBSITE DESIGN, DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE LIBRARY'S NETWORK, AND COMPUTER SERVICES FOR THE CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT.

    Expenses $195,208

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Kelly Richards

    PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • D Jeffery Benoliel

    BOD MEMBER - CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10
  • Jude Tuma

    BOD MEMBER - 1ST VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related
  • Lynn Charytan

    BOD MEMBER - 2ND VICE CHAIR (THRU 11/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • James Biles

    BOD MEMBER - TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Richard A Greenawalt

    BOD MEMBER - SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Folasade A Olanipekun-Lewis

    BOD MEMBER - VICE CHAIR, E

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Cynthia Affleck

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Carol Banford

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Johanna B Baek

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Benito Cachinero-Sanchez

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 3 related
  • Amy Coes

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 3 related
  • Jeffrey Cooper

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Tobey Gordon Dichter

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Donald Generals

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Melissa Grimm

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Janet Haas MD

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Robert Heim

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • John F Holloway

    BOD MEMBER (THRU 11/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Renee Cardwell Hughes

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Charles P Keates Esq

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Susan B Muller

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Peter Nalle

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 3 related
  • Barbara Sutherland

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Karla Trotman

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Joe H Tucker Jr Esq

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dick Webster

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jay Weinstein

    BOD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Peter Wolf

    BOD MEMBER (THRU 11/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Christine Ryder

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $181,075
    From this org
    $173,943
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,132
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $169,951
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $3,992
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,132
    Filer's total
    $181,075
  • Monique Moore

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $104,732
    From this org
    $98,976
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,756
    Hours/week
    37.5
  • Shara Pollie

    S.V.P. DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $282,561
    From this org
    $263,700
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,861
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $220,887
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $42,813
    Deferred
    $12,086
    Nontaxable benefits
    $6,775
    Filer's total
    $282,561
  • James Pecora

    V.P. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

    Total calculated
    $202,656
    From this org
    $179,936
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,720
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $157,595
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $22,341
    Deferred
    $8,906
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,814
    Filer's total
    $202,656
  • Karyn Lyman

    A.V.P. MAJOR AND PLANNED G

    Total calculated
    $136,819
    From this org
    $115,112
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,707
    Hours/week
    37.5
  • Jenny Bogoni

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, READ!

    Total calculated
    $161,104
    From this org
    $135,554
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,550
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $122,163
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $13,391
    Deferred
    $6,367
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,183
    Filer's total
    $161,104
  • Andrew Kahan

    DIRECTOR, AUTHOR EVENTS

    Total calculated
    $133,335
    From this org
    $118,429
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,906
    Hours/week
    37.5
  • Alix Gerz

    V.P. COMMUNICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $120,741
    From this org
    $104,166
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,575
    Hours/week
    37.5

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment

Answered no

  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 4A
KARYN LYMAN, HIGHEST COMPENSATED EMPLOYEE, RECEIVED SEVERANCE PAY OF $13,554.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
8 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202541359349304434

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.