Toronto Public Library Foundation was established in 1997 as a registered charity to raise funds to enhance the collections, programs, services and community spaces of the Toronto Public Library, beyond what is supported by municipal funding. Working cooperatively with the Library, the Foundation helps the Library achieve a level of service that would not otherwise be possible. To date, the Foundation has raised more than $30 million on behalf of Toronto’s Library.

The Toronto Public Library Foundation is fundraising to help Toronto’s Library meet the growing need for increased collections, programs and services within the community. The Foundation fundraises to make Toronto’s great Library even greater. For example, funds raised by the Foundation have helped the Library put thousands of new books on its shelves, have supported thousands of children developing their literacy skills, supported Home Library Service vans to serve members of the public who are unable to access a library branch, and much more.

Yes, you do support your Library through your municipal taxes. On average each household pays only .28 cents a day for Library services - available in 99 branches and on-line 24/7. Your taxes and additional City funding help fund basic Library operating costs, services and collections. Your donations to our fundraising campaigns will give all Torontonians an equal chance to success in life by enhancing Library collections, services and programs.

YES they are. The Library Foundation is a non-for-profit charitable organization. Our charitable number is 886554476RR0001. All donations of $10 or more receive tax receipts.

If you donate online, through CanadaHelps, you will be receipted directly by CanadaHelps.
 

If you have made a donation of $10 or more to the Toronto Public Library Foundation, you should receive a charitable tax receipt in the mail approximately 3 weeks after your donation arrives. If you have made a donation online, through CanadaHelps, you will receive your receipt directly from them electronically. And if you are a monthly contributor, you will receive a receipt for the cumulative amount of your monthly contributions at the beginning of the following calendar year.

If you have misplaced or haven’t received your receipt within this time period, please contact bgoswami@torontopubliclibrary.ca or at (416) 393-7047 for a duplicate receipt.

The Foundation endeavours to keep our year-round fundraising costs to less than 20% of total revenues raised. This figure compares favourably with the average cost ratio of other Canadian charities.

Everyone who works, lives or goes to school in Toronto has equal access to all Library collections, services and programs. So your donation benefits more than 1.5 million people, including your local community.

However, if you would like to make a donation to a specific branch, program or service of Toronto’s Library, you can. You can direct your donation (minimum $50) to whichever Library collection, program or branch that is closest to your heart.

Visit our Designated Donations section for more information, or to download a donation form.

You can also pick up a donation form at your local Library branch.

Simply indicate on your donation form that you would like to designate your donation and to where. Your gift will be applied appropriately. Due to administrative expenses related to designation and tracking, we ask that designated gifts be $50 or more.
 

Yes, you can. Making a donation in memory or honour of someone special in your life makes a meaningful gift. The recipient, or recipient’s family will receive a card acknowledging this gift and you will receive the charitable tax receipt (for gifts of $10 or more). To make a donation in this way, visit our Honour With Books section. Once there, you can download a form and send to the Toronto Public Library Foundation with your cheque or credit card information. You can also make a donation online through the CanadaHelps website link.

If it is more convenient, you can also pick up an Honour With Books brochure at any of our 99 branches and mail it to the Library Foundation, with your donation.
 

The Library Foundation raises money for many projects such as literacy programs (i.e. Leading to Reading and English Can Be Fun), special services (i.e. Home Library Services and the Bookmobile) as well as updating and repairing facilities and equipment.

For more information on designating your donation, visit our Designated Donations section. 
 

The Library and Library Foundation respects the privacy of all our donors. And as such, we do not trade or sell the names or addresses of any of our donors.

In order to recognize and thank our generous donors and to encourage others to make a similar donation, the Library lists the names of donors with gifts of $100 or more in some of the Library and Foundation publications and website. 

If you would prefer that your name not be list publicly, please check off the “I wish to remain anonymous” box on any reply form you send with your donation.
 

Both the Friends of the Library and the Toronto Public Library Foundation raise money to support the enhancement of Toronto Public Library’s collections; programs and services; and facilities and equipment. While the Library Foundation raises funds to support the entire Library system, Friends focus their efforts on specific regions or special collections. For example, the Friends of the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection raise money for the Arthur Conan Doyle collection.

The Friends raise money primarily through book sales, membership fees and special events. The Foundation, on the other hand, raises money through appeals, major gifts from foundations, government agencies and individual donors as well as corporate sponsors.

The Foundation and the Friends work collaboratively to maximize community support for Toronto’s Library. The public is welcome to supoprt any Friends group, the Foundation or both. Your support of either the Friends or the Foundation is appreciated.
 

The Library Foundation is calling current donors and potential donors to let you know the positive impact Toronto's Library has on individual lives and the range of contributions the Library makes to Toronto and to Torontonians. And to ask for your support.

The Foundation has its own database of donors and has sourced additional names from Information Canada. The Library does not share Library user’s personal information with the Foundation unless an individual has given his or her permission (at the time of registering for or renewing a library card). We maintain completely separate and confidential lists.

As a non-profit registered charity, the TPL Foundation is exempt from the Do Not Call list and can therefore still call supporters and potential donors. We do, however, keep our own internal Do Not Call list and are diligent about not calling anyone who has asked not to be telephoned or solicited for money. If you have asked to be removed from our calling list, we will gladly oblige but it may take up to 31 days until all the records are updated and processed.

If you want to be removed from a call list and have not already requested it, please contact Mitzi Reinsilber at mreinsilber@torontopubliclibrary.ca and she will make sure you are removed from the call list.
 

If you have made a past contribution to the Library Foundation, or if you have given permission (verbally, when registering for or renewing a library card), then you may be getting mail from the Library Foundation, aimed at keeping you informed and securing your ongoing support.

You may remove your name from our mailing list by sending a request to: mreinsilber@torontopubliclibrary.ca, or contacting us by phone at 416.393.7227. Please make sure to include the full name and address, or e-mail address, as it appeared on the correspondence from us.