Be there…
For your community… For your neighbors… For your family… For your library.
Make a gift to the James Blackstone Memorial Library and help ensure that Branford is an educated and enriched community.
Every time you donate to the library, you make an impact, supporting access to experts, community connection, and dynamic and evolving collections that include books and movies (print and digital formats), plus access to things like museum passes, literacy backpacks, and a Library of Things (lawn games, tools, equipment, and more). You can even give a gift in honor of a birthday or holiday or in memory of a loved one.
Your investment in the Blackstone makes all this possible:
- Early Literacy Programs for Babies & Caregivers
- Well-curated & Dynamic Book Selection
- Database for Jobs & Small Business Support
- Afterschool Science & Technology Programs for Young Adults
- Meeting & Study Space
- ESL & Language Learning Support
- Summer Reading Books & Programs
- Drop-in Tech Help
- WiFi Internet Access
- Book Groups
Ways to Give:
Online Donations
PDF Form
Download a donation form (PDF) that you can mail in or drop off.
Donor Advised Fund
Donor Advised Funds are a popular giving method and a tax-efficient way to manage charitable donations. Donor Advised Funds allow donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants from the fund over time.
Grants made to the Blackstone Library through Donor Advised Funds that are designated for use “wherever the need is greatest” help support the library’s mission to provide essential access to information, resources, and unique shared experiences to ensure Branford is an educated and enriched community.
Clients of Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and BNY Mellon can easily make a designation through the DAF Direct window on this page.
The Blackstone Library’s tax I.D. number is 06-0662108.
Gift of Stock
Contact your financial advisor to determine if the stock or mutual fund is a “DTC–Eligible Security” ( or you can call our advisor/broker).
- If Yes, this is the following information that needs to be relayed to your advisor/broker:
- a. “Deliver to DTC Clearing 0226”
- b. Account name “Blackstone Memorial Library Endowment”
- c. Account number “# 657–323616”
- If No, instruct your financial advisor to sell the stock or mutual funds, and upon settlement, wire funds to (copy exactly):
- JP Morgan Chase Bank
One Chase Manhattan Plaza
New York, NY 10005
ABA # 021000021
For credit to: National Financial Services LLC
NFS Account #066196–221
FBO: Blackstone Memorial Library Endowment
Acct # 657–323616
- JP Morgan Chase Bank
Or call our advisor and they will liaison with your financial advisor.
Eric Hanson
The Andriole Group HighTower Advisors
(203) 896–7305
Questions? Please contact Kathy Oxsalida, Blackstone Business Manager, at 203-488-1441, ext. 310 or send an email.
Planned Giving
A planned gift allows you to support and preserve the James Blackstone Memorial Library for future generations. The Blackstone was built in a time when investing in one’s community was not an obligation, but an honor. The intent of the library’s founders was not just to build an institution for themselves, but for their children, grandchildren and generations to follow.
When you choose to include the Blackstone Library in your long-term charitable planning, please let us know and allow us to welcome you as a member of the Heritage Circle, a special group of visionary philanthropists who have named Blackstone Library as a beneficiary in their will, retirement plan, or other deferred gift arrangement.
Here are some ways you can make a difference through a planned gift:
- Direct Bequest
- A charitable bequest to the Blackstone Library in your will is a powerful tool in leaving a lasting legacy for the Branford community. An unrestricted gift allows the Blackstone to apply funds to the most pressing needs, or put them aside for future projects. Simply bequeath to us in your will a specific sum of money or other asset. Our Board of Trustees will determine how your gift can best help the library and those it serves.
- Percentage or Residue
- You may choose to leave the Blackstone a percentage of your estate or the “rest, residue and remainder” of your estate after all other bequests, debts and taxes have been paid. A percentage will compensate for any changes in the value of your estate over time.
- Memorial Fund
- You can establish a permanent memorial fund in your name or that of another person, with the income to be used as you direct. The principal will be invested and will continue to provide support to the organization in perpetuity. Minimum gift for a permanent memorial fund is $10,000.
- Gift of Stock or Securities
- The Blackstone accepts the transfer of appreciated stock and securities directly from you or from your broker. Many individuals choose to make gifts this way because of the extra tax advantages. Please contact Kathy Oxsalida, Blackstone Business Manager, at 203.488.1441, ext. 310, to discuss arrangements.
Talk with your attorney or financial advisor about all of your long-term charitable options. There are many different ways to achieve your philanthropic goals, and we will be happy to discuss with you, as well as members of your family and your advisors, how you can create a lasting legacy for your community with a planned gift to the Blackstone Library.
Join the Friends
The Friends of the Blackstone are a separate organization who work year-round to raise funds that are used to enhance and enrich the library’s offerings. Become a member and help support the Friends today! Learn more about the Friends here.
Join the Leadership Circle
With a contribution of $125 or more you will join our Leadership Circle. By joining. you’ll become part of a committed group of donors whose gifts enable the Library to provide even more exceptional service and support to the residents of Branford.
Businesses and organizations can join our Leadership Circle, too, and receive the same benefits as an individual, plus receive a certificate acknowledging your organization’s support for the Blackstone Library.
Sponsor an Event
Our fundraising events benefit the programs and services we provide and bring new faces into the library in really fun ways, from A Hogwarts Halloween to a mini golf course in the library. See highlights from previous fundraising events here. If you’re interested in sponsoring an upcoming event, contact Rhea Williams, Development: 203.488.1441 x 313 or send an email.
The James Blackstone Memorial Library is supported by the Town of Branford and by private contributions. Approximately 1% of Branford taxes support the Blackstone Library, so donor support is critical as we continue to meet and exceed the expectations of our community. Join your friends and neighbors to help enrich and educate your community — make a charitable contribution today.
Thank you for being there for Branford
— and for the Blackstone Library!
