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Boston Library Consortium

Tax-deductible

Franklin, MA501(c)(3) EIN 04-2605198Revenue $1.8M in FY2025

On file with the IRSblc.org31 Hayward St Ste 2f, 02038-2169 · Franklin, MATax-exempt since Aug 1977Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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The Boston Library Consortium (blc) was founded in 1970 and incorporated in 1977 with a focus on resource sharing. Today, blc includes 19 academic and research libraries in massachusetts, connecticut, new hampshire and rhode island. And, while we remain focused on providing high quality and cost effective sharing, we recently initiated a major focus on workforce development aimed at assisting the member libraries in training and leadership development of their staffs. In july 2015, blc became the administrative host and fiscal agent for the eastern academic scholars' trust (east) project, a shared print program involving over 40 libraries in the eastern US whose mission is to protect the print scholarly record.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 19 volunteers and 2 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $60K a year · 5% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
76%
of spending
Looks good: 76% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$190K
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
14 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 13.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $130K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.4M
56% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 56% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
25
of 25 voting members
Looks good: 25 of 25 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.8M
+17% vs prior year
Spent
$1.6M
To programs
76%
Net assets
$1.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.8M
FY2025▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$666K
FY2021$772K
FY2022$816K
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.5M
FY2025$1.8M
Expenses
$1.6M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$610K
FY2021$658K
FY2022$763K
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.5M
FY2025$1.6M
Net assets
$1.1M
FY2025▲ +26%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$817K
FY2021$931K
FY2022$865K
FY2023$754K
FY2024$847K
FY2025$1.1M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending May 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Aug 1977.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

76 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 76% · $1.2M Management & general 24% · $374K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

26 people listed on the 990; $190K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Charles Barlow
Executive Director
$190,152Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Mary Piorun
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Mark Newton
President - Elect
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Bryn Geffert
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Anne Langley
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Charles Barlow$190,152$177,065$166,392$164,833$80,000—
Susan Stearns————$108,170$184,563

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Boston Library Consortium executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Shares library resources and develops staff training for academic and research institutions.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Resource Sharing

BLC was founded upon a shared commitment to promote cooperation in making resources more readily available. Today, the BLC remains committed to facilitating high-quality and cost-effective sharing of print and digital content through its resource sharing programs, including interlibrary loan and controlled digital lending.

$543Kprogram expense
02

Professional Developement

BLC offers regular webinars and workshops designed to facilitate sharing expertise, highlighting the work of librarians and library staff across the BLC member institutions. BLC coordinates the activities of more than 30 membership communities across a wide range of library practice areas.

$348Kprogram expense
03

Effective october 1, 2023, BLC entered into an agreement with the project reshare steering committee to be the fiscal sponsor of project reshare. Project reshare is a collaborative effort among libraries, consortia, informative organizations and developers to build a user-centered, app-based, community-owned resource sharing platform.

$182Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2023
Davis Educational FoundationFY2023$130K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$130K
Grants paid · 2 grants · $277K · 2021–2022
Eastern Academic Scholars Trust INCMA · FY2022$177,401
Midwest Collaborative for Library Services INCMI · FY2021$100,000

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$184K
Investment incomeLn 3$66K
Money outPt IX
$1.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.2M
Managementcol C$374K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$2.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
26
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a25
IndependentVI 1b25
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$184K
Investment incomeLn 3$66K
Other incomeLn 4–11$3K
Total revenueLn 12$1.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$184K
SavingsLn 2$1.6M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$374K
Total assetsLn 16$2.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M
Net assetsLn 32$1.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 52
VolunteersI 619
Fiscal year endsHeaderMay
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$739K$1.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$338K$374K
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M$2.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$469K$1.4M
Net assetsLn 32$847K$1.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$190K$135K$55K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$325K$232K$93K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$54K$38K$16K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$51K$35K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$37K$26K$11K
Legal feesLn 11b$3K$275$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$52K$5K$47K
Office expensesLn 13$12K$5K$7K
TravelLn 17$286K$223K$63K
InsuranceLn 23$5K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$576K$517K$59K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.6M$1.2M$374K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.8M$1.6M$195K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.5M$1.5M$49K$847K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.3M$1.4M−$107K$754K 990 PDF
FY2022 $816K$763K$53K$865K 990 PDF
FY2021 $772K$658K$114K$931K 990 PDF
FY2020 $666K$610K$55K$817K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,784,573 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,503,725$1,530,966
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$184,377
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $22,141$65,877
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,801$3,353
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,531,667$1,784,573
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $529,442$656,790
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $952,753$932,561
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,482,195$1,589,351
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $49,472$195,222
Part VI · Governance 25 of 25 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body25
VI-1b Independent voting members25
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,784,573 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$1,186,925
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$344,041
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,530,966
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $184,377$184,377
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $65,877$65,877
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $3,353$3,353
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $184,377 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $69,230$1,784,573
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,589,351 across 11 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $134,915 · Management $55,237$190,152
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $232,160 · Management $92,565$324,725
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $38,202 · Management $15,944$54,146
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $34,866 · Management $16,254$51,120
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $25,858 · Management $10,789$36,647
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $275 · Management $2,766$3,041
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $4,674 · Management $46,989$51,663
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $4,593 · Management $7,097$11,690
IX-17 TravelPrograms $222,645 · Management $62,974$285,619
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $4,949$4,949
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $516,718 · Management $58,881$575,599
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,214,906 · Management $374,445 · Fundraising $0$1,589,351
Part X · Balance sheet $2,454,716 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $123,410$184,085
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $615,259$1,623,684
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $239,833$239,637
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$32,855
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $337,833$374,455
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,316,335$2,454,716
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $67,483$78,921
X-19 Deferred revenue$134,179
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $401,887$1,170,606
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $469,370$1,383,706
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $730,246$900,777
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $116,719$170,233
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $846,965$1,071,010
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,316,335$2,454,716
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,071,010 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,784,573
XI-2 Total expenses$1,589,351
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$195,222
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$846,965
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$28,823
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,071,010

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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