About the Concord Free Public Library Corporation

The nonprofit Concord Free Public Library Corporation (“Library Corporation”) is the private portion of the public-private partnership in place since the Concord Free Public Library’s (the “Library”) founding in 1873. The roles and responsibilities of the Library Corporation and the Town of Concord are governed by a formal agreement. The Library Corporation is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees who collaborate closely with the Library Director to ensure exceptional facilities and services are provided to the Concord community and beyond.

The Library Corporation owns and is responsible for maintaining the buildings, grounds, and Special Collections (which includes historical documents, books, and art). Any improvements to the buildings and grounds or acquisitions for Special Collections are funded by the Library Corporation, either through fundraising or disbursements from the Library Corporation’s endowment. The Library Corporation also contributes to the Library’s book and media collections, provides equipment and materials for the Library’s Workshop makerspace, and sponsors select programming at the Library throughout the year.

Library staffing and utilities are funded directly by the Town of Concord through the annual Town budget, and are not in the purview of the Library Corporation.

The work of the Library Corporation is supported by generous donors. The Library Corporation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and gifts to the Library Corporation are tax deductible to the extent provided by law (EIN: 04-2121328).

The Friends of the Concord Free Public Library is a separate organization, independent of the Library Corporation, that raises funds mainly through its book sales and membership dues.

 

GIFT ACCEPTANCE POLICY

The Library Corporation’s Board of Trustees gratefully welcomes donations and gifts that support our mission and enhance Library services to the community.

Monetary Gifts
Monetary gifts and cash donations to the Library Corporation’s Annual Fund are an essential part of funding operations of the two Library buildings (Main Library in Concord Center and Fowler branch in West Concord) and the associated grounds, along with preserving and expanding the renowned Special Collections. 

Planned Giving
Planned gifts create a valuable legacy, joining a tradition of philanthropy that began in 1873 with the Library’s founder, William Munroe. Bequests have formed the bedrock of our endowment. A strong endowment is essential for the Library to remain financially sustainable, and the Board of Trustees are especially grateful for these gifts, which reflect the impact of the Library on members of the community.

Special Collections
Gifts of documents, artwork, and ephemera to Special Collections are welcome, and much of the collection is built on donated documents and works of art. However, these gifts are subject to review by the Curator and Special Collections Committee and must be approved by the Library Corporation’s Board of Trustees. Accepted items become the property of the Library Corporation.

Memorial Gifts
As a general practice, the Library Corporation does not accept memorial gifts of books, trees, benches, furniture, or fixtures due to limited space and conformance with existing designs and municipal requirements. We encourage members of the community to make memorial or tribute gifts to the Library Corporation’s Annual Fund or to the Library Corporation’s endowment, for a lasting legacy.

Restricted Gifts
The Library Corporation and the Library generally benefit from the flexibility of unrestricted gifts, and therefore all gifts are considered unrestricted unless a specific exception is made by the Board of Trustees in response to a donor request.

Recognition
The Library Corporation has a long-standing practice not to name spaces, except to honor Concord’s historic and literary figures. In special cases (e.g., after a capital campaign or renovation), the Board of Trustees may choose to recognize donors or Concord citizens with plaques. These recognitions are not considered permanent, and the term of the recognition is determined by the Board of Trustees.

Gift Acceptance
The Board of Trustees makes the final decision for acceptance and use of all gifts. The Library Corporation is responsible for ensuring the long term prosperity of the Library, and the Trustees will make every effort to ensure that donors’ gifts are used wisely and productively in support of the Library’s mission.

 

HOW TO GIVE

Cash
The Library Corporation accepts cash, checks, and gifts via credit card. Checks should be made payable to the “Concord Free Public Library Corporation.” All monetary gifts should be delivered to the Library Corporation, Attn: Development Office, 129 Main Street, Concord, MA 01742. Online donations may be made through the Library web site.

Fees for materials in the Workshop makerspace are not considered part of fundraising. However, maintenance of the makerspace is included in the Library Corporation’s annual budget and gifts to the Annual Appeal support the Workshop.

Donor Advised Funds
The Library Corporation gratefully accepts grants that donors recommend through their Donor Advised Funds.

Planned Gifts / Bequests
The Library Corporation gratefully accepts bequests from donors who have directed in their wills or trusts that certain assets be transferred to the Library Corporation.

“Concord Free Public Library Corporation” should be named as beneficiary. Donors are encouraged to make the Director of Development or Board of Trustees aware of their intentions. Funds from bequests will be used at the discretion of the Library Corporation’s Board of Trustees.

Gifts in lieu of flowers are accepted with great appreciation. Please contact our Director of Development for assistance.

Corporate Matching Gifts
Many employers match the gifts their employees make to the Library Corporation.

Securities
The Library Corporation may accept gifts of appreciated securities, including specific stocks or mutual fund shares.

Retirement Assets
The “Concord Free Public Library Corporation” must be named as the full or partial beneficiary of retirement assets including IRAs. If partial, the percentage or portion of the total value of the asset intended for the Library Corporation must be indicated in the beneficiary listing.

Life Insurance
Donors may designate a fully paid life insurance policy to the Library Corporation. The “Concord Free Public Library Corporation” must be listed as both beneficiary and irrevocable owner.

Pledges
Multi-year pledges are possible. Please contact the Director of Development.

Foundation and Corporate Grants
The Library Corporation is grateful for support from foundations and corporations. If you are associated with a charitable organization or foundation interested in giving to the Library Corporation, please contact the Director of Development.

Special Collections
Gifts of historical interest to Special Collections are welcome, but subject to review by the Special Collections Committee and the Curator, and must be approved by the Library Corporation’s Board of Trustees. Please contact the Special Collections Committee Chair or Curator with questions regarding the Library Corporation’s Special Collections mission and policies.

Gifts-in-Kind
The Library Corporation may accept gifts-in-kind that can be used in the course of the Corporation’s activities or that may be used for a specific fundraising event.

GIFT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

All gifts will be acknowledged in writing. For tax purposes, it is the donor’s responsibility to determine the value of donated items. The Library Corporation cannot provide appraisals or valuations for gifts.

The Library Corporation’s Board of Trustees reserves the right to refuse any gift that does not align with our mission, space constraints, or resource capabilities. Once a gift is accepted, it becomes the property of the Library Corporation and may be used or disposed of as deemed appropriate by the Board of Trustees of the Library Corporation (with certain exceptions made in the case of some restricted gifts).

CONTACT

Contact the Development Office to discover the many ways to combine philanthropic, income, retirement, and estate planning goals with a gift to the nonprofit Library Corporation.

Please inform our Director of Development if you are making a corporate matching gift, life insurance, securities, retirement fund contribution, or family foundation gift to ensure that your gift is appropriately recorded and acknowledged.

For all questions, please contact Director of Development, Sofia Ghannam, sghannam@cfplcorp.org, 978-318-3355.