Who We Are

The Foundation provides a way for people who love libraries to contribute financial support and advocate for The Seattle Public Library, enhancing its impact on our community and ensuring its long-term vitality.

The Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1980 and governed by a volunteer board of directors. A professional staff raises and administers gifts and ensures the effectiveness of funded programs.

Since its founding, The Seattle Public Library Foundation has generated more than $256 million in grants and endowments that help the library expand its collections, offer innovative programs for people of all ages, and upgrade neighborhood libraries.

Vision

A library where knowledge flourishes and people find inspiration and belonging.

Mission

To inspire the community’s philanthropic support of, advocacy for, and pride in the Library.

Values

The Foundation is guided by the following values:

• Integrity – We act with honesty and accountability to build trust.
• Belonging – We champion diverse voices and access for all. We treat everyone with dignity, kindness, and openness.
• Innovation – We embrace curiosity, learning, and bold ideas.
• Intellectual freedom – We promote freedom of thought and expression. We believe everyone should have access to books and Library resources.
• Partnership – We are stronger together. We collaborate with The Seattle Public Library, donors, and advocates to create lasting impact.
• Gratitude – We honor and celebrate those who support the Library’s mission.

Foundational Commitments

Equity → Continuing to instill equity values through the Foundation and support and enable the Library’s equity mission. 

 A Vibrant Organization → Building out and supporting a strong, healthy organization that can execute our strategy.We recognize that staff capacity will need to increase to keep pace with our growth.

How we’re different from the Friends

The Foundation is often referred to interchangeably with the Friends of The Seattle Public Library. But we’re actually two separate nonprofit organizations with distinct roles, while working closely together to support the library.

The Foundation is the library’s fundraising partner. Around 8,000 individual donors, as well as private organizations, help the Foundation support library collections, more than 45 equity-based programs, and branch upgrades each year. All contributions enhance, and do not replace, city-funded services.

The Friends are a membership-based, volunteer-driven community organization that helps spread literacy and elevate the role of the library in the community. The Friends offer a way for individuals to donate books, volunteer to support book programs, and advocate for the library. The Friends have book shops at the Central Library and in Georgetown.

The Foundation and Friends collaborate most directly on advocacy, engaging the community about ways to speak up for our library at events and through the Public Library Action Network (PLAN).