Totals
- Total revenue
- $2,598,890
- Total expenses
- $3,243,499
- Contributions and grants received
- $270,327
- Grants paid
- $0
- Program service revenue
- $470,110
- Investment income
- $84,423
- Other revenue
- $1,774,030
- Total assets, end of year
- $2,108,447
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $751,179
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $1,357,268
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $1,631,577
- Management and general expenses
- $1,602,222
- Fundraising expenses
- $9,700
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $1,631,577
Program services were 50.3% 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.
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$270,327
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$103,583
-
2a · Program service revenue: TRAINING CONSULTATION
total $455,994 · related or exempt $455,994
-
2b · Program service revenue: OTHER REVENUE
total $14,116 · related or exempt $14,116
-
3 · Investment income
total $31,559 · excluded $31,559
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $438,046
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $385,182
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities $52,864
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total $52,864 · excluded $52,864
-
10a · Gross sales of inventory
$2,472,466
-
10b · Cost of goods sold
$698,436
-
10c · Net income from sales of inventory
total $1,774,030 · related or exempt $1,774,030
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $249,117 · program services $29,223 · management and general $216,241 · fundraising $3,653
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $1,904,661 · program services $1,194,200 · management and general $706,909 · fundraising $3,552
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $304,042 · program services $190,574 · management and general $112,708 · fundraising $760
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $147,065 · program services $84,607 · management and general $61,981 · fundraising $477
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $5,787 · program services $804 · management and general $4,983
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $90,705 · management and general $90,705
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $4,634 · management and general $4,634
-
11g · Fees: other
total $168,080 · program services $9,723 · management and general $157,958 · fundraising $399
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $99,961 · program services $792 · management and general $99,169
-
13 · Office expenses
total $82,275 · program services $18,685 · management and general $63,354 · fundraising $236
-
14 · Information technology
total $13,111 · program services $261 · management and general $12,451 · fundraising $399
-
17 · Travel
total $66,148 · program services $51,587 · management and general $14,561
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $24,745 · program services $5,450 · management and general $19,295
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $46,249 · program services $24,592 · management and general $21,527 · fundraising $130
-
23 · Insurance
total $33,272 · program services $17,691 · management and general $15,487 · fundraising $94
-
24a · Other expenses: TRAINING MATERIALS
total $6,690 · program services $6,690
-
24b · Other expenses: BAD DEBT EXPENSE
total -$3,302 · program services -$3,302
-
24e · All other expenses
total $259 · management and general $259
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $316,939 · end of year $225,200
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $217,125 · end of year $5,036
-
4 · Accounts receivable
beginning of year $473,735 · end of year $339,269
-
8 · Inventories for sale or use
beginning of year $633,542 · end of year $536,489
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $150,793 · end of year $106,934
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$124,277
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$93,100
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $52,634 · end of year $31,177
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $860,786 · end of year $781,439
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $60,776 · end of year $82,903
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $534,663 · end of year $441,746
-
19 · Deferred revenue
beginning of year $244,071 · end of year $309,433
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $1,920,147 · end of year $1,292,221
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $67,449 · end of year $65,047
Mission and programs · 2023
Mission
THE MISSION OF THE GREAT BOOKS FOUNDATION IS TO ADVANCE THE CRITICAL, REFLECTIVE THINKING, AND SOCIAL AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OF READERS OF ALL AGES THROUGH SHARED INQUIRY DISCUSSION OF WORKS AND IDEAS OF ENDURING VALUE.
-
K-12 PROGRAMS:IN KEEPING WITH THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION, THE GREAT BOOKS K-12 PROGRAM PROVIDES STRONG, INQUIRY-BASED LANGUAGE ARTS PROGRAMS FOR GRADES K-12 THAT IMPROVE STUDENTS' ACHIEVEMENT IN, AND COMMITMENT TO, READING COMPREHENSION, INCREASED LITERACY, CRITICAL THINKING, WRITING AND SPEAKING, CIVIL DISCOURSE, AND LISTENING. GREAT BOOKS PROGRAMS COMBINE CLASSROOM MATERIALS AND THE SHARED INQUIRY METHOD OF LEARNING TO PROVIDE THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS STUDENTS NEED TO MEET AND SURPASS THE GOALS OF A RANGE OF STANDARDS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS.K-12 DIGITAL PROGRAMS: TO REMAIN RELEVANT AND SUCCESSFUL IN THE 21ST CENTURY, GREAT BOOKS CREATED A DIGITAL EXPERIENCE BY DEVELOPING DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CONTENT. INITIALLY THIS WAS IN THE FORM OF GREAT BOOKS PLUS, A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT OFFERS ELECTRONIC VERSIONS OF GREAT BOOKS ANTHOLOGIES. IN ADDITION, IN 2021 AND 2022, GREAT BOOKS LAUNCHED VERSIONS 1 AND 2 OF JGB DIGITAL CLASSROOM, MOVING US FROM AN EREADER PLATFORM TO A MORE FULLY AGILE DIGITAL PLATFORM. IN FY24 WE PREPARED FOR THE JULY 2024 LAUNCH OF JGB DIGITAL CLASSROOM 3, WITH A NEW PLATFORM PROVIDER AND ENHANCED FEATURES. THESE DIGITAL EXPERIENCES UPDATE AND ENHANCE THE GREAT BOOKS LEARNING MODEL AND ALLOW THE FOUNDATION TO REACH A WIDER, MORE DIVERSE AUDIENCE.
