The Rolland Center
For Lincoln Research
About the Foundation
The Allen County Public Library Foundation is committed to ensuring the library’s continued excellence by building a strong endowment fund, vital for supporting the future of information services. Philanthropic contributions are crucial to maintaining the library’s impact on generations to come.
The Foundation has established endowment funds in key areas:
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Business, Science & Technology
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Young People's Services
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Humanities
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Genealogy
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Information Technology
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Outreach Services
As technology and information needs evolve, the library must stay on the cutting edge. With private support, especially through planned gifts, the Foundation aims to position the Allen County Public Library as an essential resource for our community and beyond.
Donate by Check
For your convenience you may choose to support the Allen County Public Library and its mission by donating via check. Please make your check payable to ACPL Foundation and mail it to the following address:
ACPL Foundation
900 Library Plaza,
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Planned Gifts
The Library is a vital piece of the fabric of the community. I'm proud to be a donor knowing that I have played a part in helping strengthen our community for generations to come.
~Jane Smith, Foundation Donor
Our Dollars at Work
Our Dollars at Work
Staff
Tuition Reimbursement
Tuition reimbursement helps the ACPL team meet state requirements without added financial burden on staff.
Community
Author Visits
From podcasters to academic experts, we're bringing national authors for engaging community conversations.
Teen
Teen Agency Program
We provide books to local youth service centers at a time when teens are looking for comfort and security!
Youth
Summer Learning Program
More than 15,000 community members, most of them children, experience the joy of reading each summer.
Our Dollars at Work
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Connect with The Foundation
ACPL Foundation
900 Library Plaza,
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Our Dollars at Work
Staff
Tuition Reimbursement
Tuition reimbursement helps the ACPL team meet state requirements without added financial burden on staff.
Community
Author Visits
From podcasters to academic experts, we're bringing national authors for engaging community conversations.
Teen
Teen Agency Program
We provide books to local youth service centers at a time when teens are looking for comfort and security!
Youth
Summer Learning Program
More than 15,000 community members, most of them children, experience the joy of reading each summer.
How to Create Your Library Legacy
Through our Legacy Giving program, you can create a lasting tribute to your love of reading, lifelong learning, and community enrichment. Your gift will ensure that future generations of children, adults, and families benefit from the library’s outstanding services.
The ACPL Foundation invites you to consider leaving a gift in your will or estate plan to support the library’s mission. Below, we outline the simplest ways to make an enduring impact—through a bequest or by naming the Foundation as a beneficiary of your retirement plan.
By including the ACPL Foundation in your estate plan, you help guarantee that the library remains a vital community resource for decades to come.
There are three basic kinds of bequests: specific, residuary, and contingent.
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Specific Bequest: A gift of a specific dollar amount.
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Residuary Bequest: A percentage of your estate after other obligations are met.
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Contingent Bequest: A gift that only takes effect if other beneficiaries are no longer living.
Residuary bequests are often the simplest and most flexible option, as they adjust automatically with changes to the size of your estate.
To make a charitable bequest to support the Allen County Public Library, simply include a statement in your will or revocable trust agreement such as:
"I hereby bequeath to the Allen County Public Library Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable entity located at 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46801 (Federal Tax ID# [Tax ID Number]), the sum of $$$ (or __% of my residuary estate)."
Please note that gifts to the Allen County Public Library Foundation are exempt from estate tax.
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A bequest of retirement plan assets might be the most tax effective gift you can make. Many people do not know that when retirement plans are left to an individual other than a spouse, they can be subject to income and estate taxes. Sometimes, the combination of income and estates taxes can significantly reduce the amount left for distribution to beneficiaries. A gift to the Allen County Public Library Foundation would not be subject to either tax.
Adding the Allen County Public Library Foundation as a beneficiary of your IRA or pension fund does not require revising or amending your will. You should contact the administrator of your plan to find out how to make this change.
By including the ACPL Foundation in your estate plan, you help guarantee that the library remains a vital community resource for decades to come.
Members of the Allen County Public Library Foundation’s board and advisors (who are unpaid volunteers) would be happy to have an informal, exploratory conversation with you about the giving opportunities and options that might work best for your goals and circumstances.
The Foundation does not provide legal or financial planning advice. The Foundation strongly encourages you to consult with your attorney or financial advisors to make sure that the gift you choose will make sense as part of your overall estate plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Legacy Giving
No. Legacy gifts are commitments for the future. You’re expressing your intent to support the library after your lifetime, with no immediate financial obligation.
YES, although we hope that you won’t! Because you are simply expressing your intention to support the Library this way, you can always change your will or retirement beneficiary designation if your circumstances change.
YES. We strongly encourage donors to give general support, without restrictions, because it is difficult to project what the Library’s future needs would be. However, Legacy Gifts for broad categories, such as children’s library services or technology improvements, could be very helpful. We hope that a Legacy Donor would contact us to discuss how to frame a gift focused on supporting a specific area or need, to honor your intent while serving the Library to the fullest extent.
Meet Our Board
Board Chairperson
Richard E. Beck
Board Secretary
Susan Johnson
Board Member
Stan Richard
Treasurer
Micheal Horton
Board Member
Kent Castleman
Board Member
Stephen Chapman
Board Member
Madelane Elston
Board Member
Johnathan Hancock
Assistant Treasurer
Zach Higgins
Board Member
Davyd Jones
Board Member
Dr. Dara Spearman
Board Member
Reneta Thurairatnam
Board Member
Lisa Worrell
Board Member
Kathryn Roudebush
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Dolly Parton launched the Imagination Library to nurture a love of reading and learning among young children. The program provides free books every month to children from birth to age 5.
Donate today to support this amazing program.
Sign up a young person in your life.
Support the Genealogy Center
There are many ways to support The Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library, and all are greatly appreciated.
Make a Monetary Donation
Support The Genealogy Center by contributing to its endowment fund; annual, planned, and one-time gifts are welcomed.
Share Your Research
Share your research—whether papers, books, digital data, or family records—ensuring its preservation for future generations and benefiting countless researchers, with contributions.
