East Side Freedom Library

Tax-deductible

Saint Paul, MN501(c)(3)Since 2013Arts & CultureEIN 46-3794535

The East Side Freedom Library's mission is to inspire solidarity, advocate for justice and work toward equity for all. The library houses non-circulating research collections that appeal to interested general learners as well as scholars, with innovative databases and finding aids that make using the collections fun and vital. Story is a major theme of the ESFL, and the telling and gathering of stories, through formal interviews, workshops, and small-scale public performances, will allow local residents and interested publics to learn more about the work and residential histories of the East Side.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
69¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 50 volunteers and 6 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $17K a year · 3% of revenue · last 4 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
69%
of spending
Fine: 69% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$60K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 54% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $25K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$224K
40% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 40% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 14 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$579K
+0.09% vs prior year
Spent
$571K
To programs
69%
Net assets
$334K
By yearFY2021–FY2024
Revenue
$579K
FY2024+0.09%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$555K
FY2022$744K
FY2023$527K
FY2024$578K
FY2024$579K
Expenses
$571K
FY2024▼ -28%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$311K
FY2022$553K
FY2023$814K
FY2024$792K
FY2024$571K
Net assets
$334K
FY2024▲ +2%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$1.5M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$540K
FY2024$326K
FY2024$334K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 2013.

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

Where the money goes

69 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 69% · $394K Management & general 18% · $106K Fundraising 13% · $72K

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

Who runs it and what they're paid

16 people listed on the 990; $60K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$59,700Pt VII · Sec A
Board President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Saengmany Ratsabout’s $60K as Executive Director is at the 54th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2216 $100K–1M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Saengmany Ratsabout$59,700$111,596$42,401——
Peter Rachelff———$11,500—
Peter Rachleff————$4,000

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 East Side Freedom Library 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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Inspires solidarity, advocates for justice, and works toward equity through community events and historical learning.

Provided by the organization

This section is blank until East Side Freedom Library claims this page.

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3 program services account for $323K of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

Arts and Culture

East Side Freedom Library (ESFL) leverages the arts to promote solidarity, justice, and equity, prioritizing artist activists to shift narratives and empower community storytelling. Through diverse programming in poetry, visual art, theater, dance, music, and storytelling, ESFL amplifies marginalized voices and preserves histories.

$155Kprogram expense
02

Housing Justice

The Housing Justice Program advances housing equity through: Community-Led Exhibits: Documenting housing activism history in St. Paul to inspire future advocacy. Educational Workshops: Exploring housing justice issues through racial equity and related struggles.

$97Kprogram expense
03

Labor and Equity

ESFL's Labor and Equity programs unite community members, organizations, and allies to address housing inequity, environmental injustice, and social harms in St. Paul. Key initiatives include: Labor: The ESFL Labor Advisory Group fosters collaboration with the labor movement, supporting local labor issues, education, and engagement…

$71Kprogram expense

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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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$25K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $32K · 2023–2023
Neomuralismos De MexicoMN · FY2023$32,484

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$579K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$545K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$33K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Money outPt IX
$571K
Ln 25
Programscol B$394K
Managementcol C$106K
Fundraisingcol D$72K
Owns and owesPt X
$334K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$236K
Total assetsLn 16$557K
LiabilitiesLn 26$224K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$545K
Government grantsLn 1e$29K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$33K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Total revenueLn 12$579K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$75K
SavingsLn 2$161K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$236K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$150K
Total assetsLn 16$557K
LiabilitiesLn 26$224K
Net assetsLn 32$334K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 56
VolunteersI 650
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$326K$236K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$172K$150K
Total assetsLn 16$606K$557K
LiabilitiesLn 26$280K$224K
Net assetsLn 32$326K$334K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$60K$30K$18K$12K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$164K$141K$15K$7K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$40K$30K$6K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$19K$15K$3K$2K
Management feesLn 11a$47K$24K$14K$9K
Legal feesLn 11b$2K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$20K$20K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$26K$26K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$68K$56K$7K$4K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$2K$1K$871$127
Information technologyLn 14$13K$11K$1K$812
OccupancyLn 16$36K$28K$5K$3K
InterestLn 20$5K$5K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$34K$26K$5K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$17K$13K$2K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$17K$17K$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$571K$394K$106K$72K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $578K$792K−$213K$326K 990 PDF
FY2023 $527K$814K−$288K$540K 990 PDF
FY2022 $744K$553K$190K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $555K$311K$244K$1.5M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $578,936 across 12 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$28,767
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$515,769
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$544,536
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $32,898 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$32,898
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $1,502 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$1,502
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $34,400 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$578,936
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $571,465 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $29,850 · Management $17,910 · Fundraising $11,940$59,700
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $141,052 · Management $15,412 · Fundraising $7,298$163,762
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $0$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $30,426 · Management $5,932 · Fundraising $3,425$39,783
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $14,805 · Management $2,887 · Fundraising $1,667$19,359
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $23,613 · Management $14,168 · Fundraising $9,445$47,226
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $1,950$1,950
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $20,249$20,249
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $25,900$25,900
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $56,369 · Management $7,131 · Fundraising $4,000$67,500
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,298$2,298
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,132 · Management $871 · Fundraising $127$2,130
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $11,176 · Management $1,407 · Fundraising $812$13,395
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $28,391 · Management $4,746 · Fundraising $2,740$35,877
IX-20 InterestManagement $5,375$5,375
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $25,706 · Management $5,012 · Fundraising $2,894$33,612
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $12,635 · Management $2,464 · Fundraising $1,422$16,521
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $16,828 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$16,828
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $394,281 · Management $105,514 · Fundraising $71,670$571,465
Part X · Balance sheet $557,396 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $167,156$75,047
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $159,255$160,668
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $94,047$156,153
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $13,518$15,476
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $172,130$150,052
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $606,106$557,396
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $25,617$26,205
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $279,696$223,515
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $200,806$99,007
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $125,604$234,874
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $326,410$333,881
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $606,106$557,396
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $333,881 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$578,936
XI-2 Total expenses$571,465
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$7,471
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$326,410
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$333,881

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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