Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation
The Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Alton, Illinois. Established in 1985, the foundation is affiliated with Bound to Stay Bound Books, a third-generation family-owned business founded in 1920 that specializes in providing high-quality prebound juvenile books to school and public libraries.
Key facts about Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation
- EIN
- 37-6227827
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $201,600
- Grants made (2024)
- 40
- Average grant
- $5,040
- Median grant
- $2,750
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (9 of 40, 2024)
- Total assets
- $4,151,664
- Primary geography
- Illinois (61% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation's 40 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (61%), Texas (8%) and District of Columbia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Jacksonville, IL (17 grants), Chicago, IL (5 grants), Springfield, IL (4 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants). None of its 40 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (29 grants).
Is Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 40 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.2M
+43.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$202K
-10.0% YoY
Grant Count
40
-7.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-3.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation reported a distributable amount of $200K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports the library field and library media programs through funding and scholarships. Primary focus areas include:
- Library Education & Professional Development: Offering scholarships for individuals pursuing work in the library field
- Conference Support: Underwriting attendance for media specialists at professional conferences
- Literature & Media Programs: Providing funding for the development and distribution of literature and support for media programs
- Library Awards & Recognition: Establishing and supporting prestigious awards in the library community
Grantmaking
The foundation's grantmaking activities include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 40 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $2.89 million
- Annual Revenue: $172,000
- Annual Expenses: $246,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation has been tax-exempt since July 1985.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,151,664 | $2,886,813 | $2,960,282 |
| Revenue | $1,500,877 | $172,314 | $142,988 |
| Expenses | $236,091 | $245,784 | $251,122 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $201,850 | $220,750 | $229,800 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,471,719 | $149,233 | $121,416 |
| Distributable Amount | $199,785 | $207,370 | $215,227 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
198 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Prairieland United Way ($25,000), Morgan County Historical Society ($15,000), Texas Library Association ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Prairieland United Way Jacksonville, IL | Donation | $25,000 |
| Morgan County Historical Society Jacksonville, IL | Donation | $15,000 |
| Texas Library Association Austin, TX | Donation | $15,000 |
| American Association of School Librarians Chicago, IL | Donation | $12,500 |
| The Dollywood Foundation Seiverville, TN | Donation | $9,000 |
| American Library Association Chicago, IL | Donation | $9,000 |
| Catholic University of America Washington, DC | Scholarship for Ashleigh Meskill | $8,400 |
| Illinois State University Normal, IL | Scholarship for Liam Augustus Lane | $8,400 |
| Loyola University Maryland Baltimore, MD | Scholarship for Samantha Meskill | $8,400 |
| Missouri S& T Rolla, MO | Scholarship for Lexi Lane | $8,400 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking, with recent announcements including:
Awards for Bound to Stay Bound and Melcher Scholarships distributed to students in 2024 and 2025
ALSC awards Bound to Stay Bound and Melcher Scholarships to six studentsGrants awarded to AASL members to attend the 2025 AASL National Conference
Thirty AASL members receive Bound To Stay Bound grants to attend first nationalOngoing support of school library advocacy initiatives
Bound To Stay Bound Books continues support of school library advocacyFrequently Asked Questions
What does Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation fund?
The foundation supports the library field and library media programs through funding and scholarships. Primary focus areas include: • **Library Education & Professional Development**: Offering scholarships for individuals pursuing work in the library field • **Conference Support**: Underwriting attendance for media specialists at professional conferences • **Literature & Media Programs**: Providing funding for the development and distribution of literature and support for media programs • **Lib…
How do I apply for a grant from Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation?
The foundation's grantmaking activities include: • **ALA Scholarships**: Offers 4 annual scholarships through the American Library Association for work in the library field • **AASL Conference Grants**: Underwrites attendance for 30 media specialists to attend American Association of School Librarians (AASL) conferences • **Sibert Informational Book Award**: Established the ALSC Sibert Informational Book Award • **AASL National Conference Grants**: Provides grants to AASL members to attend nati…
What size grants does Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation award?
In 2024, Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation awarded 40 grants totaling $202K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation reported a distributable amount of $200K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation's EIN?
Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-6227827. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.