IMPACT REPORT 2026
UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITY ACTIVATING DEMOCRACY SHARING TREASURES
BRINGING REVOLUTIONARY IDEAS TO LIFE In the pages ahead, discover how the revolutionary spirit that sparked the Boston Public Library’s founding continues to burn brightly through your support of the Boston Public Library Fund.
Ece Gülşan (left) and Joshua Carley are members of the Boston Public Library Fund’s Emerging Leaders. Made up of some of the city’s most dynamic young thinkers, the Emerging Leaders are dedicated to supporting the Library’s future.
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At this pivotal moment for our city and our nation, the Boston Public Library Fund is helping to spark a new era of civic engagement, learning, and cultural connection. Together, with supporters like you, we are building momentum and inspiring a movement across Boston’s neighborhoods and communities. Your generosity has helped expand the reach and impact of the Boston Public Library through transformative programs, innovative initiatives, essential staff positions, and critical capital improvements.
Looking ahead, the Fund is strengthening its capacity in preparation for a transformational campaign to revitalize the Central Library’s historic McKim Building. As we rise to meet this extraordinary moment, expanding our community of supporters will be essential. We are deeply grateful for your continued partnership and commitment to the Library’s mission. Sincerely,
Jeffrey B. Hawkins, Board Chair
As you’ll see in the pages that follow, our greatest aspirations are only possible because of you. With donor support last year, the Library presented two landmark exhibitions commemorating the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, expanded innovative programming at the Nutrition Lab, created new opportunities for individuals learning English, and launched a fellowship program in partnership with Simmons University. This is the impact of your philanthropy — real, tangible, and felt every day across our communities.
This past year, as Boston marks the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, your support of the Boston Public Library Fund brought revolutionary ideas to life at the Central Library and across all 25 neighborhood branches. Through your generosity, the Boston Public Library expanded opportunities for English-language learners, strengthened workforce development initiatives, activated the Nutrition Lab in new ways, deepened access to social services, and responded to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. At a time of growing division and greater barriers, donor support ensured the Library remained a trusted civic resource; a place where knowledge, connection, and opportunity are — proudly — free to all. Notably, two landmark exhibitions inspired by the 250th anniversary, Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston and Declarations: Printing a New Nation, were only possible through philanthropic partnerships. These extraordinary exhibitions
Boston Public Library Fund
Paula S. Sakey, Executive Director Boston Public Library Fund
provided access to the BPL’s rare collections and demonstrated the Library’s unique role as both steward of history and catalyst for civic dialogue. As this report reflects, the impact of your support of the Boston Public Library can be seen in every corner of the institution. Revolutionary ideas require a community willing to invest, and your generosity continues to provide both stability and momentum. Thank you for ensuring that the Boston Public Library remains a vibrant, welcoming civic institution for the people of Boston and the Commonwealth for generations to come. With deepest gratitude,
David Leonard President, Boston Public Library
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IMPACT IN ACTION F I S C A L
Y E A R
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In Fiscal Year 2026, donors to the Boston Public Library Fund supported programs and services that unlocked opportunity, activated democracy, and shared the Library’s treasures.
On Display: Boston’s Revolutionary Spirit The Boston Public Library Fund brought history to life through two extraordinary exhibitions commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary. As part of a major philanthropic investment to plan for the renovation of the Central Library’s historic McKim Building, Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston showcased more than 100 artworks and documentary materials from the Library’s Special Collections. More than 98,000 visitors experienced the landmark exhibition, which brought to life stories of America’s ongoing struggle for freedom, civil rights, and belonging. Supported through the Irene Haney Creative Enrichment Fund, Declarations: Printing a New Nation displayed the Library’s eight rare printings of the Declaration of Independence together for the first time. The exhibition, a partnership between the Boston Public Library and the Leventhal Map & Education Center, invites visitors to consider the moment when American independence was breaking news.
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Strong Year for Endowment Growth In FY26, the Boston Public Library Fund secured more than $655,855 in new endowed gifts from six donors. Endowed funds provide permanent, annual support for the Library, enabling donor generosity to grow over time while sustaining programs, collections, and services for generations. Funds were established to support a variety of initiatives, from the South End Branch to Special Collections.
A Commitment to the Freedom to Read The Boston Public Library Fund continued to champion intellectual freedom by funding the Library’s Books Unbanned initiative, ensuring that teens and young adults across the country have access to books without censorship. Through the program, individuals ages 13–26 received a free Books Unbanned eCard, providing access to the Library’s extensive digital collection. Since its launch, in 2023, more than 23,000 young people have registered for an eCard and checked out some 90,000 digital items. During National Library Week, the Boston Public Library Fund further elevated the conversation by hosting a screening of the PBS documentary The Librarians, reinforcing the Library’s role as a defender of intellectual freedom and democracy.
