The Portland Public Library is a nonprofit organization funded through public and private contributions. Funding for Library operations (staffing, heat, electricity, maintenance, etc.) comes primarily from the City of Portland, with additional support from the State of Maine and Cumberland County.  All book and materials acquisitions, information technologies as well as the many free public programs each year are funded through private donations from individuals, corporations, businesses and foundations. 

The Portland Public Library accepts gifts of cash, stocks, personal bequests, and in-kind goods and services. Your gift can be unrestricted (used for collection development or general operations) or can be restricted to a particular branch, collection or purpose within the Library. The Development Department staff is available to assist you in making the kind of gift most appropriate for your needs and circumstances. Contact  Sandy Comstock in the Development Department by email or call 207-871-1700 ext. 758. 

Many of our Library patrons and friends choose to support the development of our Library resources with a gift to the Annual Fund and other contributions each year. There are several gift options available to you (see list below).  

The Portland Public Library is in the process of raising money for a major building renovation. Click for more information on the Reach for the Stars Campaign.

Ways of Giving

Annual Fund

Contributions to the Library's Annual Fund are used to purchase books, reference materials, audiovisual materials and computerized information resources for use by our patrons.  Beginning July 1 of each year, the Annual Campaign works to raise funds to purchase books and materials for the Library.  It is imperative that the Library raise these funds each year. Donate Online Now to the 2009-2010 Annual Fund.

For more information about the 2009-2010 Annual Fund, please click here or contact the Development Department by email or call 207-871-1700 ext. 758. 

In Memoriam & In Celebration

You can honor the memory of a loved one or celebrate a special occasion through a donation to the Library's Gift of Reading program. Books purchased through these gifts are book-plated in honor of the individual(s) as well.  For a Memoriam/Honorarium brochure, please contact the Development Department by email or call 207-871-1700 ext. 758.      

Planned Gifts

A planned gift allows you to make a significant gift to the Library with many benefit options for you and your family. Your attorney, accountant, or  financial planner can assist with the details of establishing such a gift or contact the Development Department by email or call 207-871-1700 ext. 759. 

Book Donations

You can donate your gently used books to the Library for use in our collection or semi-annual book sales. The proceeds from these sales are used toward the purchase of new library materials. Click for more information.

The Development & Programming Department staff is available to assist you in making the kind of gift most appropriate for your needs and circumstances. Contact us by email or call 207-871-1700 ext. 759. 

Corporate and Foundation Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship of annual programs and special events are available to corporate and foundation donors, including the Brown Bag Lecture Series, Poetry Festival, Lysla Abbott Storytelling Festival, Summer Reading Program and major author events.  For more information, contact us by email or call 207-871-1700 ext. 759. 

Donor Rights and Use of Mailing List Policy

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION DONORS! 

LEGACY SOCIETY Maine Community Foundation, Silverman Fund
AUTHOR'S CIRCLE Diversified Communications Roy A. Hunt Foundation Martin's Point Health Care
PUBLISHER'S SOCIETY American Library Association The Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund MEMIC Target
EDITOR'S SOCIETY CB Richard Ellis/The Boulos Company Cornerstones of Science Longfellow Books Maine Humanities Council The Daniel R. Nickerson Foundation USM Institute for Public Sector Innovation
CORPORATE BENEFACTOR Filler & Associates, P.A. Mactec Engineering and Consulting, Inc. Marshall & Libby LLC Noyes, Hall & Allen Insurance Portland Financial Planning Group W. P. Stewart Asset Management, Inc. Unum
GIFTS IN KIND Coffee by Design Energy East Macdonald Page & Co. LLC Public Utilities Commission Skillins Greenhouses Snell Family Farm Time Warner Cable

top -