The Estes Park Public Library Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization,
incorporated in 1986 to provide financial support to the Estes Park Public
Library. A Board of Directors engages in fundraising activities to grow the
endowment, manages operating and endowment accounts, and disburses funds through
a Grants Program. Dollars from the Grants Program supplement tax revenue and are
used to maintain, support and improve the Estes Park Public Library.
After achieving its initial endowment goal of $500,000, the Foundation has
granted monies annually for projects designated as a library priority, approved
by the Library Director and authorized by the Library Board of Trustees. While
most requests are initiated by library staff and/or the director, any member of
the library district may submit a proposal.
The Foundation Board continues to raise funds for the Endowment through an
annual mail campaign and an
annual benefit dinner held in the fall each year. In
addition, the Foundation is the recipient of bequeaths and memorial donations.
In keeping with government requirements for 501(c) (3) organizations, the
Foundation makes available a percentage of the endowment for projects each year
while continuing to grow the endowment corpus. The Foundation also seeks
matching grants to support qualifying library needs and receives grants to
sponsor special programs. Since its inception the Foundation has provided over
$250,000 in supplemental funding to the library.
Among its most recent grants are the purchase of a new TLC server, new computers
for library staff, “Spanish for Librarians” which helps staff better serve
members of community who are non-English speakers, and a re-design of the
community reading room. Foundation-sponsored programs presented with matching
funds from other non-profit agencies (like Colorado Humanities, for example)
include the Young Chautauqua Program, a Reader’s Theater, a series of public
forums on various topics. The most recent forum concerns a series of speakers on
“Colorado in an Emergent Nation.” The Foundation also supports collaborative
programs with other local organizations including the Estes Park Museum, Woman’s
Club, the Stanley Museum, MacGregor Museum, League of Women Voters and the Estes
Park School District.
The Foundation is governed by a Board whose members are elected to no more than
two, three-year terms. The Foundation is audited annually by an independent CPA.
Copies of annual audits are available through the Library. For more information
on the Foundation, to make a tax-deductible donation or to be added to the
Foundation mailing list, contact current president Katie Speer, (970) 586-1624.
To attend Foundation-sponsored programs, please contact the Estes Park Public
Library, 970-586-8116.
