Advancement/Development

ADVANCEMENT/DEVELOPMENT Pequot Library experienced a resurgence in 2021-2022 after the pandemic came under control and people were ready to get back to life as usual. The year kicked off with a bang with a donor appreciation party: a hoe-down complete with line dancing, hay bales, and cowboy boots to celebrate supporters of our campaign for restoring the historic red-tiled roof. Thanks to everyone who contributed, the Library has been water-tight for a year now. The 60th Summer Book Sale soon followed, which we hosted back under the tents as we know and love it. From summer on, we hit the ground running with face-to-face programs, community-wide events, and fundraisers. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we cannot thank you all enough for the reliable stream of support that allows Pequot Library to provide our many programs and services, the vast majority of which come at no cost to our patrons.

ROOF RESTORATION CAMPAIGN In July, supporters of the overdue and urgent need to restore the historic red-tiled roof celebrated the completion of the $1.6 million campaign and building project with a “hoe-down” event on the Great Lawn, catered by Emily’s Catering Group, with entertainment by Pat Cannon’s Foot & Fiddle Dance Company. State Senator Tony Hwang and Town of Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, as well as other local dignitaries, were in attendance for the ceremonial ribbon cutting. We’re grateful to all of the donors who contributed to this important project, especially the Town of Fairfield, the Dillon Fund, and an anonymous donor. ANNUAL FUND APPEALS Funds raised through annual appeals are an essential portion of the Library’s operating budget. This year, three separate drives (the endof-calendar-year appeal, Fairfield County’s Community Giving Day, and the end-of-fiscal-year appeal) raised $210,447 for the Library, a 30 percent increase over the prior year. Unrestricted funds are essential to keep the operations of Pequot Library running, the lights on, and doors open. The institution is indebted to the individuals, family foundations, and businesses who give their time and resources to help raise and contribute unrestricted funds for daily operations, critical programs, and special projects.

INDIVIDUAL GIFTS Individuals continue to provide the most significant support for Library activities, including Special Collections exhibitions, library services/ literacy programs, and public programs. For extraordinarily generous individual gifts, we thank our new Founders’ Society members Bettina McKee and Sandi and Chris Wright for donating $10,000 each. We also thank Sustaining Members Nelson and Peg North, Joan Frost (Special Collections), Celie Campbell, Lynne Laukhuf, and Thomas Taglieri.

LIBRARY GIVING DAY On April 6, 2022, Pequot Library participated for the first time in Library Giving Day, a campaign that encourages people worldwide to donate to their individual library systems. Pequot Library raised $10,500 from 84 donors, and we allocated the earnings to our budget for book and ebook purchases, enhancing the circulating collection with 330 additional print books and 50 ebooks.

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FOUNDATION and GRANT SUPPORT CT Humanities awarded three major grants to Pequot Library this year. First, they helped underwrite a Special Collections exhibition: Magic, Mayhem, and Maturity: The Growth of Youth Fantasy Literature. Second, they awarded us a $10,000 SHARP grant to increase our ability to serve audiences digitally with new software, hardware, and training, bringing us into the 21st century. Finally, the Library was awarded $79,500 for a Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant, which assists with the Library’s general operating budget. It requires reporting about visitor demographics.

We received a restricted gift for the forthcoming restoration to the ground-level stained glass windows in the auditorium from the Quidditch Foundation, Inc. ($10,000). We received grants for School Programs from the Bedford Family Social Responsibility Fund ($3,500) and People’s United Community Foundation ($2,500), as well as a new laptop computer from Fairfield Rotary Club ($1,000). The Library also received a $4,000 grant from an anonymous foundation for audiovisual and computer upgrades to the auditorium to help with recording and live streaming programs.

This year, more than 20 family foundations donated over $33,000 in unrestricted support of operations, library services, and capital special projects. Several family foundations have been giving for many consecutive years, and we extend a special thanks to the following: the Clarence and Anne Dillon Dunwalke Trust, the Grace Jones Richardson Trust, the Irwin and Dorothy Nessel Foundation, the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, the Allison Foundation, and the Wilmot Wheeler Foundation, Inc.

BUSINESS/CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS Pequot Library has received support from the business/corporate community in Fairfield and beyond. This year, 50 corporate entities provided over $53,000. The Library’s popular Derby Day fundraiser set a new record with $27,250 in corporate sponsorships, as did the Southport Garden Stroll with $19,500 of corporate support. Special thanks go to Butler Tibbetts, Kasson Jewelers, Morgan Stanley, On the Harbor, and The Russell Agency.

GOVERNMENT GRANTS Pequot Library continues to be grateful for critical support provided by the Town of Fairfield for general operating needs. Town funding has remained level since 2009 and comprises 26% of our operating budget.

SPECIAL EVENTS and BOOK SALES After a two-year hiatus, Derby Day returned with the highest attendance to date. More than 600 attendees braved the rain in their finest outfits to tailgate, watch the Run for the Roses, and dance under the tent. The surprise race results added another layer of excitement. The Library netted $90,447, far greater than the $56,600 budget we aimed for.

The third Southport Garden Stroll was also a blowout success, welcoming over 800 guests to the village of Southport. This event kicked off on June 2 with a cocktail party hosted at the home of Sandi and Chris Wright with guest speaker Laura Dowling (former White House florist) and flowers donated by Keric Keney from Butternut Farms. The Stroll commenced on Friday morning with a ticketed breakfast with Nash Hill at 9 a.m. Tours ran from 10 to 1 or 1 to 4 and included the option of adding a lunch from Gruel Britannia and/or a Rosé All Day ticket for an additional cost. Twelve library neighbors generously opened their gardens to guests, and 15 vendors set up shop on the Great Lawn.

Pequot Library hosted three book sales in 2021-2022: the summer sale in July, which was in-person again, the Black Friday/Saturday Sale in November, and a spring sale in April. Shoppers returned from all over New England to browse gently used books and media, and to bond over a love of reading. All three book sales were well-attended, and while revenues didn’t quite meet pre-pandemic levels, overall there was an increase from the prior year.

PLANNED GIVING The Library’s 1889 Society has been reinvigorated with a formalized membership and acknowledgement policy. New members have alerted us that they have recognized Pequot Library Association in their estate plans. In March we hosted our first 1889 Society and special library supporter appreciation reception. Board members, trustees, and guests learned more about items from the Special Collections in the Dillon Reading Room. If you would like to be included in this group, please reach out to the Development Office at development@ pequotlibrary.org or by calling (203) 259-3046 (ext. 125).

BEQUESTS Pequot Library was the grateful recipient of two significant bequests in the 2022 fiscal year. Of note, the Library thanks Laura MacKenzie, sister of genealogy expert Rod MacKenzie, now deceased, for remembering Pequot Library in her estate plans. These bequests both provide for the Library for many years to come and allow us to remember important patrons. The Library also thanks Satenig St. Marie, a long-time supporter of Pequot Library who passed away in early 2022. Over her lifetime, Satenig amassed a fanciful collection of dollhouses, which she left to Pequot LIbrary in her will. There are many ways to make planned gifts to the Library. Please reach out to the Development Office if you would like to discuss estate planning by emailing development@ pequotlibrary.org or calling (203) 259-3046 (ext. 125).

IN-KIND Every year, the Library receives valuable support from donors who provide indispensable in-kind services to the organization. We especially recognize the following: Be Chocolat, Gabi Coatsworth, Butternut Farms, Susannah Eykyn, Highland Imports, and Shake Shack.

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