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Boston Library Consortium FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Franklin, MA501(c)(3) EIN 04-2605198Revenue $772K in FY2021

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.
71¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$188K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · 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
71%
of spending
Fine: 71% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$188K
to officers and key staff · 29% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 29% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
19 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 18.6 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
$137K
13% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 13% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
19
of 19 voting members
Looks good: 19 of 19 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$772K
+16% vs prior year
Spent
$658K
To programs
71%
Net assets
$931K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$772K
FY2021▲ +16%
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
$658K
FY2021▲ +8%
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
$931K
FY2021▲ +14%
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 FY2021 Form 990 (year ending May 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

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

71 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 71% · $466K Management & general 29% · $192K

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

21 people listed on the 990; $188K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Susan Stearns
Former Executive Director
$108,170Pt VII · Sec A
Charles Barlow
Executive Director
$80,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Mary Piorun
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Anne Langley
Past President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Andrew White
President-Elect
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Matthew Sheehy
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Dan Cohen
Board Member
$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.

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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 · $352K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

East Project

As of june 2015, BLC became the administrative host and fiscal agent for a grant-funded project, the eastern academic scholars' trust (east) which includes 82 libraries engaged in a program to protect the print scholarly record. East funding is a combination of grant funding through 2018 and membership fees.

$195Kprogram expense
02

Professional Development

Throughout the year, BLC offers opportunities for the staff of the member libraries to advance their professional and workforce development. In FY2021, specific programs included: virtual webinars, workshops and meetings of BLC membership communities.

$84Kprogram expense
03

Resourcing Sharing

BLC provides a software infrastructure anddelivery services for the member liabraries for inter-library loanacross the 20 member libraries as well as electronic delivery ofdigital content. All 20 member libraries participate in these services which include use of the oclc and worldcat software, therapidill software and a ups based…

$73Kprogram 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 FY2021 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$772K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$702K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$44K
Investment incomeLn 3$26K
Money outPt IX
$658K
Ln 25
Programscol B$466K
Managementcol C$192K
Owns and owesPt X
$931K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.0M
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$137K
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b19
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$702K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$44K
Investment incomeLn 3$26K
Gains on assetsLn 7$20K
Total revenueLn 12$772K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$540K
SavingsLn 2$482K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$137K
Net assetsLn 32$931K
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$564K$1.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$205K$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5K$0
Total assetsLn 16$944K$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$127K$137K
Net assetsLn 32$817K$931K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$188K$159K$28K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$137K$97K$39K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$13K$10K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$21K$17K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$21K$21K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$184K$126K$57K
Office expensesLn 13$20K$19K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$3K$2K$815
TravelLn 17$37K$18K$19K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$5K$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$3K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$27K$15K$12K
Total functional expensesLn 25$658K$466K$192K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $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 Viewing $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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $772,450 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $655,494$702,038
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$44,250
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $10,377$26,162
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $665,871$772,450
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 $309,775$358,835
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $300,634$299,377
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $610,409$658,212
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $55,462$114,238
Part VI · Governance 19 of 19 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body19
VI-1b Independent voting members19
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 $772,450 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$691,038
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$11,000
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$702,038
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $44,250$44,250
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $6,614$6,614
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $19,548$19,548
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $44,250 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $26,162$772,450
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $658,212 across 12 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $159,479 · Management $28,143$187,622
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $97,287 · Management $39,316$136,603
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $9,831 · Management $3,410$13,241
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $16,881 · Management $4,488$21,369
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $21,000$21,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $126,440 · Management $57,218$183,658
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $18,792 · Management $1,131$19,923
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $2,448 · Management $815$3,263
IX-17 TravelPrograms $17,916 · Management $19,000$36,916
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,273 · Management $2,273$4,546
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $2,884$2,884
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $14,959 · Management $12,228$27,187
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $466,306 · Management $191,906 · Fundraising $0$658,212
Part X · Balance sheet $1,068,356 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $346,164$540,338
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $218,183$481,629
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $142,378$35,834
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $27,650$10,555
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $4,546$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $205,214$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $944,135$1,068,356
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $24,003$87,174
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $103,341$50,153
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $127,344$137,327
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $816,791$931,029
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $816,791$931,029
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $944,135$1,068,356
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $931,029 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$772,450
XI-2 Total expenses$658,212
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$114,238
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$816,791
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$931,029

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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