The Fort Vancouver Regional Library (FVRL) Foundation has received a $1 million challenge grant from an anonymous donor to help fund a new library in Ridgefield. The pledge was made through the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington.
“The challenge grant was specifically designed to encourage gifts of $10,000 or more for the Ridgefield Library Building Fund,” said Rick Smithrud, executive director of the FVRL Foundation, in a press release. “The challenge grant is meant to inspire other donors to come forward and contribute, knowing that their gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the grant.”
While fundraising efforts to construct a new library in Ridgefield are already underway, officials said millions of dollars still need to be raised before construction can begin.
According to a study from local engineering firm BergerABAM, a new appropriately-sized library in Ridgefield would cost around $5 million.
“Our studies have shown that Ridgefield needs a library building that is four or five times larger than the current facility so that we can continue to provide the kinds of programs and services that meet the needs of the community,” said Amelia Shelley, executive director of FVRL District.
Smithrud said the challenge grant will expire at the end of 2020, and urged potential donors to get involved.
“The sooner we meet the challenge grant the better, especially since every donation to this campaign moves us closer to building a new library in Ridgefield,” she said.
“We are very excited about this challenge grant,” added Devin Jackson, chair of FVRL Foundation’s board of directors. “It would be great if we could meet this challenge with another $1 million gift. If that doesn’t happen, we are going to be looking for individuals, businesses, private foundations and community organizations to contribute gifts in smaller qualifying amounts.”
Jennifer Rhoads, president of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, said the foundation was happy to be able to facilitate the challenge grant.
“One of the great things we get to do is work closely with our donors to make gifts that have a profound and lasting impact on the communities we serve,” said Rhoads.
For more information about the challenge grant, contact the FVRL Foundation at 360.906.4700 or at foundation@fvrl.org.
