End of Summer Progress Report

Every three or four months, we produce a progress report on fundraising.  And here's the current one for your information.  I want especially to thank Heidi Baxter, Tor Baxter, Margot Griffiths, Ed Park, Rose Momsen, and Steve Martindale for all their help this summer.  They are great supporters of the community that is Point Roberts and I am grateful to them every day for their ready response to need.  And thanks also to all the community visitors and members who have contributed in any way to the new library fundraising.

When we began this fundraising project, we allowed as to how it might take five years to get it done.  We're not yet at the end of 3 years, and we are about 70% of the way there, but we're not all the way there yet.  Keep us in mind as the year comes to an end, particularly with respect to tax deductible gifts. We still have a $40,000 match fund for anyone/any business/any family that is willing to donate $10,000.  We have had seven such donations so far from families, individuals, and businesses.  There's room yet for four more.

Friends of the Point Roberts Library Fundraising (New Library) Report, September 25, 2014

1. The current total funds raised is $365,000 of a needed $538,000.
2.   Although our primary focus this year is on foundation grants, we have also conducted an active summer program through the weekly Community Market, and various events (Annual Arts and Music Festival, Quilt Show, Community Yard Sale, book sales).  
3. Foundation Grants:

 A.  We were about to submit our first foundation proposal in early March when we were informed by the IRS that our 501c3 status (approved in December 2013) had been revoked.  That turned out to be the result of an IRS error, but the IRS was unable to fully reverse the revoked status until June.  Thus, during that almost 3-month period, we were unable to submit any grant proposals.

B.  In June, we submitted two letters of inquiry (Umpqua Bank Community Giving and the Murdoch Foundation) and a full proposal (Norcliffe Foundation).  We were turned down by the Murdoch Foundation (because they do not fund public libraries).  Umpqua will donate $1,000 (it does not contribute to capital projects); Norcliffe responded with a $25,000 grant.

1. We have submitted a proposal to the Garneau Nicon Foundation for their fall cycle of grant requests and a letter of inquiry to the Archibald Foundation. 

D.  We will submit proposals to two additional national foundations at such time as we meet their requirements for having “value-engineered drawings” or a construction contract, and to one other foundation with a January 2015 deadline.

1. Planning Process.

1. We have been working with the Whatcom County Library System and the Point Roberts Park and Recreation District to provide greater clarity to the original Memo of Understanding.  Three main issues of clarification include WCLS’s interest in being involved in building inspections and design plans; FOPRL’s interest in having an end-game strategy should there be a funding shortfall; and Park and Recreation’s interest in having clear lines of responsibility for building design and construction.
2. The Park and Recreation Commission has named an architect to begin design work and has supported the creation of a Community Design Committee to work with the architect with regard to exterior design considerations.
3. We continue to make good progress in fundraising and planning for a new library in Point Roberts and are confident that we will meet our goal.  We certainly appreciate all the help you have given us so far.

--Judy Ross, for the Friends of the Point Roberts Library