Northern New York Library Network
The Northern New York Library Network is a regional non-profit multi-type library agency dedicated to distributing resources and services among its members in the 10,636 square mile, seven-county area known as the north country. Member organizations include all types of libraries: academics, school (p-12), public, archives, and special libraries.
Northern New York Library Network at a glance
In short: Northern New York Library Network gave $37K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $36,818
- +17.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,205
- +17.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,409
- Total assets
- $1,193,934
- -13.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Northern New York Library Network funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Lawrence Center for History & Culture ($12K). Together the top 4 received $37K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 21 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Northern New York Library Network gives
- Giving grew 81% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2020) to $52K (2021). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $37K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Lawrence Center for History & Culture Canton, NY | Consultation, planning, and initial work related to processing a recently acquired collection of over 80,000 negatives from the ogdensburg/huevelton photographer daphne m. (BETTY) steele (1925-2023). Support geared toward applying for nysl c/p grant for this collection. | $12,000 |
| St Lawrence University Canton, NY | Buy equipment suited for outdoor content creation and create a series of workshops teaching digital storytelling tools and techniques to help students and faculty construct powerful environmental narratives while increasing digital competencies and inspiring broader environmental stewardship. | $11,733 |
| SUNY Potsdam Library Potsdam, NY | Promote academic success with extra support in the form of wellness programs, activity kits for young kids (for students w/o childcare), personal care items, and hardware devices at the library. | $7,085 |
| Canton Free Library Canton, NY | Consultation and training for library staff to run a well-crafted campaign to raise ~$125k needed to cover matches for four grants related to large-scale renovation project of rens falls library. | $6,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Northern New York Library Network?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,193,934 | $875,653 | $1,090,258 | $36,818 | 4 | $3,786 |
| 2024 | $1,383,707 | $1,054,099 | $1,137,466 | $31,240 | 4 | $5,330 |
| 2023 | $1,496,279 | $1,017,840 | $1,262,567 | $41,218 | 4 | $1,216 |
| 2022 | $1,704,396 | $1,348,429 | $1,401,744 | $20,289 | 3 | $287 |
| 2021 | $1,671,402 | $1,118,553 | $970,357 | $51,915 | 6 | $264 |
| 2020 | $1,530,394 | $1,207,425 | $1,031,462 | $7,210 | 1 | $245 |
About Northern New York Library Network
Based on IRS filings
Northern New York Library Network is a public charity focused on Education, based in Potsdam, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $37K. Net investment income was $4K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Northern New York Library Network is led by Margaret E. Backus, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 15 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Margaret E. Backus
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$102K (2020) → $123K (2025)
Ellen Adams
President
Trustee → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paulette Roes
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill Daby
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allison Comes
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cori Wilhelm
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Weisman
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Bedard
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Komara
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Clemons
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Payne
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Spofford
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacqueline Madison
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Owen Hastings
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Cree
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Jenica Rogers (2020–2024) — Vice President
- Former: John Thomas (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Krista Briggs (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Steve Kenworthy (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Gwendolyn Cunningham (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Andrew Kelly (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Ginger Tebo (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Jeff Garvey (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Erin Kovalsky (2022–2023) — Trustee · Filing note: Thru December
- Former: Sarah Weisman Begin January (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Gwen Cunningham (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Ivy Gocker (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jill Tarabula (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Michelle Bishop (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Susan Mitchell (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Debra Kimok (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Sue Longshore (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Xan Vanarsdale (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $123K, to Margaret E Backus (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Northern New York Library Network
How much does Northern New York Library Network give each year?
Northern New York Library Network gave $37K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $31K across 4 grants.
What is Northern New York Library Network's typical grant size?
Northern New York Library Network's median grant in 2025 was $9,409, and its average grant was $9,205, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Northern New York Library Network give grants?
Northern New York Library Network gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Canton, NY (3 grants).
Does Northern New York Library Network give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Northern New York Library Network's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Northern New York Library Network?
Northern New York Library Network reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $876K.
What is Northern New York Library Network?
Northern New York Library Network is a public charity focused on Education, based in Potsdam, NY. It holds $1.2M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Northern New York Library Network's EIN?
Northern New York Library Network's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 14-6036399. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Northern New York Library Network's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Northern New York Community Foundation Inc
Watertown, NY
The Foundation supports nonprofits and community projects that improve quality of life, including basic needs, education, health, and arts and culture, in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties, New York. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,100 to $173,125, with a median of $11,022. It accepts unsolicited applications through its Grants for Good program, with rolling applications reviewed quarterly.
Assets
$172.9M
Grants
112
Total Given
$2.7M
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
The Hunt Charitable Foundation Inc
Depew, NY
The Hunt Charitable Foundation supports a range of New York organizations, including education, arts, community and food programs, and health services. Its 2025 grants ranged from $250 to $50,000, with a median of $1,400. It gives only to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$171K
Grants
18
Total Given
$144K
New York Council for the Humanities
New York, NY
Humanities New York funds public humanities, reading and discussion, civic dialogue, and related community-engaged projects across New York State. Its 2024 grants typically were about $10,000 (median), ranging from $5,475 to $26,450; the source does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and notes that grant opportunities were paused in March 2025.
Assets
$3.2M
Grants
73
Total Given
$941K
The William G Pomeroy Foundation
Syracuse, NY
The William G. Pomeroy Foundation funds community-history projects, especially cast-aluminum historical markers, and initiatives that help blood cancer patients find donor matches or treatments. Its 2024 grants ranged from $50 to $900,000, with a median award of $1,950; it funds projects across the U.S., with the largest share of 2024 grant dollars going to New York.
Assets
$114.9M
Grants
203
Total Given
$4.2M
Gannett Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Gannett Foundation’s 2025 grants supported a range of organizations, with listed awards generally between $1,500 and $2,500, though the available figures do not establish a typical grant size or geographic focus. The foundation has wound down: its 2026 filing reports no grants or assets, and no current application process or acceptance of unsolicited requests is stated.
Assets
—
Grants
32
Total Given
$65K
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Northern New York Library Network's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Northern New York Library Network down — hundreds of funders to go?