CALGARY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION LAUNCHES ENDOWMENT GIVING PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME
New endowment funds offer donors a powerful way to create lasting impact for Calgary Public Library
Calgary, AB – How do you support a Library not just for today, but forever?
Calgary Public Library Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of its Endowment Giving Program, a new opportunity for donors to invest in the long-term strength and innovation of Calgary Public Library.
Giving through an endowment is a powerful way to support the future of the Library. Endowed funds are permanently invested, with a portion of the earnings used each year to support the outcomes associated with the fund—meaning a single gift can generate impact not just today, but year after year.
As part of the program, the Library Foundation has established three General Endowment Funds, allowing donors at any giving level to contribute to key priority areas:
- Collections Endowment: providing ongoing, reliable support to expand and enhance Library collections
- Early Learning Endowment: supporting early learning initiatives, programming, and collections for children under six
- Essential Endowment: strengthening the Library Foundation and the Library’s overall mission and operational resilience
To celebrate the launch of the endowment giving program, all gifts made to the Essential Endowment in 2026 will be matched by the Library Foundation up to $1 million.
“Endowment giving is about building something that lasts,” says Tracy Johnson, CEO of Calgary Public Library Foundation. “It allows donors to invest in the future of Calgary Public Library in a way that grows over time, ensuring that the programs, collections, and services people rely on today will be here for generations to come.”
In addition to General Endowment Funds, donors can establish Named Endowment Funds with a minimum gift of $50,000. These funds are aligned with the donor’s interest, providing meaningful and lasting support to the areas of the Library’s work that mean the most to them. Many donors choose to honour loved ones with their Named Endowments, creating an enduring legacy that shares the values and passions of the people in their lives.
Current Named Endowment Funds include:
- Becky Lathrop Homebound Readers Endowment: supporting the Homebound Readers program
- Millar Family Endowment: supporting Library collections, programs, events, and services
- Taylor and Charlotte Young Scientist Endowment: expanding services for children in science, technology, engineering, and math
- Jo-Anne McCulloch Collections & Literacy Endowment: supporting Library collections and literacy initiatives
To honour all donors who have established endowment funds, a new recognition wall has been unveiled at Calgary’s Central Library. The special location on the top level of the Library provides a prominent and reflective space to acknowledge the donors whose gifts will support the Library in perpetuity. Recognition for existing funds is now in place, and the Library Foundation looks forward to adding many more names as the program grows.
“Endowment funding allows the Library to think beyond the present moment,” says Sarah Meilleur, CEO of Calgary Public Library. “It creates a lasting source of support that fuels innovation, strengthens our services, and ensures we can continue to evolve alongside our community—now and in perpetuity.”
Thanks to the Library Foundation’s existing Named Endowment donors and contributors to the general endowments, endowed funds currently sit at $2.1 million.
Demand for Calgary Public Library continues to grow, with an average of 10,000 people joining as members each month and record-breaking book circulation of 17.5 million items in 2025. Long-term, sustainable funding will play an essential role in ensuring the Library remains one of the city’s most trusted and accessible public resources.
To learn more about endowment giving at Calgary Public Library Foundation, visit https://libraryfoundation.ca/way-to-give/endowments/.
