Nonprofit · EIN 94-6085452
FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY
Tax-exempt · SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $4,861,318 | $3,542,110 | $1,319,208 | $12,961,042 | $1,116,332 | $11,844,710 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $3,344,781 | $3,616,539 | -$271,758 | $10,334,828 | $388,297 | $9,946,531 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $5,378,258 | $3,964,708 | $1,413,550 | $10,108,766 | $546,125 | $9,562,641 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $3,653,224
- of which government grants
- $19,125
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $292,730
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $2,184
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $915,277
- Other revenue
- $915,364
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $902,179
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $404,927
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,083,327
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,779,969
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $400
- Accounting fees
- $31,000
- Occupancy
- $237,715
- Travel
- $4,759
- Depreciation
- $47,300
- Program services (functional)
- $2,713,003
- Management and general (functional)
- $295,803
- Fundraising (functional)
- $533,304
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $10,334,828
- Total assets, end of year
- $12,961,042
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,116,332
- Net assets, end of year
- $11,844,710
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $176,349
- Publicly traded securities
- $9,822,962
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $3,708,396
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $8,136,314
- Gross receipts
- $5,303,220
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 165
- Year formed
- 1961
- State of legal domicile
- CA
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Daffeh | Director of Finance & Admin. Officer | 35 | $149,541 | $37,150 |
| Shaojun Wu | Finance Manager Highest-paid employee | 35 | $106,910 | $29,664 |
| Emily Ford Dirks | Executive Director (start 5/24) Officer | 35 | $132,196 | $879 |
| Michael Mercanti | Communication Officer Highest-paid employee | 35 | $100,917 | $9,442 |
| Rebecca Charnas-Grant | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Nelly Sapinski | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Miriam Wrobel | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sarah Ives | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| David Blazevich | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Chrysty Esperanza | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Alison Fong | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Barre Fong | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Diane Gibson | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kendall Laidlaw | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kate Lazarus | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
6 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alissa Lee | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jessica Lipnack | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Ben Mangan | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Marriane O'Connor | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Cynthia So Schroeder | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Willie Swinerton | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 28 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Daffeh | Director of Finance & Administration Officer | 35 | $147,415 | $35,048 |
| Barbara Alvarez | Director of Philanthropy Highest-paid employee | 35 | $149,515 | $10,857 |
| Shaojun Wu | Finance Manager Highest-paid employee | 35 | $105,726 | $27,789 |
| Marie Ciepiela | Executive Director (End 08/23) Officer | 40 | $115,566 | $4,263 |
| Caroline Blanding | Interim ED (Start 09/23 & End 05/24) Officer | 35 | $43,750 | $0 |
| Daphne Li | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Rebecca Charnas-Grant | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Matthew Kenaston | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sarah Ives | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Gina Baleria | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| David Blazevich | Board Member (Start 01/24) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Chrysty Esperanza | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Alison Fong | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Barre Fong | Board Member (Start 01/24) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Diane Gibson | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kendall Laidlaw | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kate Lazarus | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Alissa Lee | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jessica Lipnack | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Ben Mangan | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Marriane O'Connor | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Nelly Sapinski | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sarah Jones | Board Member (End 12/23) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Cynthia So Schroeder | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Willie Swinerton | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Michael Warr | Board Member (End 07/23) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Miriam Wrobel | Board Member (Start 01/24) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Emily Ford Dirks | Executive Director (Start 05/24) Officer | 35 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 24 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marie Ciepiela | Executive Director Officer | 35 | $164,478 | $29,498 |
| Bob Daffeh | Director of Finance & Administration Officer | 35 | $144,236 | $32,843 |
| Barbara Alvarez | Director of Philanthropy Highest-paid employee | 35 | $146,083 | $15,511 |
| Shaojun Wu | Finance Manager Highest-paid employee | 35 | $103,539 | $25,905 |
| Sarah Jones | Chair (End 12/22) Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Daphne Li | Vice Chair/Chair (Trans. 12/22) Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Rebecca Charnas-Grant | Board Member/VC (Trans. 12/22) Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Matthew Kenaston | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sarah Ives | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Gina Baleria | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Chrysty Esperanza | Board Member (Start 01/23) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Alison Fong | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Diane Gibson | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kendall Laidlaw | Board Member (Start 01/23) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kate Lazarus | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Alissa Lee | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jessica Lipnack | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Ben Mangan | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Marriane O'Connor | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Nelly Sapinski | Board Member (Start 01/23) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kathleen Rydar | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Cynthia So Schroeder | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Willie Swinerton | Board Member (Start 07/22) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Michael Warr | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1630 17TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107-2332
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Emily Garvie, 1630 17th St, San Francisco, CA 94107
- Signed the 990
- Bob Daffeh, Director of Finance & Admin.
- Phone
- (415) 626-7500
- Website
- www.friendssfpl.org
- Return prepared by
- Harrington Group CPAs LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 94-6085452 or by the name FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
See Schedule OFriends supports the free public libraries of San Francisco. We provide funding and conduct advocacy and outreach to ensure that all people have equal access to the information, resources and support that our libraries provide. Friends believes that libraries are anchors for thriving neighborhoods, and that an excellent library system is critical to the health of our city.
