Galesburg Community Foundation Provides Matching Grant for Building a Library Campaign

Galesburg Community Foundation has announced that it is providing a generous challenge grant

to the Galesburg Public Library Foundation for its ‘Building a Library – Connecting a Community’

campaign. This grant exemplifies the work that the Galesburg Community Foundation is best

known for – strategic thinking to build bridges between donors and non-profit organizations.

”The Board of Directors and staff are excited about our ability to assist the library with this ‘once

in a lifetime’ opportunity to raise the private funds needed to bring 15.3 million dollars into the

community for a new library in Galesburg,” said Joshua Gibb, Galesburg Community Foundation’s President and CEO.

The Community Foundation’s 2:1 match grant opportunity was created to inspire the entire community. For every $2.00 donated through September 30, 2022, the Community Foundation will match an additional $1.00 up to $350,000, giving the Library Foundation an opportunity to raise a total of $1,050,000. This total amount will provide the much-needed Community Room in the new library. The Community Room will be the Community’s Gathering Place, an important multi-purpose room for welcoming everyone to the Library.

To date, the Library Foundation Campaign Committee has raised almost $2,100,000 of the

$3,750,000 goal. This includes a grant of $775,000 from the City of Galesburg to fund state-of-

the-art technology in the new library. “We deeply appreciate the City’s commitment to this

project which will impact Galesburg’s future,” said Martin Reichel, a community leader who has

been involved in the library project since it began.

The Galesburg Community Foundation’s match grant officially launches the “Building a Library –

Connecting a Community’ campaign. “Gifts given specifically for the Community Room will be

recognized there forever; it is a wonderful way for everyone in the community to come

together,” said Heather Sipes, Galesburg Public Library Foundation’s Executive Director.

This matching grant gives the campaign a unique opportunity to approach all segments of the

community. “We hope that everyone will participate, exemplifying the community spirit

intended by this grant,” said Library Director Noelle Thompson.