Eugene Public Library Foundation
Eugene Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and stewards private funds to support Eugene Public Library, operating the Imagination Library of Eugene early literacy program, annual galas, merchandise sales, and library funding advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersEugene, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Eugene Public Library Foundation does
Eugene Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization (EIN 93-0873279) founded in 1983 and headquartered at 100 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 405, Eugene, Oregon. The Foundation raises and stewards private funds that supplement public funding for Eugene Public Library. Its core programming centers on the Imagination Library of Eugene, an affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library launched locally in 2014, which mails free age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth through age five. Since inception, the program has delivered 486,675 books to 17,133 children. The Foundation also organizes annual fundraising events (Booked for the Evening gala and the Imagination Library Luncheon), operates the Love Your Library merchandise storefront on Square featuring local artist designs from an annual art contest, runs advocacy campaigns supporting the Library Levy renewal on the May 2026 ballot, and publishes the "Between the Shelves" newsletter.
The Foundation's revenue model is donations-driven across four streams: individual contributions and corporate sponsorships (via the etapestry donation portal), event fundraising (with the 2024 Imagination Library Luncheon raising over $89,000 and the 2026 Booked for the Evening gala raising over $135,000), merchandise sales (tote bags, t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, keychains), and structured giving such as $100 shelf dedications and $30-per-year or $150-five-year Imagination Library child sponsorships. Major institutional partners include Peak Credit Union (a $250,000 over-five-years commitment), United Way of Lane County, Springfield Young Readers, Lane Forest Products, Pacific Cascade Federal Credit Union, and Friends of the Eugene Public Library. The associated Eugene Public Library holds Library Journal Star Library status, ranking in the top 3% of U.S. libraries for cost-effective service delivery, with funding composed of 76% City of Eugene General Fund, 22% voter-approved 2020 Library Levy, and 2% private donations including Foundation contributions.
In a significant 2026 strategic transition, the Foundation's Imagination Library of Eugene program is combining with Springfield Young Readers and United Way of Lane County to form the Imagination Library of Lane County, which will be administered by United Way beginning July 2026 and expand county-wide coverage. Leadership consists of Executive Director Dana B. Fleming and Meagan Rammell as Chair of the Imagination Library Advisory Board. The Foundation employs 1-10 staff and operates with no proprietary technology, relying on Squarespace, etapestry, and Square for its digital infrastructure. In 2024, the Love Your Library campaign won the United for Libraries Award for Innovation sponsored by Baker & Taylor, validating the Foundation's community-engagement model.
Eugene Public Library Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Eugene Public Library Foundation
- Legal name
- Eugene Public Library Foundation
- Website
- https://eplfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Eugene Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and stewards private funds to support Eugene Public Library, operating the Imagination Library of Eugene early literacy program, annual galas, merchandise sales, and library funding advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Eugene Public Library Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Library Foundation Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)
Keywords
Where Eugene Public Library Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Eugene
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Eugene Public Library Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation raises funds through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and memorial/tribute gifts. Donors contribute to support Eugene Public Library programs and the Imagination Library early literacy initiative.
- Event Fundraising: Annual galas including Booked for the Evening and Imagination Library Luncheon generate significant revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and paddle raise donations.
- Merchandise Sales: Love Your Library Store sells branded merchandise including tote bags, t-shirts, hoodies, ceramic mugs, stickers, and keychains featuring artwork from the Love Your Library art competition.
- Planned Giving: The foundation offers planned giving options including the ability to dedicate library shelves in honor of someone for a $100 donation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Imagination Library program sponsorship |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Shelf dedication donation |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Eugene Public Library Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Eugene Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and stewards private funds to support Eugene Public Library programs, collections, and services. It serves as the Eugene affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, mailing free, age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth through age five, and operates an annual fundraising gala (Booked for the Evening), a merchandise storefront (Love Your Library Shop), an annual art contest, and an advocacy effort for library levy renewal.
