The Foundation is dedicated to providing a sustained, long term source of financial support for the Library that will help meet both short term and long term needs.
The Foundation’s endowment has been raised from the pledges and donations of individual citizens, organizations, and businesses. We conduct an annual campaign that takes place each November. The Foundation has also received grants from a number of corporate charitable foundations.
Gifts of any size are appreciated and welcomed. All personal and financial information is kept confidential. The Foundation is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) organization and donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
Make a Gift
Checks or money orders, payable to the Reading Public Library Foundation, may be dropped off at the Circulation Desk in the Library or mailed to the Foundation at Reading Public Library Foundation, P.O. Box 96, Reading, MA 01867. We accept cash donations at the Library. Donors may also contribute using PayPal. Alternatively, please click here to download our Donation-Pledge Form
Planned Giving
Planned giving to the Library is a wonderful way to fulfill your philanthropic goals while enhancing the Library’s collections, technology and programs to the benefit of Reading and its citizens.
Estate Planning
There are a number of different ways to include the Library in your estate plans:
- Including the Reading Public Library Foundation in your will through a bequest or other testamentary gift
- Designating the RPL Foundation as an IRA beneficiary
- Naming the RPL Foundation as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy
- Creating a Charitable Remainder Trust
Charitable Gift Annuities
A Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) is an irrevocable agreement between an individual donor and the Foundation. The donor agrees to make a gift of cash, stocks, bonds, or other securities now and, in return, the Foundation agrees to make a quarterly payment to the donor for the rest of his/her life. The income received from the CGA may be at a greater rate of return and be taxed more favorably than income from other sources.
The benefits of a CGA include:- A current income tax deduction at the time of your gift
- Tax savings on the capital gains on appreciated securities
- Guaranteed fixed annuity income for life, avoiding market volatility
- Highly attractive annuity rates
- Part of your annuity income will be tax-free
- Removing these funds from your estate, which may reduce estate tax and probate costs.
Gifts of Real Estate or Other Assets
Gifts of Real Estate and other assets are welcomed by the Reading Public Library Foundation and can provide similar benefits for the donor and for the Reading Public Library Foundation as donations of financial assets. Gifts of real estate can be made outright, through a Charitable Remainder Trust to provide an income to the donor, or also can be made with a retained right to use the property
For more specific information about any of these planned giving options, please contact Patrick Egan, Foundation President, c/o the Reading Public Library Foundation at P.O. Box 96, Reading, MA 01867, or by email at rplf96@gmail.com. While the Foundation can give you preliminary information about these options, we are not in a position to give legal or financial advice to individuals. Please consult an attorney or financial advisor about setting up any of these plans. For a list of local attorneys and financial advisors who are familiar with Planned Giving options, contact the Foundation at our e-mail address, rplf96@gmail.com.
Photo Courtesy of Reading Public Library