Expenses $1,145,620 · Revenue $1,761,088
-
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE FOUNDATION'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROVIDED OVER 1500 EDUCATORS WITH SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION AND CLASSROOM ASSISTANCE IN THE SHARED INQUIRY METHOD OF LEARNING THROUGH READING AND DISCUSSION OF GREAT LITERATURE. THE FOUNDATION WORKED CLOSELY WITH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO BUILD TEACHERS' PROFICIENCY AND INTEGRATE INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM BY PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED DAYS OF IN-PERSON AND ONLINE TRAINING, MODELING, COACHING, AND CONSULTATION. THE FOUNDATION OFFERS TEACHERS AND PARENTS INSTRUCTION IN THE SHARED INQUIRY METHOD OF LEARNING THROUGH IN-PERSON TRAINING, ON-DEMAND COURSES, BLENDED ONLINE COURSES, IN-PERSON AND ONLINE COACHING, AND WEBINARS ON SPECIFIC SKILLS. THIS YEAR, THE FOUNDATION EXPANDED OUR ON-DEMAND OFFERINGS BY LAUNCHING ADVANCED TRAINING COURSES. THE FOUNDATION OFFERS TRAINED SHARED INQUIRY LEADERS FREE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT IMPLEMENTING OUR PROGRAMS IN THE SHARED INQUIRY LEARNING CENTER. IT IS ALSO TRAINED LEADERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN FREE EVENTS SUCH AS A PANEL OR EDUCATOR DISCUSSIONS, AND JOIN AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY OF INQUIRY-BASED EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS.THE JUNIOR GREAT BOOKS PROGRAM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AS AN "EXEMPLARY PROGRAM" IN TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. FEEDBACK FROM THOSE WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE FOUNDATION'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES SUGGESTS THAT THE FOUNDATION PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN CREATING AND SUSTAINING VIBRANT, RESPECTFUL LEARNING COMMUNITIES AND INCREASED LITERACY FOR ADULTS AND STUDENTS.
Expenses $485,073 · Revenue $455,994
-
ADULT DISCUSSION GROUPS: THE ADULT EDUCATION DIVISION OF THE GREAT BOOKS FOUNDATION SHARES THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE: TO HELP SUSTAIN AND STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNERS TO ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS OF WORKS AND IDEAS OF ENDURING VALUE AND TO DEVELOP THE HABITS OF MIND ESSENTIAL TO CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND PERSONAL FULFILLMENT. TO THIS END, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS A NETWORK OF GREAT BOOKS COUNCILS, AS WELL AS HUNDREDS OF BOOK GROUPS NATIONWIDE, ACROSS CANADA AND SOUTH AMERICA; CREATES SPECIAL INITIATIVES FOR OFTEN UNDERSERVED SECTORS OF THE POPULATION, INCLUDING VETERANS OF THE ARMED FORCES; AND HOLDS PUBLIC EVENTS TO ENGAGE AUDIENCES IN THE DISCUSSION OF BOOKS AND IDEAS, INCLUDING ONLINE DISCUSSIONS FOR ADULTS. THE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH OTHER CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING ITS WORK TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. TO ENABLE THESE VARIOUS PROGRAMS, THE ADULT DIVISION HAS AND WILL IN THE FUTURE PUBLISH BOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS DESIGNED TO ASSIST IN THE PRACTICE OF SHARED INQUIRY, THE GREAT BOOKS FOUNDATION'S UNIQUE DISCUSSION METHOD.
Expenses $884 · Revenue $27,058
As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Listed in Part VII
-
Charles Brummell JrCHARLES BRUMMELL JR
CHAIRMAN
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Paul BartonPAUL BARTON
VICE-CHAIRMAN
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Barbara BowmanBARBARA BOWMAN
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Marcia Wachs DamMARCIA WACHS DAM
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Karen MacgilvrayKAREN MACGILVRAY
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Alex J PollockALEX J POLLOCK
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
James M ReumJAMES M REUM
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
George SchueppertGEORGE SCHUEPPERT
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
David WardDAVID WARD
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
James W HaughJAMES W HAUGH
LIFE DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Michael IgoeMICHAEL IGOE
LIFE DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Jane C HuntJANE C HUNT
LIFE DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
William LawlorWILLIAM LAWLOR
LIFE DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Valentina Texera ParissiVALENTINA TEXERA PARISSI
PRESIDENT & CEO
- Total calculated
- $155,092
- From this org
- $141,979
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $13,113
- Hours/week
- 35
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $141,979
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $0
- Nontaxable benefits
- $13,113
- Filer's total
- $155,092
-
Peter WaltonPETER WALTON
VICE-PRESIDENT & CFO
- Total calculated
- $117,730
- From this org
- $99,070
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $18,660
- Hours/week
- 35
-
Matthew LemenMATTHEW LEMEN
DIRECTOR OF K-12 PARTNERSH
- Total calculated
- $143,758
- From this org
- $135,053
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $8,705
- Hours/week
- 35
-
Sarah Claypool FriedlandSARAH CLAYPOOL FRIEDLAND
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPER
- Total calculated
- $137,541
- From this org
- $105,838
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $31,703
- Hours/week
- 35
-
Charles AdamCHARLES ADAM
NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTAT
- Total calculated
- $130,552
- From this org
- $106,360
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $24,192
- Hours/week
- 35
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
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
Answered no
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 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 5
- MATTHEW LEMEN RECEIVES COMMISSION AS A PERCENTAGE OF PAID INVOICES.
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.
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2023
- Filed
- 12 May 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2023v6.0
- Source object
- 202541359349305184
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