Inaugural Children’s Musician-in-Residence Music filled the Library in a whole new way with the launch of the BPL’s firstever Children’s Musician-in-Residence program. Supported by the LEGO Group, the initiative expanded opportunities for learning through play with live, interactive music experiences across all 25 branches and the Central Library. The inaugural resident, music educator Phoebe Neilsen led programs ranging from movement and rhythm activities for preschoolers to lyric-writing workshops for teens.
Community Through Gardening The Seed Library flourished this year thanks to support from the Irene Haney Creative Enrichment Fund. Offering free vegetable, herb, and flower seeds at the Central Library and neighborhood branches, the program expanded in response to strong community demand. Branches across the city complemented seed distribution with hands-on gardening workshops, programming, and supplies.
Young Philanthropists. Big Impact. The Boston Public Library Fund’s Emerging Leaders continued to build momentum in FY26, growing to 123 members and leading two successful fundraising campaigns. Their National Library Week crowdfunding campaign raised $10,980 to support the Library’s mission and the 4th-annual Night in the Stacks welcomed a record 1,000 attendees and raised an unprecedented $383,528 in support of programs and services.
Closing the Digital Divide Thanks to support from the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation and Granite Telecommunications, the Boston Public Library expanded its popular Connectivity Kit program, ensuring that more residents have access to the technology they need to access online learning, job opportunities, and health care and to stay connected. The grants made it possible for the Library to replace existing kits with new laptops, dramatically reducing wait times from 40 days to zero.
Innovation Across Boston The Branching Out: Creative Catalyst Mini-Grant Program awarded $75,333 to support 40 innovative programs across 25 neighborhood branches. Grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 empowered Library staff to create community-driven programming that reached new audiences, expanded youth and teen services, and reflected the unique interests of each neighborhood. As one librarian shared, “We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to bring high-quality cultural programming to the branch, programming that is typically beyond our means. Thank you to the Fund’s donors for making this possible!”
Running for the Library Team BPL went the distance, raising a record-breaking $288,000 to support programs and services across the Library. After months of training, fundraising, and community-building, 23 runners completed the 26.2-mile course — an incredible achievement and a powerful testament to their dedication to the Library’s mission.
Summer Reading ROAR-ed to Life With the dinosaur theme “Unearth a Story,” donors to the Boston Public Library Fund raised $124,786 to expand summer reading initiatives. Children and teens across Boston connected to learning all summer long at more than 100 classes and programs, such as salt dough fossil-making, rock arts and crafts, the WingMasters workshop, DinoMan visits, and scavenger hunts.
This is just a snapshot of what philanthropy helped accomplish at the Boston Public Library last year. Explore the pages ahead to discover more impact stories.
F I N A N C I A L I M PAC T In Fiscal Year 2026, the Boston Public Library Fund received gifts and contributions from nearly 4,000 donors totaling $7,440,419, including $1,217,400 from supporters who named the Fund in their estate plans, further ensuring the Library’s future for generations to come. The Boston Public Library Fund has been awarded the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, underscoring an unwavering commitment to financial accountability and transparency. The FY26 audited financial statement will be completed by October 1, 2026, and uploaded for review at bplfund.org/about. BPLF Impact Report 2026
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MORE THAN WORDS: CREATING BELONGING A film class for English-language learners creates space for community and creativity. In 2025, attendance for the Boston Public Library’s free English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs totaled more than 15,000 registrations. For many, these classes are a first step toward building connections and feeling at home in a new city. That is exactly what happened when Valmir, a new resident of Boston, enrolled in the BPL’s TOEFL preparation class at the Central Library. During a conversation with Literacy Specialist Jenna Young, he described his background as a filmmaker and educator in Albania and wanted to share his expertise with other immigrants. Recognizing the opportunity, Jenna brought the idea to Community Learning Supervisor Jess Elias, and a new program quickly evolved: Storytelling Through Film for EnglishLanguage Learners. As part of the Library’s ESOL initiatives, the three-month workshop series invited students to strengthen their conversation skills while creating a documentary together. More than that, though, it fostered a supportive environment where participants felt comfortable practicing their English and contributing creatively. “It was inspiring to see Valmir leading a class that empowers patrons who come from around the world,” says Jenna. “Students gained hands-on experience with camera work, lighting, scriptwriting, editing, directing, and sound recording — improving their English skills along the way as they collaborated from concept to final cut.”
