The Estes Valley Public Library Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization, incorporated in 1986 to provide financial support to the Estes Valley Public Library District. A Board of Directors engages in fundraising activities to grow the endowment, manages operating and endowment accounts, and supports Library strategic development with grants. Dollars from the Grants Program supplement tax revenue and are used to maintain, support and improve the 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.

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 sponsored 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 remodel of the Hondius Community Room and the implementation of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology for faster and more accurate materials handling. The Financial Literacy program, “Common Cents Counts”, conducted by the Library was funded via a grant initiated by the Foundation from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.  The Foundation also supports collaborative programs between the Library and other local organizations including the Estes Park Museum, Woman’s Club, Stanley Museum, MacGregor Museum, League of Women Voters and the Estes Park School District.

To attend Foundation-sponsored programs, please contact the Estes Valley Library, (970) 586-8116.

The Foundation is governed by a Board whose members are elected to no more than two consecutive, 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 Foundation President John Krueger, (970) 577-0657.