The Detroit Public Library Friends
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 at a glance
In short: The Detroit Public Library Friends gave $36K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $35,749
- -24.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,875
- -24.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $17,875
- Total assets
- $3,598,990
- -4.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Detroit Public Library Friends funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Detroit Public Library Commission ($26K). Together the top 2 received $36K.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 14 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Detroit Public Library Friends gives
- Giving fell 51% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $26K (2023) to $73K (2022). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $36K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Public Library Commission Detroit, MI | Purchase Books, Program & Branch Assistance | $25,749 |
| Motown Historical Museum Inc Detroit, MI | In support of its "buy the book" program and the legacy vinyl project | $10,000 |
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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 | $3,598,990 | $319,478 | $567,999 | $35,749 | 2 | $255,565 |
| 2024 | $3,783,820 | $221,854 | $528,534 | $47,500 | 2 | $130,896 |
| 2023 | $3,886,266 | $172,370 | $487,690 | $26,472 | 3 | $100,269 |
| 2022 | $4,265,630 | $310,193 | $510,251 | $72,500 | 3 | $157,855 |
| 2021 | $4,862,508 | $772,383 | $402,203 | $41,000 | 4 | $283,700 |
| 2020 | $3,850,553 | $235,281 | $278,122 | $39,000 | 4 | $94,235 |
| 2019 | $4,015,210 | $458,669 | $332,737 | $45,000 | 2 | $201,472 |
About The Detroit Public Library Friends
Based on IRS filings
The Detroit Public Library Friends is a public charity focused on Education, based in Detroit, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $36K. Net investment income was $256K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Detroit Public Library Friends is led by Sean Ryan Everett, Executive Director & Board President since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sean Ryan Everett
Executive Director & Board President
Executive Director → Executive Director & Board President, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$79K (2019) → $106K (2025)
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
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, 2019–2025. "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 $106K, to Sean Ryan Everett (Exec Director/Board President).
Frequently asked questions about The Detroit Public Library Friends
How much does The Detroit Public Library Friends give each year?
The Detroit Public Library Friends gave $36K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $48K across 2 grants.
How large is The Detroit Public Library Friends?
The Detroit Public Library Friends reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $319K.
What is The Detroit Public Library Friends?
The Detroit Public Library Friends is a public charity focused on Education, based in Detroit, MI. It holds $3.6M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does The Detroit Public Library Friends operate?
The Detroit Public Library Friends has awarded grants in Michigan, New York.
What is The Detroit Public Library Friends's EIN?
The Detroit Public Library Friends's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-1387108. 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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