Strengthen and enhance Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries' capacity to serve communities; engage communities to promote literacy, communicate the value of the Library, and inspire civic support; seek and welcome gifts to expand library facilities, programs and services.
The Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation’s recent grants center on a single institutional partner, the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, with two 2024 awards totaling $3,362,127 in annual grants data. Those grants support books for library use and cash for new library buildings or building improvement projects. That pattern matches the foundation’s stated purpose: strengthening the district’s capacity to serve communities, promoting literacy, and expanding library facilities, programs, and services. The foundation’s work is tied closely to the Fort Vancouver library system rather than a broad external portfolio. Its support reaches collections, programming, advocacy, and capital projects, including library building campaigns such as a new community library in Washougal. It also backs summer reading and outreach, indicating that the foundation funds both the physical infrastructure of the library system and the day-to-day services that shape how patrons use it. Leadership is listed under Rick Smithrud, and the latest 990 year on file is 2024. The foundation also makes program-related investments, which places it among funders that use more than one tool to support library access and expansion.
Library collections are a core priority. In 2024, the foundation gave $2,068,034 to the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District for books used by the district’s libraries, and its program descriptions also include support for books, media, digital books, and Library of Things items. Capital support is another clear theme. The foundation’s building campaign work includes funding for a new approximately 13,000 square-foot public library in Washougal, with support for design, construction, and site work. Its broader capital focus also covers library building projects across the district. Programming is a third strand. The foundation supports Summer at Your Library, which includes summer reading, youth programs, book distribution, lunch programs, and outreach. It also funds Reading in Action, a family literacy effort for low-income families with elementary-age students, as well as other library programs and classes. Advocacy appears in its community-facing work through support for public awareness and library advocacy initiatives.
The recent grant amounts are large and concentrated, with a p25 of $1,487,578, a median of $1,681,064, and a p75 of $1,874,549. That narrow spread suggests a small number of substantial awards rather than many smaller grants. The recipient pattern is recurring and highly stable: the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District appears in the recent grants list more than once, and all reported grants go to recipients in Washington. The foundation is structured around support for a local public library system, with restricted, project-based funding and capital grants among its main approaches. It also makes program-related investments. Unsolicited applications are accepted for the New Washougal Community Library building campaign, while several other active programs do not accept unsolicited requests.
$3.4M
$10.2M
$2.9M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $1.5M and $1.9M, with a median of $1.7M.
25th Percentile
$1.5M
Median
$1.7M
75th Percentile
$1.9M
About 100% of grants go to recipients in WA.
RICK SMITHRUD
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Grantmaking is entirely local and entirely in Washington: 100% of reported grants go to recipients in the HQ state. The recent grants list points to Vancouver, WA as the main recipient city, and the active program descriptions also name Washougal, WA and the broader Clark County and Fort Vancouver Regional Library service area. The work is centered on Southwest Washington rather than a multi-state or national footprint.
Its stated focus includes public library support, building campaigns, library programs for youth and adults, collections and digital resources, advocacy for public funding and levies, and literacy and lifelong learning. The recent grants also show support for books and for new library buildings or building improvement projects.
The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District is the clearest recurring recipient in the recent grants list, and the foundation’s active programs are built around the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District service area. The beneficiary types are local residents and public library institutions tied to that district.
The foundation’s grant size distribution is very tight: p25 is $1,487,578, median is $1,681,064, and p75 is $1,874,549. That points to a small set of sizeable awards rather than a wide spread of grant sizes.
No. The recipient country distribution shows 100% of grants in the US, and 100% of grants to recipients in Washington. The geographic scope is local, with named places including Vancouver, Washougal, Clark County, and the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District.
The New Washougal Community Library building campaign accepts unsolicited funding, while several other active programs, including Summer at Your Library, Collections, Programs, and Building Campaigns, are listed as not accepting unsolicited requests.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORT VANCOUVER REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT | VANCOUVER, WA | $2,068,034 | 2024 | THE FOUNDATION PURCHASES BOOKS FOR USE BY THE LIBRARIES OF THE FORT VANCOUVER LIBRARY DISTRICT. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES CASH FOR NEW LIBRARY BUILDINGS OR BUILDING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ASSISTS THE LIBRARY DISTRICT WITH FUNDS FOR VARIOUS READING AND LITERACY PROGRAMS. |
| FORT VANCOUVER REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT | VANCOUVER, WA | $1,294,093 | 2024 | THE FOUNDATION PURCHASES BOOKS FOR USE BY THE LIBRARIES OF THE FORT VANCOUVER LIBRARY DISTRICT. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES CASH FOR NEW LIBRARY BUILDINGS OR BUILDING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ASSISTS THE LIBRARY DISTRICT WITH FUNDS FOR VARIOUS READING AND LITERACY PROGRAMS. |
FORT VANCOUVER REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT
$2,068,034THE FOUNDATION PURCHASES BOOKS FOR USE BY THE LIBRARIES OF THE FORT VANCOUVER LIBRARY DISTRICT. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES CASH FOR NEW LIBRARY BUILDINGS OR BUILDING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ASSISTS THE LIBRARY DISTRICT WITH FUNDS FOR VARIOUS READING AND LITERACY PROGRAMS.
FORT VANCOUVER REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT
$1,294,093THE FOUNDATION PURCHASES BOOKS FOR USE BY THE LIBRARIES OF THE FORT VANCOUVER LIBRARY DISTRICT. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES CASH FOR NEW LIBRARY BUILDINGS OR BUILDING IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ASSISTS THE LIBRARY DISTRICT WITH FUNDS FOR VARIOUS READING AND LITERACY PROGRAMS.