Library Foundation of Los Angeles

Name

Library Foundation of Los Angeles

Legal name

Library Foundation of Los Angeles

Website

https://lfla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Libraries and Archives (519210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO)

Keywords

• Public library support
• Nonprofit fundraising services
• Literacy program funding
• Cultural programming events
• Membership nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible gifts from individuals supporting library programs and initiatives
2. Membership Program: Annual membership fees ranging from $75 to $1,000+ with tiered benefits including store discounts, event invitations, and exclusive access
3. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts including wills, living trusts, charitable trusts, retirement accounts, and life insurance beneficiaries through the Bibliophiles honorary society
4. Foundation Grants: Grants from foundations including Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Vera R. Campbell Foundation, and others supporting specific programs
5. Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorships, employee matching gift programs, and volunteer opportunities from corporate partners
6. Library Store Retail: Physical and online retail store selling library-themed merchandise, prints, and gifts at 630 W. Fifth St. and shop.lfla.org

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Library Foundation of Los Angeles is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises private funds and provides programmatic support to the Los Angeles Public Library. It funds and produces literacy, student success, and cultural programming across all 73 LAPL branches, including the ALOUD author series, exhibitions, online tutoring, adult literacy services, and teen civic engagement, and it operates The Library Store retail operation and a tiered membership program.

Product overview

The Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA) is a nonprofit organization that provides critical support to the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) through fundraising, advocacy, and innovative programs. Rather than a single product, LFLA operates as a platform supporting multiple distinct programs organized into three main pillars: Student Success (including Online Tutoring, Student Zones, Teens Leading Change, and Youth Empowering Sensory Spaces), Lifelong Learning (Adult Literacy Services, Career Online High School, Cybernauts, and Summer Apprenticeship Program), and Engaging the Imagination (ALOUD author programming, Exhibitions and Special Projects, Creators in Residence, and Cultural Celebrations). Additional initiatives include Night at the Library festivals, The Council membership group, and the Library Store retail operation. The organization also manages targeted fundraising campaigns including the Light of Learning Fund and the LAPL Palisades Branch Recovery Fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ALOUD Free public programming series featuring author conversations, readings, and performances hosted at the Los Angeles Public Library for the general public, literary enthusiasts, and library supporters.
• Exhibitions and Special Projects Large-scale exhibitions, public programs, festivals, and publications designed and produced in collaboration with the Los Angeles Public Library, partnering with community groups, artists, and storytellers.
• Student Success Programs Collection of programs supporting student achievement including Online Tutoring, Student Zones, Summer with the Library, Full STEAM Ahead, Get Ready for College, and Youth Empowering Sensory Spaces for K-12 and teen students in Los Angeles.
• Lifelong Learning Programs Adult literacy services, Career Online High School, Cybernauts digital assistance, Summer Apprenticeship Program, and IDEAS @ LAPL supporting continuous education across all ages.
• Teens Leading Change Youth civic engagement program where young Angelenos collaborate with librarians to research, design, and implement civic-action projects addressing social issues in their communities.
• Creators in Residence Creative residency program partnering with Los Angeles Public Library to support artists and creators in developing work that engages the community.
• Night at the Library After-hours immersive festival transforming the Central Library into an evening event featuring live performances, interactive installations, and hands-on activities celebrating storytelling.
• LAPL Cultural Celebrations Cultural celebrations including Los Angeles Libros Festival, Dia de los Muertos, Nowruz Festival, AAPI Joy Festival, and June Jubilee honoring the city's rich diversity.
• The Council Premier fundraising group established in 1994 producing the Council Literary Series and biennial Literary Feasts, having raised over $35 million for LAPL programs; engages major donors through curated events.
• The Library Store Retail store at Central Library location (630 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles) and online at shop.lfla.org, selling library-themed merchandise including centennial prints, gifts, books, apparel, and curated gift items.
• Marisa Antonini Reading Initiative for Success and Achievement (MARISA) $1 million initiative establishing innovative LAPL services for emerging and struggling readers including those with learning differences and disabilities like dyslexia.
• LA County Cultural Climate Commons $1.2 million initiative funding a mobile memory lab, community artmaking programs, digital archiving events, and a climate-focused digital hub to preserve stories of communities impacted by the 2025 Eaton and Palisades wildfires.

Quantifiable outcome

• 115,386 children and caregivers reached through 3,729 children's librarian programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• LAistcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Media partner for Night at the Library after-hours festival celebrating Central Library's 100th anniversary. Festival features over 200 artists and 25-30 activations throughout the library campus.
• Lucas Museum of Narrative ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Co-presenter of Night at the Library: Building Stories, transforming Central Library into an immersive after-hours event featuring live performances, interactive installations, and hands-on activities.
• LA County LibrarymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with LA County Library, LA County Department of Arts and Culture, Los Angeles Public Library, and Altadena Library District for the $1.2M Mellon Foundation-funded LA County Cultural Climate Commons project. Initiative launches mobile memory lab, community artmaking programs, digital archiving events, and climate-focused digital hub to preserve stories and cultural heritage of communities impacted by 2025 Eaton and Palisades wildfires. Project runs January 2026 through June 2028.
• Los Angeles Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary beneficiary partner. LFLA provides critical support resulting in free programs, resources, and services available to millions of patrons across 73 branch locations. Partnership includes fundraising, advocacy, and program development.
• LA County Department of Arts & CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting cultural programs, exhibitions, and community arts initiatives.
• Pacific Palisades Library AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for long-term recovery and rebuilding of Palisades Branch Library following devastating wildfires.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• New York Public Library (supporting entities): The nonprofit fundraising and program-delivery ecosystem supporting NYPL operates on the same public-library foundation model as LFLA, with comparable donor tiers, author programming, and branch-based service delivery across New York City.
• Chicago Public Library Foundation: Raises private funds for the Chicago Public Library system, directly paralleling LFLA's role with LAPL across literacy, youth, and cultural programs in a major US metro area.
• Boston Public Library Fund: Private fundraising partner for Boston Public Library, operating the same private-public model with comparable membership programs, exhibitions, and author series.
• San Francisco Public Library Foundation: Fundraising arm for SFPL with overlapping programs in literary programming, youth literacy, and cultural exhibitions at the branch and central library level.
• Houston Public Library Foundation: Private nonprofit supporting the Houston Public Library with comparable adult literacy, children programming, and cultural initiatives tied to a major US city system.

Others

• Carnegie Corporation of New York: A major institutional funder of LFLA and a leading national philanthropy promoting libraries as civic institutions; comparable as a peer in mission alignment and grantmaking scope rather than direct operational overlap.
• National Book Foundation: National nonprofit supporting literary culture and authors through programming and awards; comparable to LFLA's cultural-programming pillar though operating at a national rather than city scale.

Broad incumbents

• 92nd Street Y (92Y): A larger established cultural and educational nonprofit that runs an author/conversation series, literary programming, and community education - directly comparable to LFLA's ALOUD programming and lifelong learning portfolio but with a much broader national footprint.

Emerging players

• PEN America: A literary and free-expression nonprofit that programs author events and advocates for libraries; partial overlap with LFLA's ALOUD programming and civic engagement work.

Regional players

• Dodge College / Levitt Foundation cultural grantees: Comparable regional philanthropies that fund arts, culture, and community-based programming in their respective states, structurally aligned with LFLA's grantmaking and program model though not library-specific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LibraryFoundLA
• Facebookfacebook.com/LibraryFoundLA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/library-foundation-of-los-angeles
• Instagraminstagram.com/libraryfoundla

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Library Foundation of Los Angeles