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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: January 2026 Expires: January 2028

Sun Prairie Public Library Foundation

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
8 18
1350 Linnerud Drive
Sun Prairie, WI, 53590

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Sun Prairie Public Library Foundation does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 8 (Program Service Expense Ratio)
Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

SPPL Foundation does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to the organization's 2024 audited financial statements, the SPPL Foundation spent $88,675 or 35% of its total expenses on programs.

Standard 18 (Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy)
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

SPPL Foundation does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on the organization's website, https://www.sunlibfoundation.org/, does not indicate:

  • What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.

Sun Prairie Public Library Foundation meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Unrestricted Net Assets

Note: In finding that the SPPL Foundation meets Standard 10, which calls for unrestricted assets to be no more than three times the past years expenses, BBB Wise Giving Alliance considered the fact that the organization has advertised and fundraised for the sole purpose of reaching its capital campaign goal to expand its library, and that existing programs during the year ended December 31, 2024, were funded via the organization's reserves.

Stated Purpose:
"to make the Sun Prairie Public Library the best it can be."

Year, State Incorporated:
1999, WI

Sun Prairie Public Library Foundation (SPPL Foundation) reports that it supports the initiatives of the Sun Prairie Library in the City of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin through enhancing and expanding services, programs, and resources. The organization is responsible for the capital campaign to expand and renovate of the library. SPPL Foundation's fundraising campaigns also support youth and adult programs, artist workshops, media collections, and language classes.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, Sun Prairie Public Library Foundation's program expenses were:

Program services $88,675
Total Program Expenses $88,675

Chief Executive
Theresa Stevens, Executive Director

Compensation*
$77,250

Chair of the Board
Josh Erickson

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Owner, American Family Insurance - Josh Erickson Agency

Board Size
17

Paid Staff Size
2

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Telephone appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Television, Radio, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements

Fundraising costs were 3% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $2,336,838, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Sun Prairie Public Library Foundation's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Contributions $2,151,724
Grants $150,020
Investment income, net $126,408
Special events $35,094
Miscellaneous income $11,452
Total Income $2,474,698

Programs: 35% Fundraising: 27% Administrative: 37%

Total Income $2,474,698
Total expenses: $252,007
  Program expenses $88,675
  Fundraising expenses $69,198
  Administrative expenses $94,134
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $2,222,691
Beginning Net Assets $2,924,163
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $5,146,854
Total Liabilities $7,171
Total Assets $5,154,025

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB Serving Wisconsin