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Jess sees programs like this as a powerful example of how the Library responds to the people it serves. “Our staff do an exceptional job of creating opportunities that reflect the interests and talents of our community,” she says. “With support from the Boston Public Library Fund, it’s exciting to test new ideas and offer ESOL programming beyond a standard curriculum.” For Valmir, the experience became something more than teaching technical skills. “The film course was highly interactive and required continuous communication among students,” he says. “What surprised me most was how the class evolved into a multicultural community that extended beyond formal learning.” That sense of community was evident in the final project: a documentary about the Library itself, titled Free to All. The film premiered in the Central Library’s Rabb Hall, where friends and family gathered to watch the personal journeys of students striving to learn English at the BPL. One student, Paula, found the experience to be deeply personal. “I have made lifelong friends and despite me being in Boston for a long time, this course and the Library healed something in me and made me feel welcomed and grateful to be in this city. It made Boston feel like home. Thank you for creating that space. It is so needed.” To view the documentary Free to All, scan the QR code or go to bplfund.org/documentary.
Students filming an interview with the BPL’s Community Learning Supervisor Jess Elias
Simmons University graduate student Madison Pearson rotated through departments at the Central Library during her first year as a Library Fellow.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF LIBRARIANSHIP A new endowed fund is expanding opportunities for staff development today, and for generations to come. As a Simmons University graduate student and first-year Library Fellow at the Boston Public Library, Madison Pearson is gaining hands-on experience while preparing for her career as a librarian. New to Boston, she quickly discovered the many ways a large urban library connects with its patrons. “I knew I wanted to help people by providing them resources to facilitate the process of learning,” Madison said. “My eyes have been opened to the level of engagement and trust you can have with a patron.” Madison is part of the Boston Public Library’s two-year Library Fellows Program with Simmons University. Graduate students earning their library and information science degrees rotate through departments across the Central Library — from archives to workforce development — gaining practical experience in public service. In their second year, Fellows step into full-time roles at neighborhood branches, creating a direct pathway into the profession. “Programs like this are essential to developing the next generation of librarians,” said Gianna Gifford, Chief of Adult Library Services. “By offering a stipend as well as well as an immersive, real-world experience before degree completion, we’re ensuring that professional librarianship remains inclusive and accessible to all students.” Recognizing the importance of preparing the next generation of librarians, Boston resident Richard Voos recently established the Henry Voos Endowed Fund for Staff Development through the Boston Public Library Fund. The endowment will provide permanent funding for professional development opportunities for BPL staff, with a preference for Library Fellows participating in the Simmons program.
The gift reflects Richard’s own lifelong connection to libraries. Inspired by his father, Henry — a librarian, educator, and champion of public libraries — Richard began his career at the circulation desk at Tufts University Library before earning his master’s degree in library and information science from Simmons. “My parents believed strongly in education,” said Richard. “Naming this fund for my father is a meaningful way to honor those values and help staff deepen their expertise and grow within a profession that is in a state of rapid change.” Richard structured his philanthropy to create both immediate and lasting impact. In addition to making a gift to establish the endowment, he has included the Boston Public Library Fund in his estate plans to ensure the fund’s long-term sustainability. “We can’t predict what the future of librarianship will look like,” Richard said. “It’s exciting to know this fund can help staff explore new approaches and continue growing far into the future. I’m so pleased to collaborate with the BPL to ensure that librarianship remains open to everyone.”
1848 SOCIETY With his planned gift, Richard joined the Boston Public Library Fund’s 1848 Society, a community of supporters dedicated to securing the Library’s future through estate giving. To learn more, please contact Paula Sakey at 617.859.2029 or psakey@bplfund.org.
