FRIENDS OF THE HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Together, Friends of the Hennepin County Lbirary and Hennepin County Library envision a library that ensures every person has the opportunity and resources to read, engage, graduate, work, and learn.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Library Support
As Hennepin County Library’s fundraising partner, Friends of the Hennepin County Library (HCL) is an active community of 8,000 supporters whose mission is to build awareness, appreciation and support for our world-class library. Friends of HCL raises resources for vital programs such as Teen Tech Squad and Homework Help, as well as initiatives like engaging readers of all ages and expanding early learning environments. Together, Hennepin County Library and Friends of HCL envision a library system that ensures every person has the opportunity and resources to read, engage, graduate, work, and learn.
Friends of the Hennepin County Library offers our thriving community the opportunity to engage with great stories and storytellers through Pen Pals - the highly-regarded and longest-running author lecture series in the Twin Cities – and Talk of the Stacks - a free thought-provoking series exploring contemporary literature and culture.
Where we work
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Friends of the Hennepin County Library is operating under its 2017-19 strategic plan. This plan includes four primary goals which guide the organization's annual work. GOAL #1: Increase awareness of Hennepin County Library programs and services. GOAL #2: Grow appreciation of Hennepin County Library as the institution offering free and open access to resources, programming and support in all communities across the county. GOAL #3: Increase financial resources to support Hennepin County Library. GOAL #4: Invest in Friends of the Hennepin County Library's internal structure for maximum external impact.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Key strategies for goal #1 include partnering with the library to create a strategic framework to support audience development goals; expand awareness and understanding of the benefits available to library patrons; empower champions of the library with the tools and messages to be effective ambassadors of the library. Key strategies for goal #2 include champion the benefits of a robust library system; inform and engage stakeholders/ elevate the profile of the library as a vital player in economic and community development and in addressing dynamic civic challenges; enrich communications with powerful and inspirational storytelling that celebrates the impact of the library on lives in Hennepin County. Key strategies for goal #3 include identifying priority initiatives/areas requiring private investment; crate innovative funding opportunities that align with donor investment preferences; build and grow a dynamic membership program, and highlight the impact of donor support on vital library services & programming. Key strategies for goal #4 include align staff development with strategic plan goals; invest in systems and resources to enhance organizational capacity; align board composition to support the new strategic plan, assure a diverse and inclusive board.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We maintain organizational sustainability by building a robust, diverse funding pipeline of individuals, family foundations, corporate foundations and public grants to successfully increase long-term support to the Library while continuing to balance the annual operating budget.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
At the close of 2017 (year one of the 3-year plan), we surpassed the $1Million goal of library cash support by $275,000.
We have completed a plan and launch of a new website platform for supportHCLIB.org featuring responsive design and a greater emphasis on Library storytelling and fiscal transparency.
Significant events scheduled for the year are three free Talk of the Stacks events and 10 Pen Pals Author Lectures.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.)
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
FRIENDS OF THE HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY
Board of directorsas of 08/08/2022
Julie Allinson
Entrepreneur, Eyebobs Founder, Philanthropist
Term: 2018 - 2023
Julie Allinson
Entrepeneur, Founder, Philanthropist
Jane Brisset
Hennepin County Board
Julia Dayton Klein
District Court Judge, Minnesota's Fourth Judicial District
Jonathan GAw
Independent Market Research and Strategy Advisor
Charles Grossman
Breck School
John Gibbs
Senior Vice President State Government & Regulatory Affairs, Comcast Corporation
Rudy Hernandez
Vice President, Retail Strategy and Optimization, Best Buy
Charlie Knuth
Friends of the Plymouth Library
Mohammed Lawal
Principal Architect & CEO, LSE Architects
Rosa Marroquin
Physician, Adjunct Faculty Dept. of Family Medicine, University of MN
Nawal Noor
Founder and CEO, Noor Companies
Kyle Parsons
director, Alumni Affairs and Giving, Breck School
Kristi Pearson
Chief Executive Officer, Friends of the Hennepin County Library
Daniel Rogan
Assistant County Administrator (Interim Library Director), Hennepin County
Kai Sakstrup
Chief Strategy Officer & Executive Vice President, U. S. Bank
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data