Together, we can spark innovation, expand access, and grow the library services our community relies on.

The Rochester Public Library Foundation ensures our library remains a vibrant, forward-thinking resource for everyone in our community. We advocate for meaningful services, educate residents about what’s available to them, and fund innovative pilot projects and technology that demonstrate real impact—helping turn good ideas into lasting, publicly supported programs.

When you support the Foundation, you’re investing in access, innovation, and lifelong learning for our entire community!

You make growth possible!

Mission & Vision

Our MISSION is to raise private funds for educational and informational resources and projects in a manner that does not diminish the need for strong public funding, and to educate the community about the Library's vital role in meeting our community's need.

Our VISION is to build strong public-private partnerships with individuals, businesses, foundations, and community organizations that share our mission for creating a stronger library that is meeting the needs of the under-served.

Support the Library

Designate your gift in Celebration, Remembrance or Appreciation!

Birthdays, Anniversaries, Milestones, Holidays, Celebrations, and more.

When you make a gift to honor a loved one or friend, they will receive a card acknowledging your gift, plus a mention in our quarterly newsletter.

$40 will buy two children's books. 

$370 can buy a Wi-Fi Hotspot + connectivity for one year

$500 can honor a loved one with a tribute label in a book for ten years

Foundation Fundraising Priorities

The Foundation’s mission is to raise private funds for educational and informational resources and projects in a manner that does not diminish the need for strong public funding, and to educate the community about the Library’s vital role in meeting our community’s need.

• Building Fund

• Expansion of Wi-Fi Hotspot program

• Literacy: Rochester Reading Champions

• Materials: books, CDs, audiobooks, digital titles

• Wishlist items for library divisions

• Pilot Programming

• Diversity & inclusion

• Innovation & creativity

• Youth

The Foundation has played a key role in supporting RPL programs and initiatives that support community members through all stages of life.

Rochester Reading Champions

In early 2017, the Foundation partnered with the Rochester Valley of the Scottish Rite to lead a two-month matching donation drive supporting the Rochester Reading Champions (RRC) literacy program. RRC pairs highly trained volunteers with youth and adults in the community who struggle with reading. The Foundation’s goal of raising $5,000 (to be matched by the Scottish Rite Children’s Foundation) was surpassed, with over $6,000 raised in six weeks. The donations will help support the program as it expands to reach more struggling readers. Every RRC participant sees growth in reading and spelling after 80-100 lessons, all provided by volunteers who spend 120 hours in training. Without the financial support of the Foundation and other sponsors, the RRC program would not be able to offer the specialized training, greatly reducing the number of volunteers in the program.

Wi-Fi Hotspots

In 2017, the RPL Foundation partnered with Olmsted County Community Services to launch the “Wi-Fi Hotspot” program to give community members greater access to the internet. Through the “Wi-Fi Hotspot program” the Foundation is able to support community members searching for jobs, filling out official forms, or completing school work. Having strong internet connectivity allows individuals to connect and contribute to our local economy. The program has been highly popular: at any given time all hotspots are checked out and over 100 people are waiting for access.

Summer Playlist

The Foundation supports local literacy efforts including the 2017 “Summer Playlist” program. This all-ages program encourages community members to spend part of their summer hours without technology and instead spend time reading, learning, creating, or connecting. Thousands of children, teens and adults participated in the 2017 program with many saying the Summer Playlist encouraged them to read after not doing so for many years. In all, over 4,000 kids, teens, and adults participated in Summer Playlist, a 52% increase over 2016.