Supporting and enhancing our library
Built for today, striving for tomorrow
In 1997, the Foundation for the Blount County Public Library formed to build a library that would grow alongside our growing community.
Three commitments guide everything we fund.
The Foundation is a small organization with a clear role: raise thoughtfully, manage carefully, and plan for the decades ahead.
Partnership
We work alongside library staff and the Board of Trustees rather than around them. Funding decisions follow the library's own strategic plan, so donor generosity meets real, stated need.
Stewardship
Gifts are held and invested under a written policy, audited annually, and reported to the community. Restricted funds stay restricted — permanently and without exception.
Planning
Endowment growth, legacy giving, and capital readiness give the library stability far beyond any single budget year. We plan in generations, not fiscal quarters.
Volunteers who love this library.
Our board is made up of Blount County residents who serve without compensation. They bring backgrounds in education, finance, law, healthcare, and small business — and a shared belief that a strong library makes a stronger county.
Board meetings are open to the public and held monthly at the library.
- Alexa Johns President
- Troy Galyon Vice President
- Robert McClelland Secretary
- Grant Daugherty Treasurer
- Shane Hair Board Member
- Regina Jennings Board Member
- Rachel Littrell Board Member
- Jenny Moore Board Member
- Ken Wells Board Member
- Dexter Stewart Chair, BCPL Board of Trustees
- Dustin Goforth BCPL Director
Frequently asked
If you don't see your question here, we're glad to answer it directly.
No. The Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with its own board. We exist solely to raise and manage private support for the Blount County Public Library, which is operated by the county.
Unrestricted gifts fund the library's highest priorities each year — collections, technology, and facility improvements. Restricted gifts are directed only to the purpose you name, and we honor those restrictions permanently.
Yes. The Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. You'll receive a written acknowledgment for your records.
Absolutely, and many neighbors have. Bequests, retirement plan designations, and charitable gift annuities all support the endowment. We're happy to provide sample language for you and your attorney.
Board seats open on a rotating basis and candidates are reviewed by our board each Fall.
Volunteers are welcome year-round for events, the annual book sale, and donor stewardship. Reach out and tell us what you'd enjoy doing.
Let's talk about what the library could do next.
Whether you're considering a first gift, a legacy commitment, or simply want to understand our work better, we'd be glad to hear from you.