The EveryLibrary Institute today announces a new partnership with the Awesome Foundation - Libraries Chapter to support their fundraising and philanthropic activities with the launch of AwesomeLibraries.org. The EveryLibrary Institute is providing fiscal sponsorship and digital infrastructure support to help Awesome Libraries further its philanthropic mission of support. Awesome Libraries is a voluntary organization of library professionals who contribute on a monthly or yearly basis to a common donor pool and select “truly awesome” library projects from around the world to fund. Since 2017, Awesome Libraries trustees have donated $11,000 to eleven library and literacy projects in the United States and abroad.
“The goals that the Awesome Libraries trustees have are right in line with our values”, says John Chrastka, executive director of the EveryLibrary Institute, a national nonprofit focused on the future of library funding. “Their approach to making targeted, capacity-building donations that help small projects grow into smart library solutions is truly wonderful. We are proud to be able to bring our organizational resources to helping the trustees grow their own capacity, too.” The EveryLibrary Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit companion organization to EveryLibrary, the first national political action committee for libraries. In addition to its research agenda and training programs, the EveryLibrary Institute’s priorities include direct support for programs and fiscal sponsorship of allied ideas. “We are happy to host the Awesome Libraries project and help them reach a bigger audience of potential sponsors and donors,” adds Chrastka.
Awesome Libraries wants to put your donations to work supporting
innovative library and literacy projects around the world.
Make a tax-deductible donation today and watch exciting change happen.
Awesome Libraries is one of over 80 active chapters of the Awesome Foundation, a global community advancing the interest of awesome in the universe. The Awesome Libraries trustees believe that strong libraries create better-educated citizens and communities with stronger social ties. Created by a small working group of passionate librarians within Library Pipeline who wanted to develop a platform and funding model for showcasing innovative projects, the Chapter supports the principles of diversity, inclusivity, creativity, and risk-taking. The range of grants the Chapter has administered demonstrate the endless possibilities and boundless imagination at the intersection of libraries and community-engagement. “Awesome Libraries has helped give many ideas that little spark they need to grow into something bigger. Working with ELI will allow us to do more of that,” says Bonnie Tijerina, Awesome Libraries co-founder. Microfunding, of course, is not intended to and does not replace sustained, tax-based library services and support. Rather, it shows potential, sparks a conversation around, and provides a catalyst for transformation and new ideas. “We are excited to partner with the EveryLibrary Institute to highlight what is both possible and sustainable in public, academic, and special libraries,” adds Joshua Finnell, Awesome Libraries co-founder.
In 2019, the current trustees of Awesome Libraries are inviting new donors to join their quarterly funding campaign at AwesomeLibraries.org. In addition, the Chapter is also recruiting a new cohort of trustees for 2019 and beyond. If you want to learn more about the projects Awesome Libraries has funded or if you have a project that needs funding, visit https://awesomelibraries.org/.
Contact:
Joshua Finnell, Awesome Libraries Chapter, [email protected]
John Chrastka, EveryLibrary Institute, [email protected]
###
