What is a Friends group?
Group of people who support the work of the library:
Starting Out:
Membership:
Structure:
Fundraising:
Meetings:
Librarian’s Role:
A Foundation is an institution supported by an endowment.
A Library Foundation is separate from the library board, Friends group, or funding authority.
Benefits of a Foundation
●Ensures money stays with library for library purposes
●Allows donations to grow by earning interest
Purposes of a Foundation
●Endow large library projects
●Enhance library’s mission
●Ensure library’s future
Foundation relationships with other groups: Library Foundation and Library Boards
Foundation & Library boards may align with same goals & projects, or may work on separate issues.
●Development
●Long-term
●Sustainability
●Support
Library Board provides the day-to-day operational guidance
●Policies & planning
●Public funds
●Facilities
●Personnel
●Contracts
●Follows state statutes
Library Foundation Seeks
Library Foundation Structures | ||
Library Foundation and Library board are the same | Library Foundation board and Library board are separate | Library Foundation and Library board are the same + there are 2-4 individuals who serve on Foundation only |
●Much more work for library director | ●Foundation Board has liaison member from Library Board | ●Those individuals’ terms may be different from board members’ terms |
●Potential for mixing roles | ●Foundation Board has own director | ●Those individuals’ sole focus is Foundation work |
●Dual missions | ●Each board has distinct mission and purpose |
Thorsen, Jeanne. “Establishing a Library Foundation, http://www.ala.org/united/sites/ala.org.united/files/content/foundations/orgtools/library-foundation.pdf
http://www.ala.org/united/friends/factsheets Friends and Foundations Fact Sheets
Applying for 501(c)(3) status Applying for 501(c)(3) status