HOW YOU CAN HELP

The Dallas Public Library stands today, as it has for more than 100 years, a treasured and indispensable institution serving the citizens of Dallas, regardless of age or economic station. 

Dallas Public Library is dedicated to staying on the cutting edge with new and renovated facilities, cutting-edge technology, collections, and programs that make possible the Library’s continued role as an essential guarantor of the quality of life in our community.

Since 1950, Friends of the Dallas Public Library has been a positive influence in meeting the special needs of the Library. This organization of dedicated men and women has promoted bond elections through which the Library has benefited; it has raised funds in support of facilities and programs beyond City of Dallas budgets; it has recognized library volunteers and staff who have advanced the impact of the Library System on a broad population.

The leadership of the Friends has considered the Library’s budget and recognizes that private gifts and bequests must continue – as they have historically – to be an important part of the total funding structure of the Library, making possible those special things that public funds are not likely to provide. This will be especially significant in maintaining and expanding the Library’s holdings in books and other materials, but it will also be vital in securing the newest technologies that arm the Library system to serve its customers.

Friends of the Dallas Public Library encourages and solicits contributions of cash and other forms of property in the development of our programs and operations. Contributions are accepted either as outright gifts or through planned gifts permitted by the Internal Revenue Code and the laws of the State of Texas.

The types of gifts may include, but are not limited to:

BEQUESTS: A bequest is typically made through a will and the Foundation will receive the gift upon the death of the donor. The will may include a specific item, a specific dollar amount, or a percentage or portion of an entire estate.

SECURITIES: Publicly traded non-restricted stocks and bonds can be transferred to the Foundation

TRUST DESIGNATION: Like a bequest according to a will, a trust designation may designate a specific item, specific dollar amount, or a percentage or portion of a trust.

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS: A donor may designate Friends of the Dallas Public Library as a beneficiary on his or her qualified retirement plans i.e. IRA, 401(k), 403(b), Keogh, and Employee Stock Ownership Plans, insurance policies, or payable on death accounts.

GIFTS OF LIFE INSURANCE: A donor may name Friends of the Dallas Public Library as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or the donor may transfer the entire ownership of his/her life insurance policy to Friends of the Dallas Public Library.

LIFE OR FIXED TERM INCOME GIFTS: A donor may make an irrevocable gift while retaining interest for one or more lifetimes or a fixed term of years (on some gifts). This type of gift allows the donor to increase income, save taxes and make a charitable gift.

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY: A contract with a donor where Friends of the Dallas Public Library promises to pay a fixed amount to one or two beneficiaries in exchange for an irrevocable gift today.

RETAINED LIFE ESTATE: A donor may donate his/her home, vacation home, farm, etc., to Friends of the Dallas Public Library while retaining the right to live in it and use it for the remainder of one or more lifetimes, a fixed term of years, or a combination of the two.