The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc logo

The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Detroit, MI EIN: 38-1387108 Website

To promote and enhance the city of detroit's cultural growth, all forms of literacy, an interest in books, and other forms of human record and to establish cooperative relationships and programs with the detroit public library and other cultural institutions and groups in support of such charitable, literary, and educational purposes.

The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc gave $59K across 3 grants in 2026 (avg $20K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2026)
$59,131
+65.4% vs 2025
Grants made (2026)
3
+50.0% vs 2025
Average grant
$19,710
+10.3% vs 2025
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$3,658,955
+1.7% vs 2025
Primary geography
Michigan (100% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2026 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2026; updated November 2026.

Who The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2026

Detroit Public Library Commission: $40KDetroit Public LibraryCommission$40KBulk Space: $10KBulk Space$10KDetroit Body Garage: $10KDetroit Body Garage$10K

The largest 2026 recipient was Detroit Public Library Commission ($40K). Together the top 3 received $59K.

Grant Size Distribution

13 grants across all recorded years

13<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 13 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.

Cities

DetroitBrooklyn

How The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving grew 123% from 2023 to 2026. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$20K$40K$60K$80K2 grants2019 4 grants2020 4 grants2021 3 grants2022 3 grants2023 2 grants2024 2 grants2025 3 grants2026

From 2019 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $26K (2023) to $73K (2022). In 2026 it made 3 grants totaling $59K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Detroit Public Library Commission Detroit, MIPurchase Books, Program & Branch Assistance$39,546
Bulk Space Detroit, MIArtist membership program, mini black zine fair detroit, and general operating support$10,000
Detroit Body Garage Detroit, MICommunity fitness & outdoor stewardship initiative (summer family fitness series) & funds raised code grow fitness summer program$9,585
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2026$3,658,955$551,252$698,398$59,1313$305,742
2025$3,598,990$319,478$567,999$35,7492$255,565
2024$3,783,820$221,854$528,534$47,5002$130,896
2023$3,886,266$172,370$487,690$26,4723$100,269
2022$4,265,630$310,193$510,251$72,5003$157,855
2021$4,862,508$772,383$402,203$41,0004$283,700
2020$3,850,553$235,281$278,122$39,0004$94,235
2019$4,015,210$458,669$332,737$45,0002$201,472

About The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc

Based on IRS filings

The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Detroit, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2026. As of 2026, the organization holds $3.7M in total assets. In 2026, it awarded 3 grants totaling $59K. Net investment income was $306K.

Focus Areas

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc is led by Sean Ryan Everett, CEO & Board President since 2026 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 10 officers listed in 2026 is compensated.

Officers on the 2026 filing

  • Sean Ryan Everett

    CEO & Board President

    Executive Director → Executive Director & Board President, 2024

    Executive Director & Board President → CEO & Board President, 2026

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $79K (2019) → $109K (2026)

  • Crystal Powell

    Director

    President → Director, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Costa

    Director

    Director → President, 2020

    President → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeanne Wardford

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Krieman

    Director

    Treasurer → Director, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Karen Spica

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sharri Watkins

    Director

    Director → Vice President, 2024

    Vice President → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Susan Kalkstein

    Director

    New on the 2026 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carol Huckleby

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Susan Gardynik

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (10)
  • Former: David Wood (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Kathleen Wendler (2019–2021) — Former Vice President
  • Former: Charles Thompson (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Elizabeth Dumouchelle (2019–2020) — Vice President
  • Former: Joanne Mondowney (2020) — Director
  • Former: Barbara Cohn (2019) — Director
  • Former: John Chambers (2019) — Director
  • Former: Michael Friedman (2019) — Director
  • Former: Norman Maas (2019) — Former Secretary
  • Former: Sandra Yee (2019) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2026 IRS filing

Sean Ryan Everett — CEO/Board President: $109KSean Ryan EverettCEO/Board President$109K

The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $109K, to Sean Ryan Everett (CEO/Board President).

Frequently asked questions about The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc

How much does The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc give each year?

The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc gave $59K across 3 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. In 2025 it gave $36K across 2 grants.

What is The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc's median grant in 2026 was $10,000, and its average grant was $19,710, across 3 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990.

Where does The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc give grants?

The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (3 grants).

Does The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 33% of The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990.

How large is The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc?

The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc reported $3.7M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $551K.

What is The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc?

The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Detroit, MI. It holds $3.7M in total assets as of 2026.

What is The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-1387108. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2026.

Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(9)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 6, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 11, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 11, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 9, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 12, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 15, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 9, 2026)
  8. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS September 15, 2026)
  9. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

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