The J.V. Fletcher Library Friends’ Foundation
Fundraising for the expansion and renovation of the library – the portion that is not covered by the Town or by library construction grants – is being conducted by the J.V. Fletcher Library Friends’ Foundation Committee.
In 2017, when the library was placed on the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Project (MPLCP) waitlist, the Friends amended the organization’s bylaws to include the Foundation and Major Gifts Committee.
For simplicity’s sake, we refer to the group as the Foundation. The Friends and the Foundation share the same tax ID number. In 2023, we secured a new CPA firm – Cain, Bourett, Jarry & Cressman in Dracut -- to ensure that both the Friends and the Foundation would be well prepared for any audits, given the larger amount of money being raised. The Foundation is responsible for raising funds solely for the library expansion and renovation project.
The Friends of the J.V. Fletcher library
The Friends of the J.V. Fletcher Library was established as an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1972. Since then, the Friends’ organization has raised significant funds for the library through book sales, membership, and the group’s Annual Appeal. All of these initiatives will continue throughout the building project and beyond. The money that the Friends raise pays for nearly all of the library’s programming, the Friends’ Bestseller Book Collection, more than two dozen museum passes, downloadable and streaming services, and much more.
The Friends and the Foundation work in tandem with the Library Board of Trustees.
The Trustees – a six-member elected board – are legal representatives and official civic advocates of the library. They develop library administrative and program policies, set goals and objectives, and manage and authorize expenditures from Trust Funds. Unlike the Friends and the Foundation, the Trustees do not conduct any fundraising activities. However, Trustee liaisons sit on the Friends’ board and on the Foundation board to ensure all three groups are working cohesively in the best interests of the library.
Want more information? Click here for the Trustees’ policy on the independent roles of the Trustees, the Library Director, and the Friends