Seattle Public Library Foundation

The Seattle Public Library Foundation represented more than 7,700 donors in 2023 who declare through their generous contributions that the Library is a treasure in our community. Donors' collective investments enhance the Library above and beyond what Public funding provides. The Foundation supports expanding the Library's collections, providing more than 45 free, equity-based programs at Library branches, and services to help everyone connect to resources that will better their lives. Private support also strengthens the Library's capacity to innovate and adapt to change and allows the Library to experiment, evaluate the results, and invest resources in areas that have the greatest impact in creating an equitable society where all Seattle residents can thrive.in 2023, the Foundation provided more than $5.8 million in grants and direct program support, of which over $5.1 million was in cash grants and support to the Seattle Public Library. These grants support six patron service priorities: collections and resources; youth and family learning, community engagement; technology and access; reimagined spaces; and Seattle culture and history. Additionally, the Foundation supports Library training, staff development, and strategic initiatives to help keep the Library a leader in its field.the largest cash grant, over $1.9 million, supported the Library's collections and resources. These funds allowed the Library to purchase books, e-books, audiobooks, dvds, and music for all ages, as well as books and materials for numerous Library programs. Currently, one in every three new items available through the Library is purchased with Foundation funds. A grant of over $706,000 supported various community engagement programs, including mobile services to reach older adults, preschool students, and other patrons with barriers to visiting branches, and civic engagement and art programs to engage nontraditional Library audiences. Grants of over $718,000 in the technology and access arena supported upgraded technology, improved access to Library resources for traditionally underserved communities, and digital media learning programs.the Foundation also supported the Library's special programs for youth and families, giving over $744,000 in grant funds to sponsor programs such as summer of learning, homework help, raising a reader, the global reading challenge, and other initiatives to help children succeed in school.the Foundation also supported the Library's efforts to reimagine its spaces to better serve growing populations with grants totaling over $736,000 in 2023. Grants totaling over $244,000 were provided for specialized staff training, strategic support, and Seattle culture and history.the Foundation advocates for more support for Public libraries through the Public Library action network, a grassroots system for supporters to contact elected officials in support of increased funding for the Library at the local, state, and federal levels. In 2022, the Foundation launched the Library support network (lsn) as a model for Public Library fundraising and advocacy across north america to communicate, engage, and collaborate for peer support, information sharing, and deep learning opportunities.the lsn was envisioned to help develop and amplify Public Library fundraising and advocacy work. It is built on the concept of creating a network for peer-to-peer sharing and initiatives for collective impact that result in our Public libraries being better able to support the ever-changing needs of the communities they serve. It also makes resources available to many small and rural libraries which are often only available to larger organizations through fundraising association memberships and related conferences. And it will facilitate elevating more racial diversity and support active recruitment for sector leadership. Total other program and advocacy support was $938,000 in 2023.in the past 20 years, the Foundation has helped secure $572 million in Public funding through the city budget and levy measures.