Product overview
Eugene Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports Eugene Public Library through fundraising, advocacy, and program delivery. The Foundation operates a portfolio of interconnected programs: the Imagination Library of Eugene (transitioning to county-wide administration in 2026) provides free books to children from birth to age five; the Love Your Library Shop sells merchandise featuring community artwork from the annual art contest; Booked for the Evening is the flagship annual gala; and the Imagination Library Luncheon and Photo Challenge engage the community. Additional offerings include advocacy support for library funding, a newsletter, and planned giving programs. The Foundation is headquartered in Eugene, Oregon and serves as the Eugene affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Love Your Library: Art contest and merchandise program celebrating community love for Eugene Public Library, featuring designs from local artists on items like tote bags, t-shirts, hoodies, and mugs.
- Imagination Library of Eugene
Products and services
- Imagination Library of Eugene An early literacy program operated by Eugene Public Library Foundation as the Eugene Affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Free, age-appropriate books are mailed monthly to enrolled children from birth through age five in Lane County. Since 2014 the program has delivered 486,675 books to 17,133 children.
- Love Your Library Shop An e-commerce storefront powered by Square Site that sells branded merchandise featuring artwork from the Love Your Library art competition, including tote bags, t-shirts, hoodies, ceramic mugs, stickers, and keychains. Proceeds support Eugene Public Library.
- Booked for the Evening Annual fundraising gala hosted by Eugene Public Library Foundation, featuring author programming and literary-themed events. Ticket sales, sponsorships, and paddle raise donations support library programming, including author visits for patrons of all ages. The 2026 event raised over $135,000.
- Imagination Library Luncheon Annual fundraising luncheon celebrating Imagination Library of Eugene, featuring speaker presentations and community support. The 2024 event raised over $89,000. The Foundation will not hold the luncheon in fall 2025 as the program transitions to county-wide administration in July 2026.
- Love Your Library Art Contest Annual design competition inviting community members to create artwork expressing their love for Eugene Public Library. Winning designs are used on merchandise sold in the Love Your Library Shop and exhibited at the library, with galleries maintained for 2024, 2025, and 2026 entries.
- Advocacy and Library Funding Support Community advocacy initiative supporting funding for Eugene Public Library, including renewal of the 2020 Library Levy on the May 2026 ballot (the levy funds over 22% of the library's budget). The Foundation provides advocacy resources, newsletter updates, and community mobilization tools.
- Planned Giving and Ways to Give Structured giving programs including planned giving (legacy gifts), shelf dedications ($100 donation dedicates a Eugene Public Library shelf in someone's honor), and general donation options. Also includes tribute gifts and direct support for library services.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $89,000 raised at Imagination Library Luncheon 2024
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Eugene Public Library Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Eugene Public Library Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Eugene Public Library Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- United Way of Lane CountycoreUnited Way of Lane County will administer the newly formed Imagination Library of Lane County program launching July 2026. The countywide program combines Eugene Public Library Foundation's Imagination Library of Eugene with Springfield Young Readers and United Way's existing programs.
- Springfield Young ReaderscorePartner in the Imagination Library of Lane County collaboration launching July 2026, combining Eugene's program with Springfield's existing Imagination Library affiliate to create county-wide coverage.
- Dolly Parton's Imagination LibrarycoreEugene Public Library Foundation serves as the Eugene Affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, implementing the early literacy program locally since 2014. The program provides free age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth through age five. Starting July 2026, the program combines with Springfield Young Readers and United Way of Lane County to form Imagination Library of Lane County.
- Friends of the Eugene Public LibraryminorCommunity partner organization that contributes to library funding through book sales. Together with Eugene Public Library Foundation, provides the 2% of library funding that comes from private donations.
- Eugene Public LibrarycoreThe foundation works in partnership with Eugene Public Library to strengthen programs and services. The library provides programming space, staff support, and administers library services that the foundation helps fund.