Chef-in-Residence Kayla Tabb (left) and Corey Hendricks, owner of Duck Island Shellfish Company of Barnstable Harbor
The journey to reimagine the Central Library’s CENTERING CULTURAL EXCHANGE
iconic McKim Building With donor support, the BPL’s Nutrition Lab amplifies community voices. is officially underway. It’s a cold November evening, but inside the Boston Public Library’s Shaw–Roxbury Branch, a small group has gathered in the Nutrition Lab to cook a warm meal. At the front of the room, the Boston Public Library’s Chefin-Residence Kayla Tabb teaches alongside Corey Hendricks, owner of Duck Island Shellfish Company of Barnstable Harbor, and a member of the Wampanoag Tribe. Together, they demonstrate how to clean mussels and the students get hands-on instructions on how to prepare the dish. The lesson moves between technique and history — from how mussels are harvested to stories from Corey’s family traditions. The class, part of the Lab’s Cooking with Shellfish series, was intentionally designed by Kayla so participants would leave with a deeper understanding of the local ecosystem and the people connected to it. Participants explored the often-overlooked reality that shellfish — now viewed as a high-end cuisine — can be an essential food source for Indigenous communities. “I was raised eating seafood as a means of survival rather than a luxury,” Corey says. “I have always wanted to bring awareness to Wampanoag and African American roles in the Massachusetts
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seafood industry, so this class was an important opportunity for me to share the real Cape Cod melting pot I grew up in.” The Chef-in-Residence role — and the mission of the Nutrition Lab — is unique within the food world. Supported by generous donors through the Boston Public Library Fund, it centers on cultural exchange and community learning, not only ingredients and skills. Each class discusses topics that have been historically overlooked, reflecting the Library’s commitment to amplifying community voices. “Here, we’re able to have political and cultural conversations while enjoying a meal together, and having fun, too,” Kayla says. “Patrons leave with a more complete understanding of what they cooked and why it matters.” Kayla Tabb was the Boston Public Library’s second Chef-in Residence, a one-year position, supported by the PDB Foundation through the Boston Public Library Fund. The third Chef-in-Residence is Suman Shah, who began her residency in July. To attend a class at the Nutrition Lab, go to bpl.org/events.
PATHWAYS TO HOUSING STABILITY, THROUGH THE BPL With a grant from the Liberty Mutual Foundation, the Boston Public Library and its partners are building a coordinated plan to connect patrons to housing. For more than a decade, the Boston Public Library (BPL) and the Liberty Mutual Foundation have partnered to expand opportunities across Boston. A new investment builds on that shared commitment — supporting work to address one of the city’s most urgent challenges: housing stability. Awarded to the Boston Public Library Fund, the $268,000 planning grant reflects a growing recognition that complex challenges require collaborative, systems-level responses. The grant brings together the Library, the Pine Street Inn, and Vital CxNs’ peer-led model for improving access to services — alongside nationally recognized consultant Dr. Beth Wahler. Together, the partners are evaluating Boston-area needs and gathering data to determine what additional programming or services at the Central Library and the 25 neighborhood branches could better support individuals experiencing housing insecurity. “Through this collaboration, we are strengthening the BPL’s role as a trusted resource,” said BPL President David Leonard. “Liberty Mutual’s grant is allowing us to be thoughtful and take the time to design a library-accessible model of care so that when a patron seeks assistance, we have a formal system in place to connect them to the right service.” That coordination is critical. For individuals seeking safe, affordable housing, the path to support is often fragmented and difficult to navigate alone. But when trusted institutions work together, those barriers can begin to fall away. “Jeff’s” experience — shaped by the partnership between the Library and Pine Street Inn — offers a glimpse of the life-changing impact a more connected service model will deliver.
Jeff, a veteran, spent 15 years unsheltered in Boston, often choosing to sleep outside along the Charles River. Despite years of hardship, his love of learning remained strong. He spent his days at the Central Library, researching topics and drafting lengthy papers, arriving before opening and staying until closing. Library Social Worker Taylor Morris first met Jeff in the Fall of 2022. Over time, a trust-based relationship formed. Jeff was reluctant to apply for housing, expressing distrust in the housing system. When a housing opportunity suitable for a veteran with Jeff’s preferences emerged in the spring of 2024, Taylor and the team at the Pine Street Inn coordinated a gradual, trauma-informed process to guide Jeff to accept this opportunity. He expressed excitement about finally having his own space, but was also worried. Today, Jeff is enjoying his permanent housing and still visits the Central Library, sharing updates about fellow veterans who’ve become his new friends. “Regardless of the services that exist outside the Library’s walls, people who are experiencing housing instability come here because they trust us,” said Taylor. “This planning work is about what happens in that moment when someone asks for help and how BPL staff can connect them to the information they need to move forward.” The planning process culminates in October 2026 with a pilot-ready implementation plan and we look forward to sharing its continued progress in the months ahead.
The BPL and the Pine Street Inn hosted a listening session at the Codman Square Health Center in June to gather community feedback on housing instability. (l-r) BPL Social Worker Taylor Morris, Pine Street Inn’s Director of Daytime Outreach Services Dan Clague, and Pine Street Inn’s Consumer Engagement Coordinator Delphia Bizzell.
