What Duluth Library Foundation does

The Duluth Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Federal Tax I.D. #41-1696460) incorporated in Minnesota and headquartered at 520 W. Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802. It serves as the primary private fundraising arm for the Duluth Public Library, raising donations to fund library programs, books and digital materials, technology, capital improvements, and an endowment that distributes 3%-5% of its value annually to the Library. The Foundation has cumulatively delivered more than $1,000,000 to the Library since inception.

The Foundation generates no commercial revenue; its entire funding model is donation-based. Revenue streams include individual donations (recognized via a tiered donor wall from Emily Dickinson $500+ to Andrew Carnegie $10,000+), bequests and planned gifts through wills, living trusts, retirement account designations, and life insurance policies, plus securities donations and tax-free IRA transfers (up to $100,000 annually for donors aged 70½+). It accepts contributions via website, phone, mail, and securities transfer and distributes funds to the Library through an annual grant process.

The Foundation is led by Executive Director Erin Kreeger and governed by a board of trustees including a finance committee. Its GTM motion is community-led, engaging donors and constituents through its website (duluthlibraryfoundation.org), email newsletter, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), community events (such as Movies in the Park and author events), and advocacy campaigns directed at the Duluth City Council. Current strategic activity includes the Children's Section Redesign capital campaign, which has raised $300,000+ of a $350,000 goal under the Carol Fryberger Legacy Match.

Name

Duluth Library Foundation

Legal name

Duluth Library Foundation

Website

https://duluthlibraryfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Duluth Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises private donations to fund programs, materials, technology, and capital improvements for the Duluth Public Library in Minnesota, distributing grants annually and managing a perpetual endowment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Philanthropy Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH)

Keywords

• Library fundraising
• Planned giving
• Donor recognition
• Endowment management
• Community philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Cumulative gifts from individuals recognized at various levels (Emily Dickinson $500+, Mark Twain $1,000+, Jane Austen $2,500+, W. Shakespeare $5,000+, Andrew Carnegie $10,000+)
2. Bequests and Planned Gifts: Gifts through wills, living trusts, retirement account designations, and life insurance policies for long-term endowment support
3. Securities Donations: Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds donated for charitable tax advantages
4. IRA Transfers: Tax-free distributions up to $100,000 annually for donors at least 70½ years old
5. Life Insurance Gifts: Gifts of unneeded policies or naming foundation as beneficiary

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Duluth Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises private donations from individuals and organizations to support the Duluth Public Library. It accepts individual gifts, planned gifts (bequests, IRA distributions, securities, life insurance), runs a tiered donor recognition program (Emily Dickinson through Andrew Carnegie levels), manages an investment endowment that distributes 3%-5% annually to the Library, and conducts capital campaigns such as the Children's Section Redesign. It has provided more than $1,000,000 in cumulative support to the Library for books, materials, technology, programs, and capital improvements.

Product overview

The Duluth Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as the primary private funding arm for the Duluth Public Library. The Foundation operates as a unified fundraising and advocacy organization offering donor recognition programs (with named giving tiers), planned giving services (including bequests, IRA charitable distributions, and securities donations), and capital campaigns such as the Children's Section Redesign. The Foundation manages an endowment that distributes 3%-5% annually to the Library, having provided over $1,000,000 in total support since its founding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Programs and Events Funding Private donation-funded support for Duluth Public Library programs including storytimes, teen activities, book clubs, youth STEAM programs, and other community events, available to Duluth-area residents and families.
• Physical and Digital Materials Funding Donor-funded acquisition of books, digital items, and other library materials for the Duluth Public Library collection, made available to library patrons.
• Donor Recognition Program Tiered cumulative donor recognition program with named literary levels and donor wall nameplates at the Downtown Duluth Public Library, recognizing Emily Dickinson ($500+), Mark Twain ($1,000+), Jane Austen ($2,500+), William Shakespeare ($5,000+), and Andrew Carnegie ($10,000+). Designed for individual and organizational donors who want public acknowledgment of their philanthropy.
• Planned Giving Services Legacy and planned giving services for donors, including bequests through wills or living trusts, IRA charitable distributions, securities donations (stocks, bonds, mutual funds), closely-held stock gifts, and life insurance gifts (either transferring an unneeded policy or naming the Foundation as beneficiary). Available to individuals arranging estate or retirement gifts.
• Endowment Management Strategic investment management of the Foundation's endowment funds overseen by a board-level finance committee that includes financial professionals, with an annual distribution policy of 3%-5% of endowment value gifted to the Duluth Public Library for programs and projects. Foundation managed on behalf of long-term library sustainability.
• Children's Section Redesign Campaign Capital campaign to transform the Downtown Library children's section with modern furnishings, flexible spaces, and inclusive design for children and families, with a $350,000 goal and a Carol Fryberger Legacy Match. More than $300,000 of the $350,000 goal has been raised. Open to individual and organizational donors in the Duluth community.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than $1,000,000 provided to library since inception
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Duluth Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation's primary mission partner. The Foundation raises private funds and provides grants to support library programs, materials, technology, and capital improvements. They work together to determine funding priorities each year.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• San Francisco Public Library Foundation: Nonprofit foundation supporting the San Francisco Public Library through annual giving, capital campaigns, and planned giving. Directly comparable peer in funding programs, materials, and technology for a public library system.
• Seattle Public Library Foundation: Established foundation supporting the Seattle Public Library through donations, planned giving, and capital campaigns. Comparable in mission, structure, and revenue model, though larger in scale.
• Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library: Separate from the St. Paul Public Library Foundation, this is a 501(c)(3) that supports the same library through book sales and donations. Comparable as a community-led nonprofit fundraising body supporting a public library.
• Friends of the Hennepin County Library: Minnesota-based nonprofit fundraising arm for the largest public library system in the state. Directly comparable as a community foundation supporting a public library through donations, planned giving, and capital campaigns in the same regional market.
• Library Foundation of Los Angeles: Nonprofit foundation supporting the Los Angeles Public Library through donations and programs. Comparable as a peer-city public library foundation with similar mission of fundraising for library programs, materials, and capital projects.
• Chicago Public Library Foundation: 501(c)(3) fundraising foundation for the Chicago Public Library system, supporting programs, collections, and capital projects through donor contributions. Operates the same peer model of supplementing public library funding.
• St. Paul Public Library Foundation: Nonprofit foundation that raises private funds for the Saint Paul Public Library in Minnesota. Directly comparable as a peer-city Twin Cities library foundation with the same mission of funding programs, materials, and capital improvements through donor support.
• Minneapolis Public Library Foundation: 501(c)(3) fundraising foundation supporting the Minneapolis Public Library system through private donations, grants, and planned giving. Operates with the same model of supplementing city library funding and managing endowments for library programming.

Broad incumbents

• New York Public Library (Private Fundraising): Major public library system with a large-scale fundraising operation including corporate, foundation, and individual giving. Comparable in function (private fundraising for a public library) but operates at vastly larger scale with broader programs.

Regional players

• Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: Library system founded by Andrew Carnegie with associated private fundraising operations. Comparable in legacy/community philanthropy model for library support, though geographically distinct from Duluth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DuluthLibraryFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/duluth-library-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/duluthlibraryfoundation
• Xx.com/DuluthLibFdn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Duluth Library Foundation