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.
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
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 |
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 include Prairieland United Way ($25,000), Morgan County Historical Society ($15,000), Texas Library Association ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Dollywood Foundation Seiverville, TN | Donation | $9,000 |
| Jacksonville Main Street Jacksonville, IL | Donation | $1,000 |
| Association for Library Service to Children Chicago, IL | Awards Breakfast/Administrative Services | $2,500 |
| 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 |
| Alzheimer's Association Chicago, IL | Donation | $1,000 |
| Prairieland United Way Jacksonville, IL | Donation | $25,000 |
| San Jose State University San Jose, CA | Scholarship for Shannon O-Brien | $8,000 |
| University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS | Scholarship for Kesye Baudoin | $8,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bound To Stay Bound Books Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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