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STEPPING INTO A HISTORIC SUMMER Declarations: Printing a New Nation is now on view thanks to private support. Two hundred and fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, visitors to the Central Library are enjoying the rare opportunity to step into that historic summer.
As of July 15, more than 30,500 visitors have experienced the exhibition. This level of enthusiasm comes as no surprise to BPL President David Leonard.
For the first time ever, the Boston Public Library’s eight printings of the Declaration are on display together in a public exhibition, Declarations: Printing a New Nation. Made possible by the Irene Haney Creative Enrichment Fund through the Boston Public Library Fund, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the Declaration not as a singular, iconic artifact, but instead as something circulated and debated in real time.
“The Library’s collections belong to all of us, and you can see how much engaging with these original materials in person means on this historic occasion,” he said. “I’m deeply grateful to Bill and Maura Haney, who understand the importance of bringing our collections to life, and whose generous support through the Irene Haney Creative Enrichment Fund made this extraordinary exhibition possible.”
For Quincy resident Mary Quinn, the exhibition expanded her understanding of America’s founding. “You grow up thinking the signing of the Declaration of Independence settled everything,” she said. “Seeing the BPL’s eight copies gave me the chance to imagine the uncertainty Bostonians felt realizing that this was the beginning of a brand-new country.”
Declarations: Printing a New Nation is on view, free to all, through September 13, 2026 at the Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Central Library in Copley Square.
The Boston Public Library Fund was delighted to host the Opening Reception for Declarations: Printing a New Nation and guests were joined by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
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Michael Thorpe and Roberta Cohn visiting the Library’s Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston exhibition. The two have become fast friends through a shared love of contemporary art.
A BOLD NEW ADDITION Made possible through a generous gift, a contemporary art acquisition marks a significant moment for arts at the BPL. One of the most talked-about works from the Boston Public Library’s Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston exhibition is now part of the Library’s permanent collection — and will soon be on view in the Central Library’s historic McKim Building. Thanks to the generosity of Roberta Cohn, who recently established the Dr. Lawrence H. and Roberta L. Cohn Collections Endowment Fund, Michael Thorpe’s bold and thought-provoking quilt, Out of Order: Fortification of Dorchester Heights (2025), will soon be installed in the Washington Room — directly across from its inspiration, Emanuel Leutze’s Washington at Dorchester Heights (1852). Together, the works invite visitors to consider how national narratives are constructed, whose stories are celebrated, and whose voices have been overlooked. The pairing also reflects the Boston Public Library’s role as an institution that preserves history while continually welcoming new perspectives into the public sphere. For Roberta, supporting the acquisition of Michael’s work reflects her belief in the Boston Public Library as an essential cultural and civic space in the city. “Libraries are important cathedrals of art, insight, inspiration, and intellect, and in the case of the BPL, it has freely served as the heart of our community for more than
175 years,” she said. “I’m proud to continue this legacy by helping to make Michael’s mosaic quilt a permanent installation.” As only the second large-scale contemporary work of art installed in the McKim Building, the acquisition marks a significant moment for the future of the arts at the BPL. (The first permanent installation is Duke Riley’s tile mosaic of the Great Molasses Flood.) “Displaying Out of Order reflects a renewed priority for the Library: to share our art collections with patrons in public spaces and actively support artists rooted in Boston’s creative community,” said Manager of the Arts Kristin Parker. “We’re so grateful to Michael for his vision, and to Roberta, whose support demonstrates a deep understanding of the unique value the BPL’s art collection plays in Boston’s cultural life.” Composed of 20 quilted squares that can be moved and rearranged, Newton native Michael Thorpe’s Out of Order (pictured above) is intentionally fluid and ever-changing. Each new configuration offers a different interpretation, reinforcing the idea that our understanding of history is constantly evolving. To learn more about Michael’s work, visit forumgallery.com/artists/michael-c-thorpe. BPLF Impact Report 2026
