Foundations
Tributes and Memorials
When someone donates to your library or its fundraising organization, they get a great feeling of satisfaction in return. That great feeling goes a long way toward motivating people to donate to any nonprofit organization. What can give a donor an even better feeling? Making a donation that honors someone while it supports your library.…
Read More8 Fundamental Principles for Your Board
Most public libraries today are connected to multiple boards, including library, foundation, and Friends boards, as well as city councils, county commissions or something comparable. In general, these boards are good at following legal requirements, but more often run into difficulties around ethics or practices that are critical to an effective board. Here are eight…
Read More14 Important Tips for a Successful Annual Appeal
Of all the kinds of support activities your library or its fundraising organization can undertake, one provides the underpinning for all the rest. That is the annual appeal (or annual fund). It’s been called “the cornerstone of fundraising” because it connects to all of the rest of the library fundraising that you do. An annual…
Read MoreSecuring Sponsorship for your Library Program
Business sponsorship of library activities is an example of innovation that is on the rise. It is attractive because it creates (or builds on) relationships for a win-win situation for both the library and the business. Here’s how: The library is one of our society’s most beloved and valued institutions, and a business that sponsors…
Read More10 Ways for Friends and Foundations to Work Together
Many libraries wonder if they need both a Friends and a Foundation, and admittedly the answer differs for each individual library. We sometimes recommend creating both organizations and we have also recommended merging the two. There is no right answer for everyone. But if you do have both, here are some simple tips to helping…
Read MoreIs a Membership Program Right for You?
Many libraries and fundraising organizations are faced with this question, and the answer isn’t easy, especially if you are also conducting an annual fund or other kind of campaign. Why run a membership program when you have nothing really tangible to offer? Read these pros and cons to help you decide. Pros Your donors…
Read MoreHow to Ask for Major Gifts
For many of us, asking someone for a large donation can be intimidating, or perhaps even terrifying. It shouldn’t be, if you think about it. Asking a potential donor to give a gift to the Library is simply sharing an opportunity. It is an invitation to be part of something exciting. An opportunity to change…
Read MoreLibrary Foundations Raise Money for Libraries… Right?
Everywhere you turn in the world of libraries, you hear people talking about the need for private fundraising. Many feel that the answer to this challenge lies in the creation of a Library Foundation. But how does a library foundation differ from a Friends group? Foundations are unique in that they are typically staffed by…
Read MoreWhy Can’t We All Just Get Along
Public libraries are among the few institutions that have not one, but two different organizations to help support them: Friends of Libraries and library foundations. It would seem that these two organizations would work together in harmony, but all too often that’s not the case. Friends groups typically serve libraries with volunteer activities, programming, membership,…
Read MoreSecrets to Board Recruitment
What’s the key to being able to recruit the best possible Board of Directors? More than likely, it comes down to two factors: 1) an excellent nominating committee, and 2) a new Board member orientation process. The nominating committee should be considered the most important committee of any nonprofit organization. This is the committee on…
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