Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation
The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation supports many of the Library's vital programs that enhance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity throughout our region.
Mission
To develop resources and funding to expand, enhance, and support the services, collections, building improvements and technology expansion, and other activities of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Programs include early childhood, family, and adult literacy; after-school homework help; support of job seeking efforts; Regional Foundation Center; lecture series; summer programs in reading and science; and cultural performances.
Ruling year
1988
President and Director
Kelly Richards
Main address
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189 USA
EIN
52-1173474
NTEE code
Libraries, Library Science (B70)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2020, 2019 and 2018.
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Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Children and Family Literacy
Literacy enrichment programs in neighborhood libraries impact thousands of children and families annually.
The Literacy Enrichment Afterschool Program (LEAP) is a crucial initiative that provides a supportive environment, mentoring, homework assistance, computer access, healthy snacks, tutoring, and trauma-informed care to K-12 students.
Summer of Wonder enhances literacy skills for all ages; fosters a love of reading and learning; and combats summer slide, a real concern for students in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the city.
Read by 4th works to empower families with the knowledge, skills, and resources to support language and literacy development at home.
Read, Baby, Read aims to build early language skills in infants and toddlers, and support their caregivers.
Literacy in Early Learning Spaces provides support for early childhood educators, including technical assistance, ongoing professional development, and physical resources (books and other materials).
Workforce Development and Digital Literacy and Access
Workforce development programming and resources allow the Free Library to robustly respond to the intersecting needs of jobseekers, emerging literacy-level adults, and those who lack the digital access and literacy skills required to obtain stable, reliable employment.
Workforce development offerings include workshops and career fairs; online resources such as the Career Training Database, a tool to explore workforce training opportunities; and technology assistance from Library staff. In addition, the Library provides a multitude of resources that are available to jobseekers free of charge, including job search tools, résumé reviews, workshops, and consultations.
In 2021, the Free Library used its awarded funds from the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Connectivity Fund to acquire 5,650 Wi-Fi hotspots and 5,650 LTE tablets (internet services provided by T-Mobile) to loan long-term to adults who would otherwise lack access to computers and/or broadband internet.
Cultural and Civic Engagement
The Free Library’s cultural and civic engagement opportunities include:
One Book, One Philadelphia promotes literacy, library usage, and civic dialogue by encouraging our neighbors to come together through reading and discussing a single book.
Special Collections make historic materials accessible, provide research services, and offer programs that promote understanding of shared cultural heritage.
Chronicling Resistance, a collaboration with program fellows and the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries, amplifies stories of resistance in Philadelphia’s archival collections and preserves records of resistance to oppression today.
Hear Me Out connects Pennsylvanians, combats polarization and indifference across political and geographic divides, and invites brave conversations about national and local issues.
The Library also hosts Author Events, featuring renowned writers; administers the city’s Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate programs; and more.
Where we work
External assessments
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of patron vists
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Age groups
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
During the COVID-19 pandemic, in fiscal year 2021 the Free Library welcomed more than 46,000 in-person visits with limited operations at some of our 54 locations, and over 4,065,239 online visits.
Number of literacy engagement activities for youth
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Age groups
Related Program
Children and Family Literacy
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Metrics from the FY19-21 Strategic Plan. All numbers are as of March 31, 2020. Goal is to reach 35.
Teen program attendance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Age groups
Related Program
Children and Family Literacy
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
During the COVID-19 pandemic, in fiscal year 2021 over 2,500 teens were engaged in 320 virtual events hosted by the Marie and Joseph Field Teen Center.
Author Events
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Cultural and Civic Engagement
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In FY21, the Library hosted 106 virtual author event programs with renowned authors. 20,000 attended online; and there were over 1 million downloads of episodes from the Author Event Series podcast.
Summer Programming
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Children and Family Literacy
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The Library offered summer programming for all ages at libraries throughout the city, including 1,257 programs for children, 200 teen programs, and 1,060 adult programs.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planHow we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation
Board of directorsas of 4/7/2022
D. Jeffry Benoliel
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
No data
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
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- Letter of Determination
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