Major Gifts Program Overview

What it is:

A process for securing larger gifts in current funds to support The Library’s operations. For our library system a major gift is defined as $5,000 and up.

Why we are doing it:

The Library has identified two key areas of financial need in recent years:

• Help close the deficit in operating income versus expenses
• Grow endowment to provide a stable funding stream for The Library’s future to supplement the public funds and annual giving.

Service goals for the funding:

• Every Child Matters—early learning support
• Bridging the Digital Divide—providing access to technology
• Opportunities for Growth—providing adults access to lifelong learning

Why Now:

Now that the annual fund drives and other initiatives are operating well and we are no longer in capital campaign mode, we have a pool of donors we can approach to ask for a more significant investment. Major gifts will have a larger impact on helping to fund library operations than annual giving through direct mail, events and sponsorships. And major gift donors are much more likely to consider making a planned gift or a named endowment gift

How it Works:

This is about connecting with people:

The focus of this, and all fundraising, is helping donors get the impact they desire from their giving. It’s not about “convincing” someone to give. It’s about connecting them to the right opportunity to meet their charitable goals.

We are in the Identification and Cultivation stage now. We have a small handful of existing donors we can ask for support right now, but the majority of what needs to happen at this point is cultivating existing donors and new donors in order to introduce them to impact of The Library in our community and ask them to support it or increase their current support. 

How you can help (you don’t have to ask for money):

The greatest gift you can give to the process is to share your inspiration:  

• Select a library service or program that interests you and learn all you can about it. This makes for great conversations when you talk about your Board service.
• Invite someone you know to attend an event or program at The Library with you.
• Invite a friend or business associate to visit one of the libraries with you.
• Wear your library pin and carry your library business cards to share with people you meet who might be interested in learning more about The Library. Offer to bring them to a library program or visit.
• “Adopt” a prospective donor and do thank you notes, a thank you call, invitation to an event, and begin to steward a relationship with them.
• Speak to a group in our community about The Library’s impact.
• Attend getting-to-know-you meeting with a donor you know or would like to meet.

Thank you.

As a Trustee, you are already helping spread the word and support The Library’s impact. Your gift of time and energy is priceless and much appreciated.