Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2015.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
78 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
15 people listed on the 990; $95K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Caroline Cumming’s $95K as Executive Director is at the 81st percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M education 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline Cumming | $95,000 | $97,461 | $73,308 | $68,708 | $62,591 | $68,281 |
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 Seattle Athenaeum executive salaries →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
Preserves books, shares them through libraries, and hosts cultural programs and writer workspaces.
Questions for Seattle Athenaeum
Your first name shows with your question. Seattle Athenaeum answers here, for everyone.
Folio
The Seattle Athenaeum connects a dynamic literary community through acurated book collection, diverse programming, and opportunities for engaging conversations and transformative ideas. The library serves over 750 members; individuals, families, and students.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 47-2486862) · Dispute this lineFunders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2025 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY25 | End FY25 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $18K | $73K |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $0 | $0 |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $283K | $242K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $39K | $4K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $244K | $238K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $95K | $66K | $19K | $10K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $105K | $98K | $7K | |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $6K | $4K | $1K | $600 |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $20K | $14K | $4K | $2K |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $7K | $7K | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $378 | $378 | ||
| Office expensesLn 13 | $14K | $10K | $3K | $1K |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $1K | $781 | $223 | $112 |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $36K | $25K | $7K | $4K |
| TravelLn 17 | $1K | $927 | $265 | $132 |
| InterestLn 20 | $850 | $595 | $170 | $85 |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $2K | $2K | $477 | $239 |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $78K | $65K | $887 | $12K |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $367K | $286K | $51K | $29K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Aug 18, 2026 | $361K | $367K | −$6K | $238K | 990 PDF |
| FY2024Filed with the IRS Nov 14, 2025 | $450K | $312K | $138K | $244K | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Jun 5, 2024 | $366K | $253K | $112K | $106K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 14, 2023 | $249K | $264K | −$15K | −$6K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS May 16, 2022 | $203K | $228K | −$24K | $4K | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS Nov 5, 2021 | $227K | $216K | $11K | $28K | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $360,598 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $360,598 across 10 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $366,833 across 13 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $242,339 assets, 11 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $238,214 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file FY2025 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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