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Thank You to Our Supporters The following corporations, foundations, and individuals made gifts and commitments to the Boston Public Library Fund between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
LIFETIME DONORS OF $1 MILLION OR MORE Anonymous Bank of America Charitable Foundation Estate of Howard Cooper The Highland Street Foundation LEGO Community Fund U.S. Sherry and Alan Leventhal Liberty Mutual Foundation
NAMED ENDOWED FUNDS Endowed fund donors provide a lasting gift with both immediate and long-term benefits to the Library. Gifts are maintained in perpetuity and are a permanent legacy of financial support. Dorothy F. Alker Trust Fund for the Uphams Corner Branch
Lynch Foundation Endowment Fund
Louise H. Allen Endowed Fund
Leonard and Barbara McCue Fund
Boston Public Library Fund Endowment Dr. Lawrence H. and Roberta L. Cohn Collections Endowment Fund
The Lowell Institute
Howard Cooper LGBTQ+ Endowment Fund
Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund
Fidelity Endowment Fund
Margret and H. A. Rey~
Marcia Head Fund for North End Programming
Estate of Peter Sheldon State Street Foundation
SPECIAL CONNECTIONS DONORS Donors to the Special Connections initiative generously supported new ways for visitors to experience the Central Library’s historic McKim Building through innovative programs and immersive events. Anonymous (2) Kimberley Beaudet^ The CNR Foundation Roberta L. Cohn ^* John and Maureen Hailer^* Barbara and Amos Hostetter^* LogicSource Amelia L. McCarthy and Drew Carlson^ Myrna K. and Roger Landay~ Tiny Tiger Foundation^*
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Herb Hill Fund for South End Children’s Programming Melvin Klayman Endowed Fund for Prints and Drawings
Diane Martel Endowment Fund Maureen Meister and David Feigenbaum Endowment for Special Collections Frances and Maurice Polner Endowment for Workforce Development Barbara Rhodes Children’s Endowment Joseph F. Szymanski Philanthropy Fund William O. Taylor Endowment Fund Henry Voos Endowed Fund for Staff Development Dr. Nellie Walent Wilson Endowment Fund for Books
CORPORATE PARTNERS, FOUNDATIONS, AND TRUSTS $100,000 TO $999,999
Eric & Jane Nord Family Fund^*
Anonymous^*
PDB Foundation^*
Andrew Carnegie Foundation^
Peak Event Services
The Hearst Foundations^
State Street Foundation, Inc.^*
The Crimson Lion / Lavine Family Foundation
$25,000 TO $49,999
LEGO Community Fund U.S.^ Liberty Mutual Foundation^* LogicSource^
The 1156 Foundation^* Bain Capital Children’s Charity, Ltd.* The Catered Affair
The Lowell Institute^
The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation^
The Menemsha Family Fund*
Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation*
National Endowment for the Humanities^
MFS Investment Management^*
$50,000 TO $99,999
Saquish Foundation^*
Bank of America^*
$10,000 TO $24,999
Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation^*
Argosy Foundation
The Highland Street Foundation^*
Barr Foundation^*
The Bari Lipp Foundation
The Berman Family Foundation
The Blavatt Family Fund CarGurus, Inc. The Charlesview Foundation* Frederic W. and Sara J. Cook Charitable Fund^ DraftKings, Inc. Ernst & Young* Garden Homes Fund Goldman Sachs & Co.*
Evans Moser Family Charitable Fund* Maxine Myers Foundation* The William and Lia G. Poorvu Family Foundation* Ropes & Gray LLP* Tiny Tiger Foundation^* TJX Foundation^* Westra Family Charitable Trust*
Saul Ewing, LLP
Fichter Charitable Fund
Fan Family Foundation^*
Fife Family Foundation^*
Garelick Farms
Meet Boston
Good Hope Family Foundation
The Shea Family Charitable Fund
The Anita K. Hersh Philanthropic Fund
Veuve Clicquot Wolf & Company, P.C.
The Martin Richard Foundation Thompson Family Foundation
Granite Telecommunications, LLC^*
$5,000 TO $9,999
The Robert Cushman Woods Van Nostrand Fund*
John W. Alden Trust^
$2,500 TO $4,999
National Grid Foundation^*
Boston Bruins Foundation*
The Bowery Presents
North Pond Foundation
The Druker Company, Ltd.*
Citizens Private Bank
PATRONS OF THE COURTYARD The following donors are members of the Patrons of the Courtyard, which recognizes annual leadership donors who are committed to ensuring the Library remains viable, engaging, accessible, and free to all.