Program accomplishments
- Library Support Program:Friends has an annual direct support program that funds various library programs, resources, and equipment. As a community foundation, Friends awards support to the SFPL for innovative, free programs and services that are open to everyone across San Francisco in the areas of: children and teens, neighborhood branches, arts and culture, exhibitions, careers and jobs support, ESL, new immigrant support, technology and media learning, remote outreach (bookmobiles), and special collections and infrastructure support for affinity centers throughout the Main Library. Examples of popular programs that rely almost exclusively on Friends' support are One City One Book, the Summer Stride Reading and STEM Program, Tricycle Music Festival, and the publication of At the Library, a free newsletter of activities at the Main Library and the 27 branches. Friends' funds also support professional development for library staff, including paying for specialized training and conferences and grants to Librarians to pilot new innovative services that if successful, are often expanded system wide. And finally, Friends support includes additional funds for the library to promote free programs among identified groups of high-need residents, including contracting digital marketing expertise. Through Friends, community members express their support and aspirations for the SFPL as: - Persuasive Advocates committed to a strong and responsive library with reliable public funding. - Engaged Champions advancing the SFPL's mission for community literacy and expansive free resources and opportunities for everyone.- Generous investors bridging the funding gap between what the city provides and the cost of additional programs, resources, and services that San Franciscans want and need.Expenses $1,421,842 · grants $902,179
- Community Book Program: Through ongoing efforts to support the library, Friends connects readers with inexpensive and free books. Each year, through its Community Book Program ("CBP"), Friends takes in over one million donated books and media, which it in turn resells to the public through two bookstores, online sales, and a number of specialty book sales (including some of the largest book sales on the West Coast). The SFPL also selectively acquires rare books from Friends that enhance SFPL's collections. Many books are also donated to schools and other non-profit organizations through Friends' CBP. Friends re-engineered what has been known as Books Operations into the Book Program, embracing its activities more accurately and fueling its growth as a valuable community asset that supports SFPL's mission for literacy and literary engagement. The Book Programs' four fundamental goals balance literacy and a national model for environmental responsibility. These goals are to: - Increase access to low-cost books and media through multiple venues of convenience and affordability. - Redirect free books from the traditional market to underserved and low-income children and families.- Promote literary engagement through free literary activities. - Keep more than one million books and media out of landfill and recycling plants each year.Expenses $908,068 · revenue $915,277
- Advocacy Program:Friends continues the tradition of active and vocal support to ensure excellence in library services for all users. Friends' long and successful track record includes its critical role in passing five ballot measures over the last 30 years. Through its advocacy efforts, Friends helped pass a $106 million bond measure to build and refurbish 24 neighborhood branch libraries city-wide (2000, Prop A), championing the Library Preservation Fund, ensuring increased library hours, services and budget (1994, Prop E); spearheading the legislative campaign to build a $109.5 million new Main Library (1988, Prop A) and securing over $9.7 million in state funding. In 2007, Friends helped pass a measure (Prop D) that will bring in over $1.2 billion to the library by renewing the Library Preservation Fund and most recently in 2022, passed the third version of the Library Preservation Fund (Prop F) securing twenty-five years of public funding. We continue to work with elected officials, community groups, and the library administration to ensure a premier library system for San Francisco.Expenses $282,205
- Volunteer Program:Friends has a robust volunteer program which helps support the CBP, library and Friends' literary events, and contribute to our library advocacy efforts by educating the public about the Library Preservation Fund as well as promoting patronage of the twenty-eight libraries in San Francisco. In FY 24/25, the program was supported by a total of 165 volunteers who contributed a total of 12,682 volunteer hours valued at $509,055. The Lisa Brown & Daniel Handler Writer's Residency Program:Made possible by the generosity of Daniel Handler and Lisa Brown, the residency is designed to provide five writers with free, adequate, and accessible space in which to produce creative work, and to connect them with the San Francisco Public Library to produce and share their work in the community. The resident authors work in designated artist space (the writers hive) at the Friends office where they have 24-hour unlimited access to the office and all the amenities and supplies of the office. Each resident is connected to a branch library as the resident writer/creator for the purpose of highlighting their talents and engaging with the library patrons.Expenses $100,888
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
- 94-6085452
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1963
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B110)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $12,961,042
- Income (IRS master file)
- $5,303,220
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $4,861,318 | $3,542,110 | $12,961,042 | XML |
| 990 | June 2024 | $3,344,781 | $3,616,539 | $10,334,828 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $5,378,258 | $3,964,708 | $10,108,766 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $3,006,314 | $3,091,175 | $7,992,031 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | 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 94-6085452).
Questions about FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY
- What is the EIN of FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY is 94-6085452.
- Is FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1963.
- Are donations to FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY 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 FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY 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 FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY 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 FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names Emily Garvie.
- Who are the officers and directors of FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 21 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $149,541 (Bob Daffeh, Director of Finance & Admin.).
- How much revenue does FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $4,861,318, expenses of $3,542,110 and total assets of $12,961,042 at year end.
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