Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc
Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia, inc. (the organization), founded in 1973, is an independent, nonprofit organization that supports the 54-branch free library system by establishing and assisting a network of neighborhood-based friends groups who strengthen and steward their local library; advocating for stable, equitable and significant library services for the city of philadelphias children and adults.
Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc at a glance
- Total assets
- $1,195,778
- -7.0% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $147,942
- -71.7% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $314
- +12.1% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $230,293
- -16.3% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 2 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $16K (2024) to $17K (2023). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $16K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Free Library of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Program Support | $15,600 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,195,778 | $147,942 | $230,293 | — | — | $314 |
| 2024 | $1,285,417 | $523,266 | $275,107 | $15,600 | 1 | $280 |
| 2023 | $1,034,149 | $929,690 | $186,657 | $16,800 | 1 | $53 |
| 2022 | $278,992 | $169,890 | $130,846 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | $239,893 | $146,131 | $92,619 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $185,192 | $81,649 | $104,225 | — | — | — |
| 2019 | $208,384 | $188,312 | $138,093 | — | — | — |
About Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc
Based on IRS filings
Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Philadelphia, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. Net investment income was $314.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc's 2025 filing lists 8 officers; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anna Steiner
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Betty Baurfort
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erme Maula
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jan Leseur
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Colwell-Smith
Co-Chair of
Board Member → Co-Chair of, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yvette Hill Robinson
Co-Chair of
Board Member → Co-Chair of, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Myra E. Parker
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alice Wells
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Marilyn Dyson (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Amy Wilson (2023) — Director
- Former: Christina Rockwell (2023) — Director
- Former: Erica Zurer (2023) — Director
- Former: Neha Pancholi (2023) — Director
- Former: Terry Lawrence (2023) — Director
- Former: Irv Ackelsberg (2019–2020) — President
- Former: Annette Griffin (2019) — Treasurer
- Former: Barbara McDowell Dowdall (2019) — Board Member
- Former: David Kralle (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Jackie Wiggins (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Kates (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Jerome Kline (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Linda Hart (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Rasheedah Phillips (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Shelly Phillips-Hill (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc
How large is Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc?
Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $148K.
What is Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc?
Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Philadelphia, PA. It holds $1.2M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc operate?
Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc has awarded grants in Pennsylvania.
What is Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc's EIN?
Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7351482. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 4, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 16, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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