FOUNTAIN CIRCLE
Linda and Daniel Cummings
Jane Freedman and Mark Iafrati
Carlotte N. Berk*
$100,000 OR MORE
Hannah and Jack Grove*
Rebecca Gardner Campbell^
Anonymous
Nancy and Richard K. Lubin*
Ileen Gladstone*
Lynne Brainerd and Michael Douvadjian*
Roberta L. Cohn^*
Louis D. and Cheryl Maiuri*
Ida F. Hale
John and Maureen Hailer^*
Megan and Alex Marconi*
Sharon Hessney
Rosalind and Herb Hill^
Amelia L. McCarthy and Drew Carlson^
Matina S. Horner
Jeremy Nobel^
Myrna K. and Roger Landay~^
Barbara and Amos Hostetter^* The Crimson Lion / Lavine Family Foundation
Regina Pisa
Taylor and James Brennan* Nancy J. Broderick* Peter Cahn and Donald Hess Marianne M. Callahan
Michael and Martha Keating*
Danielle Chow and Benjamin T. Harris*
Justine and James Laugharn* Jon Levy
Laura Clifford and Robert O’Haver*
Margaret S. Norris
Mack L. Davidson III*
Leo Liu and Pendred Noyce*
Julie and Ronald Druker^*
Jane Manopoli
Stephanie and John Fan^*
Barbara and Leonard McCue^* Susan Moser and Thomas Evans*
Frances S. and Michael J. Goldberg*
$10,000 TO $24,999
Nancy L. and Mark D. Myers*
Jennifer and Ken Goldsmith*
Anonymous (5)
Pamela J. and Dean E. Newport*
Carl Haarer
Karen and Robert Hale
John Abele*
The O’Hanley Family^*
Elizabeth L. Johnson*
Jeffrey and Christa Hawkins*
Amy and David C. Abrams*
Susan F. Pioli*
Sandra L. and Mark Kryder
Derrick Johns
Kimberley Beaudet^
Lia and William Poorvu*
Harriet E. Polner^
Anita and Josh Bekenstein*
Jessica and Henry Schuck
J. Dayne Lamb and Gardner N. Stratton*
Joseph F. Szymanski^
Joe S. Berman and Sharon Cantor*
Scott Stewart
Maura McCarthy and William M. Haney^*
Edgard Quinones and Andrew Marconi*
Maureen Meister and David Feigenbaum^
Holly Safford and Chuck Weilbrenner*
Kay L. and Stanley F. Schlozman*
Jennifer and Robert L. Waldron
$50,000 TO $99,999 Anonymous (2) Martha Berman Lipp and Robert Lipp
Hal Tepfer Richard Voos^*
$25,000 TO $49,999
PATRON
Laura Booth^* Barry Canton and Reshma Shetty
Anonymous
Darlene Donovan and Donal E. Reilly*
Jane Brock-Wilson^*
Grace and Ted Fey*
Leslie and Peter L. Ciampi^*
Martha Maguire and Oleg Simanovsky*
Phyllis and Martin L. Vogel*
Terri-Lynn McCormick
Christian and Sophie Westra*
Mary R. McDonough*
Adrienne Zak Hunt*
$5,000 TO $9,999
Jane R. and William S. Mosakowski*
Anonymous (3)
Jennifer M. and Victor Paci*
Jennifer Ayres and Edward B. Rist
Valerie K. and Larry M. Post*
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John Preotle
Lewis and Rinda Burleigh*
Wendy B. Hamilton*
Marva Nathan
Susan D. Prindle^*
Cynthia E. Clark*
Aman and Manisha Handa
Nell Nies*
Jason Purdy^
Kymm Coveney*
Dean Hanley*
Susan M. O’Connor*
Norin and Fahim Razzaque*
Mary E. Curtis*
Julia E. Harmatz
Mary and Theodore Papastavros*
Dorothy and John J. Remondi*
Jennifer Cusack
Patricia M. and Michael Jackson
Wendy B. and Michael L. Price*
Philip W. Rosenkranz*
John P. Custy, Jr.*
Cynthia M. Jones*
Suzanne L. and Peter C. Read
The Shemin Family^*
Claudia Davidoff and Joseph Kahan*
Karli Kaye
Matthew Russell*
Dawn E. and Mark E. Donovan
Mimi and Paul La Camera*
Diego Saavedra DAivila
Drs. Maydee G. and Nelson P. Lande*
Igor Sereda*
Holly and Rich Linton
Sarita Uribe and Martin Hall
Linda S. Stone Joan Thompson Karen A. Vagts* Anne Louise C. Van Nostrand* Karen and Gilbert Winn Judith J. Wurtman* Jeff Yabuki
$2,500 TO $4,999 Anonymous (9) Brandon Ashcraft and Robert Vroman Jenna and Aaron Bates* The Brennan and Cianciolo Family Fund*
Andrew Dykman Marie-Pierre and Michael W. Ellmann Phyllis C. Fairchild*
Alexandra Bowers and James C. Liu*
Melissa and Trevor Fetter
Merranda Logan, M.D.
