CHARLESTON LIBRARY SOCIETY Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

CHARLESTON LIBRARY SOCIETY

EIN 57-0314372 · Libraries (B70)

What they do

Our Mission is To: Providing Educational Opportunities for All Ages Children Through Adults; Conserving, Preserving, Exhibiting and Expanding Its Collections; Using Technology to Improve Access to and Understanding of The Librarys Collections; (Continued On Schedule O) Offering Lectures and Programs On Common Literary and Historical Interests; Collaborating With Other Cultural Institutions On Subjects of Common Interest; Providing A Literary and Historical Archival Center for Scholars, Researchers and Students; and Providing Programs That Offer Life-long Learning Opportunities to The Community.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $87.70 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders25 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

75.71%of revenue went to mission work87.7% of expenses · Program services

3.32%of revenue went to fundraising3.8% of expenses

$86.35spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

7.33%of revenue went to management and office costs8.5% of expenses

$6.96in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

60.8%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $223,170 for LAURA PELZER (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$2,496,320

Mission workProgram services$1,889,88275.71% of revenue87.7% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$182,8907.33% of revenue8.5% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$82,7853.32% of revenue3.8% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$340,76313.65% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$2,155,55786.35% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 87.7% mission · 8.5% management · 3.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 86.35% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 82.8% mission · 12.9% management · 4.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 81.56% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 73.6% mission · 20.3% management · 6.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 111.96% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 73.4% mission · 20.6% management · 6.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 52.93% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 73.5% mission · 20.9% management · 5.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 72.14% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 73.9% mission · 20.0% management · 6.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 41.35% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 71.1% mission · 21.2% management · 7.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 44.25% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 64.9% mission · 18.9% management · 16.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 71.40% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$2,496,320

Expenses$2,155,557

Annual surplus $340,763 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$1,889,882 · 87.7% of expenses

Management and office costs$182,890 · 8.5% of expenses

Fundraising$82,785 · 3.8% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$2,496,320

Expenses$2,155,557

Assets$15,012,678

Income$4,844,180

Contributions$1,518,383

Mission work (program services)$1,889,882

Fundraising$82,785

Management and general$182,890

Stocks and bonds$7,116,130

Accounting fees$16,148

Investing fees$39,043

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

LAURA PELZEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 55 hrs/week $223,170Base $197,970 · Other $25,200

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (25)

LAURA PELZEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

JAMES O TREYZDIRECTOR

WENDY C H WELLINDIRECTOR

SUSAN DICAMILLODIRECTOR

STEVENSON B BENNETTDIRECTOR

SAMUEL L EASLEYDIRECTOR

MICHAEL D REYNOLDSTREASURER

M EDWARD SELLERSDIRECTOR

LEWIS S KUNKEL IIIDIRECTOR

LEE PRINGLEDIRECTOR

JOHN A HILLDIRECTOR

JERROLD MITCHELLDIRECTOR

JAMES W BRADSHAWDIRECTOR

ANDREW R TEWDIRECTOR

JAMES C MABRY IVDIRECTOR

JACK D MCSPADDEN JRPRESIDENT

GINA STOUFFERSECRETARY

EMILY-ELISE MARTINDIRECTOR

ELISA B VON MARSCHALLDIRECTOR

DIANA HAMBLETONVICE PRESIDENT

DEBORAH C FISHERDIRECTOR

CHEVON C HERBERTDIRECTOR

CARL A WISEDIRECTOR

ANNE P KEIGHEREXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

ANN M AUBURNDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1941
Location: 164 King Street, Charleston, SC 29401
County: Charleston
In care of: James O Treyz
Primary officer: James O Treyz, Treasurer

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailinfo@charlestonlibrarysociety.org Phone(843) 723-9912

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: GLASER AND COMPANY LLC
NTEE classification: Libraries (B70)
IRS tax category: Libraries