THE JOHN CRERAR FOUNDATION C/O THE… - Form 990 Financial Data

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1981

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

PATRICK J BITTERMAN

Phone

3127155122

Tax Period

2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

THE JOHN CRERAR FOUNDATION C/O THE JOHN CRERAR LIBRARY, founded in 1981, is a micro nonprofit that reported $21K in total revenue in fiscal year 2025. Revenue surged 60% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. Expenses of $35K exceeded revenue, resulting in a 64% operating deficit.

Mission

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE JOHN CRERAR LIBRARY (THE "LIBRARY") IN THE FORM OF GRANTS MADE NOT LESS OFTEN THAN ANNUALLY. THE LIBRARY IS THE SCIENCE, MEDICINE AND TECHNOLOGY COMPONENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LIBRARY SYSTEM. VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE ORGANIZATION'S INCOME IS USED IN FURTHERANCE OF THIS MISSION.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $20,000

THIS GRANT TO THE LIBRARY PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE PRESERVATION AND CATALOGING OF THE HISTORIC CRERAR COLLECTION. THE BOOKS, ARTICLES AND RELATED ITEMS THAT COMPRISE THE HISTORIC CRERAR COLLECTION...

THIS GRANT TO THE LIBRARY PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE PRESERVATION AND CATALOGING OF THE HISTORIC CRERAR COLLECTION. THE BOOKS, ARTICLES AND RELATED ITEMS THAT COMPRISE THE HISTORIC CRERAR COLLECTION ARE THE DOCUMENTS THAT FORMED THE CENTERPIECE OF THE ORIGINAL JOHN CRERAR LIBRARY. THESE ITEMS, SOME OF WHICH ARE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD, NOW ARE IN THE CARE AND CUSTODY OF THE CRERAR LIBRARY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO. THIS GRANT WILL SUPPORT THE ONGOING PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC CRERAR COLLECTION AND WILL MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH ENHANCED CATALOGING. THIS IS EXPECTED TO BE A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT.

Program 2

Expenses: $11,100

THIS GRANT TO THE LIBRARY PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THE CAPTURING THE STARS MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT THAT INCLUDES FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS FROM THE LIBRARY, DIGITAL STUDIES...

THIS GRANT TO THE LIBRARY PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THE CAPTURING THE STARS MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT THAT INCLUDES FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS FROM THE LIBRARY, DIGITAL STUDIES, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS. THIS PROJECT PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES IN ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS, DIGITAL HUMANITIES AND HISTORY OF SCIENCE. IN PARTICULAR, THIS GRANT PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS TO PRESENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME BIENNIAL HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY WORKSHOP.

Program 3

Expenses: $3,900

THIS GRANT TO THE LIBRARY PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THE ANNUAL JOHN CRERAR FOUNDATION SCIENCE WRITING PRIZE PROGRAM.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2025)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $0

Program Service Revenue $0

Investment Income $21,375

Other Revenue $0

TOTAL REVENUE $21,375

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $35,000

Salaries & Benefits $0

Fundraising Expenses $0

Program Expenses $35,000

Other Expenses $0

TOTAL EXPENSES $35,000

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2025	2024	Change
Revenue	$21,375	$13,359	+0.6%
Expenses	$35,000	$35,000	N/A
Net Income	$-13,625	$-21,641	-0.4%

Key Indicators

✓ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✗ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

N/A

Volunteers

N/A

Governance Policies

✗ Conflict of Interest Policy

✗ Whistleblower Policy

✗ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
JANICE E RODGERS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PATRICK J BITTERMAN	PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR	1.25	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
DAVID LOWENTHAL	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BOMIE LEONARD	SECRETARY & TREASURER DIRECTOR	1.50	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	$21,375	$35,000	$1,136,497	$-13,625
2024	$13,359	$35,000	$991,216	$-21,641
2023	$1,845	$36,307	$886,603	$-34,462
2022	$1,617	$36,220	$761,816	$-34,603
2021	$488,191	$31,016	$1,031,415	$457,175
2020	$29,395	$31,030	$935,247	$-1,635
2019	$31,677	$30,589	$969,658	$1,088
2018	$29,627	$29,505	$806,464	$122

THE JOHN CRERAR FOUNDATION C/O THE JOHN CRERAR LIBRARY