Katherine S. Fichter
Sue and Mike Masterson
Marilyn Fife Cragin and John Cragin^*
Ann Merrifield and Wayne Davis
Christine Fuchs*
Elizabeth C. and Keith Morgan
Feng Ge
Sheila Thorne* Kate Walsh and Erik Garpestad* Eric Wetlaufer Dyann and Peter K. Wirth*
Sandy Moose
Jean Gibran*
Elizabeth Munro and Peter Wheeler
Anne Giudice*
Keely Murphy
MY TRUST HAS ONLY DEEPENED With 181 members, the Boston Public Library Fund’s leadership annual giving society, Patrons of the Courtyard, raised $1,617,304 in FY26. South End resident Mack Davidson, a member for five years, recently shared what inspires his philanthropy.
What motivates you to support the BPL? I am from Charlotte, North Carolina, and both of my parents were college professors. Reading, learning, and critical thinking were part of our home, and whenever I showed an interest in a topic, my parents were always happy to purchase the book that had piqued my interest. I grew up surrounded by books. Looking back now as an adult, I realize how fortunate I was. At the time, I did not understand that books could be considered a luxury. Like my parents did for me, the Boston Public Library makes it possible to have access to a wide swath of books on countless topics. It is a temple of learning and a gateway to innumerable worlds. Someone’s economics should never prevent them from reading.
Your annual gift is unrestricted; why is that important to you? I work in the nonprofit sector, so I know how unrestricted funding ensures that an organization can be flexible and that it is beneficial when contingencies come up. I began supporting the BPL in 2021 and over time my trust has only deepened. With an unrestricted gift, I support programming for children, the Books Unbanned initiative, and the historic collections. The BPL is the best bet on the dollar for donating to learning in Boston!
14 | BPLF Impact Report 2026
Mack Davidson, a five-year member
of Patrons of the Courtyard
1848 SOCIETY The 1848 Society recognizes and honors individuals who have included the Boston Public Library Fund in their long-term financial and estate plans through a charitable bequest, beneficiary designation, or other legacy gifts. Anonymous (17)
Janet E. Goff~
Kathleen Casey-Bianchi and Lorrey Bianchi
Arlene Hines~
Irene Christopher~
Marlene Kaplan
Terence M. Janericco~
Howard Cooper~
Melvin Klayman~
Steve L. Csipke
Kathleen McDermott and Bill Nigreen William J. McLaughlin
Julie M. Wood Robert Zohn
Marlene R. Meyer Kathleen M. Miskiewicz Katharine Nash~
Todd A. Davis
J. Dayne Lamb and Gardner N. Stratton*
Angel Manuel Dejesus
Susan R. Landy
Harriet E. Polner
Priscilla H. Douglas
Edward J. LeMay
Sally Portle
Esther M. Engelman~
Jon Levy
Carol Shea
Albert Engleman~
Adam M. Lutynski
Peter Sheldon~
Peter G. Fallon, Jr.~
Teresa F. Mazzulli~
Sheila Thorne*
Gail Fenske and Don Cecich
Christine McCarron
Richard Voos
~ Deceased ^ Restricted Gift * Three years consecutive giving
Arlene B. Pikin
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. We apologize for errors or omissions. Please report any corrections to info@bplfund.org For a complete list of donors, please visit bplfund.org/donors
BOARD of DIRECTORS Jeffrey B. Hawkins, Chair Hannah Grove, Vice-Chair & Chair, Nominating and Governance Louis Maiuri, Treasurer & Chair, Finance and Investment
Cliff Cammock, Chair, Audit Committee
Marta Garcia, Chair, BPL Board of Trustees
Taylor Brennan, Marketing & Digital Strategy Liaison
Derrick Johns
Leo Liu Merranda Logan Amelia McCarthy
Michael Keating
Todd Plummer, President, Emerging Leaders
Preston “Skip” Kodak
Barry Canton
David Leonard, BPL President
Cynthia Clark
Adrienne Zak Hunt
FOUNDING DIRECTORS Emeritus Lewis Burleigh
Grace Fey
BPLF Staff Paula Sakey, Executive Director
Lisa Kernan, Director of Philanthropy
Aislinn Doherty, Prospect Research and Management Coordinator
Kyle Lindsay, Assistant Director of Advancement Services
Sarah Dow, Director of Advancement Services
Porscha Maurer-Cordova, Assistant Director of Annual Giving
Julia Hilton, Director of Leadership Giving
Katie Miller, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Communications and Stewardship
Liz Swanson, Assistant Director of Communications and Special Projects Benjamin Wind, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
IMPACT REPORT Contributors Writing Katie Miller
Copy Editing Doris Troy
Photography CJKeys Photos RedShade Studios
Design Joshua Cleaver BPLF Impact Report 2026
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