- Pacific Cascade Federal Credit UnionminorSupernova Champion Sponsor of Booked for the Evening 2026 event. Multiple credit unions and banks sponsor foundation events as marketing partnerships.
- Lane Forest ProductsminorChampion Sponsor of Imagination Library Luncheon 2024. Local business providing event sponsorship support.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Eugene Public Library Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Multnomah County Library Foundation: Affiliated foundation supporting Multnomah County Library (Portland, Oregon). Operates the same public-library fundraising and grantmaking model in the same regional market, making it the most directly comparable peer for EPL Foundation.
- The Seattle Public Library Foundation: Independent nonprofit foundation supporting The Seattle Public Library through fundraising, advocacy, and program funding. Mirrors EPL Foundation's model of supplementing public funding for a municipal library system in the Pacific Northwest.
- Nashville Public Library Foundation: Affiliated foundation supporting Nashville Public Library, based in the same Tennessee city as Dolly Parton's Imagination Library headquarters. Directly comparable as both a library-support foundation and as an Imagination Library affiliate.
- Pikes Peak Library District Foundation: Foundation supporting Pikes Peak Library District in Colorado Springs. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and event-driven fundraising approach for a single-library public library system.
- Friends of Hennepin County Library: Nonprofit fundraising arm of Hennepin County Library (Minneapolis, Minnesota). Operates the same public-library supplemental-funding model through book sales, donations, and event fundraising.
- Sacramento Public Library Foundation: Independent nonprofit raising private funds to support Sacramento Public Library programs and collections. Comparable as a mid-sized municipal library foundation operating in a single California region.
Broad incumbents
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (national program): National early-literacy organization headquartered in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. EPL Foundation is an affiliate; the national program provides brand, materials, and operational infrastructure that frames the Foundation's primary program offering.
- The New York Public Library (Library Services): One of the largest public library systems in the U.S., with substantial private fundraising. Comparable in core mission (public library service and literacy) but materially larger in scale, geographic scope, and program breadth.
- United Way of Lane County: Regional United Way affiliate that will administer Imagination Library of Lane County starting July 2026. Compares as a broader community grantmaking and social-services umbrella organization that overlaps with EPL Foundation's mission and geography.
Regional players
- Lane County Library District: County-level public library system serving Lane County, Oregon residents outside Eugene city limits. Operates in the same geography and serves overlapping audiences with EPL Foundation's Imagination Library coverage area.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Eugene Public Library Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceEugene Public Library Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Eugene Public Library Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Eugene Public Library Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Eugene Public Library Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Eugene Public Library Foundation
What does Eugene Public Library Foundation do?
Eugene Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and stewards private funds to support Eugene Public Library programs, collections, and services. It serves as the Eugene affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, mailing free, age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth through age five, and operates an annual fundraising gala (Booked for the Evening), a merchandise storefront (Love Your Library Shop), an annual art contest, and an advocacy effort for library levy renewal.
Is Eugene Public Library Foundation a public or private company?
Eugene Public Library Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Eugene Public Library Foundation founded?
Eugene Public Library Foundation was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Eugene Public Library Foundation based?
Eugene Public Library Foundation is headquartered in Eugene, United States, in the North America region.
How does Eugene Public Library Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are event Fundraising, merchandise Sales and planned Giving.
Who are Eugene Public Library Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Multnomah County Library Foundation, The Seattle Public Library Foundation, Nashville Public Library Foundation, Pikes Peak Library District Foundation, Friends of Hennepin County Library and Sacramento Public Library Foundation. Broad incumbents are Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (national program), The New York Public Library (Library Services) and United Way of Lane County. Lane County Library District is listed as a regional player.
Does Eugene Public Library Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Eugene Public Library Foundation.
What industry is Eugene Public Library Foundation in?
Eugene Public Library Foundation's product category is Library Foundation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAE, Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries, with a secondary code of EDAAAFAA, Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries). Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.