[Libs-Or] Library Foundation donations

[Buzzy Nielsen]

Hi Leah,


I think that the success of having a single organization where patrons to donate depends a lot on your Foundation's appetite to handle the extra traffic, and the likelihood that Foundation members in the future will have said appetite. I've worked with support groups who would relish that opportunity and others who wouldn't given the extra work entailed. My understanding is that patrons can get the same tax write-off donating directly to your government agency as they do for the Foundation.


Personally, I highly prefer having the Friends/Foundation cut the library a check and running those funds through a separate gift fund with your fiscal agent. You can even make a specific line item for Foundation donations or whatever other detail you need. I feel like this gives a fuller accounting to local policymakers and the public (to say nothing of the State Library/IMLS!) of the actual costs of running the library, including the extras paid for by the Foundation/Friends. Since the money is running through the government agency, it also adds a layer of accountability and auditing.


Cheers!
Buzzy

*************************
Director of Library Services
Crook County Library
175 NW Meadow Lakes Dr.
Prineville, OR 97754
541-447-7978 x314 (new extension)
http://crooklib.org

________________________________
From: Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> on behalf of Leah Griffith <leah.griffith at newbergoregon.gov>
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2018 4:20:09 PM
To: Libs-or
Subject: [Libs-Or] Library Foundation donations

Hi all,

I'm looking at streamlining the monetary gifts to the public library and have them all go through the library's Foundation.

Right now the Foundation only accepts gifts to its endowment or to a specific capital campaign effort.     Other donations for memorials or in honor of, or to purchase specific items are made to the City and go into a separate gift fund in the city's accounts, so it doesn't get mixed up with General Fund money.    But, it can get a little confusing for the public about who they should make their check out to or their online donation.

I'm looking at the idea of having all monetary donations go to the Foundation and have the donor designate the Endowment or a specific area.   I've looked at Wilsonville and Eugene's online donor forms which give donors various options for where their money goes.     That looked like something that might work out.  Pat Duke, I'll be wanting to talk to you directly about it!

Any thoughts on how a single donation location, the library foundation, works or doesn't work.   If you do it, does it work for you and the Foundation?  If you used to do it that way and quit, I really want to hear from you!

Also,  if you do have the Foundation receive all the donations, do they turn around and write a check to the library/city so you can manage the purchasing of books and other items, or does the Foundation actually write those checks to Ingram or other vendors?  Sometimes I know the actual management of the funds can be the most complex.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Leah
**********************************
Leah M. Griffith, Director
Newberg Public Library
503 E. Hancock Street     Newberg, OR   97132
P 503-537-1256
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