Toronto Public Library Foundation was established in 1997 as a registered charity. Our mission is to provide essential resources for the enhancement of Toronto Public Library and to allocate funds to priority needs not supported by municipal funding.

The Foundation believes in the social benefits of a strong and healthy public library system. As a registered charity, we foster relationships with people of vision to provide Toronto’s Library with improved and expanded collections, enhanced programs and services, and revitalized community spaces.

In its short history the Foundation raised over $46 million in support of Toronto Public Library priority needs. Innovative partnerships established by the Foundation include the Toronto Star Newspaper Room, a $2.5 million cash and in-kind commitment, and the TD Summer Reading Club, a multi-year $1.2 million cash commitment that has grown from a local to a national initiative.

The Foundation's long-term goal is to build an endowment fund that will generate sufficient income to support enhanced library programs, collections and services in perpetuity.


Charitable Number: 886554476RR0001

Contact Information:

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Read Imagine Canada Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability Code

Toronto Public Library Foundation Board of Directors

Toronto Public Library Foundation Governors’ Council

The year 2004 marked the Toronto Public Library's 120th anniversary. With this landmark, the Library's Foundation launched an initiative to enlist the support of leaders from within the community to join Governors' Council.

The Toronto Public Library Foundation recognizes the importance of seeking the advice and support from our friends who are philanthropic leaders.  Through their vision and commitment we will succeed in advancing the needs of the Library in our city and communities.
 

Literary Circle Committee

The Literary Circle is a dedicated group of individual donors who give $1,000 or more annually to the Toronto Public Library Foundation in support of annual operations.  The Literary Circle Committee raises the profile of the Literary Circle Membership program and provides leadership and support to increase the membership within the program. 

Members:
John C. Williams, Chair, Founder, J. C. Williams Group Limited
David J. Bishop, President, D.J. Bishop Marketing
Kirsten Hanson,Editor, HarperCollins
Lisa Lyons, President, Kids Can Press Ltd.
Sindy Preger, Publisher, KidScren/Brunico Communications Ltd.
Julie Powers, independent designer
 

The Book Lover’s Ball Committee

The Book Lover's Ball Committee raises the profile of the Foundation's premiere fundraising gala and provides leadership and support to increase event revenue in support of Toronto Public Library Foundation.

Chair
John Cruickshank, Publisher, Toronto Star
 

Committee Members
Donna Hayes, Publisher & CEO, Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Colleen Clarke, Publicity Manager, HarperCollins Canada Limited
Janet McKelvey, Chair, Toronto Public Library Founadtion
Gillian Hewitt Smitt, Senior Advisor Corporate Affairs, RBC
Christina Sorbara, The Sorbara Group
Adria Iwasutiak, Senior Publicist, Random House of Canada Limited

The Corporate Committee
 

The purpose of the Corporate Committee is to raise the profile of the Toronto Public Library in the corporate world through advocacy, spreading the word and fundraising. The committee seeks to provide leadership and support for the library among firms and individuals in the corporate community in Toronto, and to further the Toronto Public Library’s corporate giving program.
 

Foundation Staff
 

re:Vitalize
Toronto Reference Library Campaign