Nonprofit · EIN 41-1627391
BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC
Tax-exempt · SAINT PAUL, MN 55104
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $28,604,646 | $31,028,580 | -$2,423,934 | $14,757,978 | $509,033 | $14,248,945 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $23,853,447 | $18,626,801 | $5,226,646 | $17,129,347 | $506,463 | $16,622,884 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $28,455,449
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $72,477
- Net income from fundraising events
- $76,720
- Other revenue
- $76,720
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $28,541,996
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $235,815
- Other salaries and wages
- $602,501
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,105,122
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $6,100
- Occupancy
- $208,436
- Travel
- $29,539
- Depreciation
- $7,587
- Program services (functional)
- $30,663,441
- Management and general (functional)
- $118,151
- Fundraising (functional)
- $246,988
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $17,129,347
- Total assets, end of year
- $14,757,978
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $509,033
- Net assets, end of year
- $14,248,945
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $209,847
- Publicly traded securities
- $1,962,032
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,143,296
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $13,105,649
- Gross receipts
- $28,604,646
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 9,118
- Year formed
- 1989
- State of legal domicile
- MN
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICK PLONSKI EX OFFICIO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $206,366 | $29,449 |
| MIKE ESSIEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHANIE DAVERN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS WARTH EX OFFICIO | FOUNDER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| FATIMA LAWSON | PRESIDENT - ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| TAMMIE FOLLETT | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| MATILDA ARHIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ERIN BAGNIEWSKI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| NISHA BOTCHWEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| LOUIS BROWNSTONE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| LAMIN LAN DIBBA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM GITAA EX OFFICIO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| NICLETTE MUNADABI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| LILLIAN OTIENO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ISAAC OWENS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
8 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARK RITCHIE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| CASS STILLMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| JOTE TADDESE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| GARY ZELKO EX OFFICIO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| PAUL MILLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| KWONG-FAT LI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| FOTEMAH MBA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| STEVE ZWEBER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 23 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICK PLONSKI EX OFFICIO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $158,441 | $35,858 |
| MIKE ESSIEN | PAST PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHANIE DAVERN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS WARTH EX OFFICIO | FOUNDER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| FATIMA LAWSON | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| TAMMIE FOLLETT | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| MATILDA ARHIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ERIN BAGNIEWSKI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| NISHA BOTCHWEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| LOUIS BROWNSTONE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLES COGAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| LAMIN LAN DIBBA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN ELSTAD | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| TOM GITAA EX OFFICIO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| HOWARD JETER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| NICLETTE MUNADABI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| LILLIAN OTIENO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| ISAAC OWENS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK RITCHIE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| CASS STILLMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| JOTE TADDESE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| GARY ZELKO EX OFFICIO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL MILLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 717 PRIOR AVE N, SAINT PAUL, MN 55104-1743
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- PATRICK PLONSKI, SAME AS C ABOVE, ST PAUL, MN 55101
- Signed the 990
- PATRICK PLONSKI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (651) 602-9844
- Website
- BOOKSFORAFRICA.ORG
- Return prepared by
- LEWIS & MOUNT LLC
Mission
BOOKS FOR AFRICA, INC.'S MISSION IS TO COLLECT, SORT, SHIP AND DISTRIBUTE BOOKS TO CHILDREN IN AFRICA. ITS GOAL IS TO END THE BOOK FAMINE IN AFRICA.
Program accomplishments
- BOOKS FOR AFRICA SENT 162 SHIPMENTS OF APPROXIMATELY 2,851,027 BOOKS AND DIGITAL BOOKS WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF $28,541,996 TO 36 AFRICAN COUNTIRES. BOOKS FOR AFRICA RECEIVES FUNDS FOR THE SHIPMENT OF BOOKS TO AFRICA, AND THIS IS THE ORGANIZATION'S ONLY PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, BOOKS FOR AFRICA ALLOWS DONORS TO TARGET DONATIONS TO SPECIFIC COUNTRIES AND PROVIDES FEEDBACK TO DONOR WHEN BOOKS HAVE BEEN SHIPPED TO THEIR COUNTRIES. 99% OF TOTAL EXPENSES ARE SPENT ON PROGRAM RELATED EXPENSES.Expenses $30,663,441 · grants $28,541,996 · revenue $28,604,646
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 41-1627391
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1993
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- International, foreign affairs and national security (Q300)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $14,757,978
- Income (IRS master file)
- $28,604,646
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $28,604,646 | $31,028,580 | $14,757,978 | XML |
| 990 | June 2024 | $23,853,447 | $18,626,801 | $17,129,347 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $33,635,680 | $35,479,534 | $12,079,909 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 41-1627391).
Questions about BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC
- What is the EIN of BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC is 41-1627391.
- Is BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1993.
- Are donations to BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names PATRICK PLONSKI.
- Who are the officers and directors of BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 23 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $206,366 (PATRICK PLONSKI EX OFFICIO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $28,604,646, expenses of $31,028,580 and total assets of $14,757,978 at year end.
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