Grant and Funding Programs Offered by West Vancouver Memorial Library Foundation

The West Vancouver Memorial Library Foundation is an incorporated, not‑for‑profit society created to channel private philanthropy toward the West Vancouver Memorial Library. Established by local citizens, it raises funds and administers endowments, donations, and bequests, then annually grants funds to the Library. These grants finance enhancements that go beyond municipal and public funding, helping the Library offer exceptional services and spaces to residents and visitors in West Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Foundation focuses its financial support on projects and services that enrich the Library experience and broaden access. Its grants have supported capital and programmatic initiatives such as teen‑only spaces, the Waterfall lounge, the Welsh Hall and grand piano, as well as new books, large‑print materials, audio aids, and in‑home services for patrons with mobility or health limitations. It also helps underwrite public lectures on health and finance, concerts, music programs, language resources, seniors programming, and community movie nights.

By providing sustained funding alongside specific project support, the Foundation enables the Library to develop well‑designed, forward‑looking spaces and innovative programs for all ages, complementing the Library’s core operating budget.

The Foundation invites a wide range of contributions, from one‑time and monthly gifts to more complex forms of planned giving. Donors can contribute through gifts of cash, securities, bequests, RRSPs and RRIFs, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and gifts of residual interests in property. The Foundation issues charitable tax receipts in accordance with Canadian tax regulations and manages endowed and donated funds to generate ongoing support for the Library.

While the Foundation’s sole funding beneficiary is the West Vancouver Memorial Library, the impact of its grants is felt broadly across the community. Children, teens, adults, and seniors all benefit from enhanced collections, accessible technologies, welcoming spaces, and rich cultural and educational programming. Through its stewardship of approximately several million dollars in donated funds, the Foundation plays a key role in ensuring that the Library remains a vibrant, evolving hub for learning, culture, and community life.