The Friends of the Seattle Public Library Grant Guidelines
(Replaces Guidelines Adopted 06/02)
Who We Are
The Friends of the Seattle Public Library is a non-profit, grassroots organization dedicated to promoting our Library as an essential institution of society. Our volunteer members advocate, educate and raise funds on behalf of the Library, its patrons, and the larger Seattle community. The Friends have been supporting The Seattle Public Library since 1941.
What We Fund
The Friends make grants to support and strengthen the programs, collection and services of The Seattle Public Library to raise them to a level of excellence beyond the baseline funding provided by the City of Seattle. Grants are made only to The Seattle Public Library and The Seattle Public Library Foundation. The Friends are always interested in using their grants to secure matching funds for the Library and in funding projects which provide visibility for the Friends.
For example we are particularly interested in funding these areas:
Resources for cultural communities
Resources for children and adults
Seed money for new initiatives
New methods of information delivery
Targeted collections or materials needs
City Librarian’s discretionary fund
Granting policy and procedures
The cash balance each year on July 1st (less $150,000 cash reserve) will be available for grants to the Library and Foundation.
A representative of The Friends of the Seattle Public Library Operations Committee will meet with representatives of the Library and Foundation staff in April of each year to initiate the grant process.
Proposals based on Library needs will be considered by The Friends of the Seattle Public Library Operations Committee each year for review and recommendation to the full Board of Trustees no later than September. The approved awards will be presented at the annual meeting in November.
The Guidelines are to be reviewed every even numbered year starting in 2010.