Power Our Library.
Empower Every
Chicagoan.
Our 2024 Report
“If you can see a thing, you can be a thing. And in a lot of cases, your first chance to see that thing is at a Library.”
– Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, urban historian and 2022 Library Foundation Awards honoree
Expand Access. Advance Literacy. Strengthen Communities.
“If you can see a thing, you can be a thing. And in a lot of cases, your first chance to see that thing is at a Library.”
– Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, urban historian and 2022 Library Foundation Awards honoree
In 2026, the Chicago Public Library Foundation celebrates four decades of expanding access to knowledge and ensuring that Chicagoans of every age and stage have the resources they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Our anniversary celebrations will reflect the 40 years of donor-powered impact that have shaped our Library into the vital institution it is today.
At a time when the cost of essentials continues to rise, Chicago Public Library offers something rare: a place where you don’t have to choose between necessities. At a moment when polarization pulls people apart, our Library remains a welcoming space for everyone, grounded in the belief that providing free opportunities for lifelong learning builds a stronger and more informed Chicago.
For 40 years, our donors have upheld the promise at the heart of Chicago Public Library: that knowledge belongs to everyone. Your support unlocks possibilities for our neighbors, fuels discovery, and strengthens communities across the city.
Thank you for believing in this work.
Read on and learn what your support made possible.
In 2019
Close The Academic Opportunity Gap
“We know that this is something that can be really stressful for families so having that help with someone who knows the curriculum, has worked with kids for a long time takes the stress off both the kids and the parents.”
– Caroline Broeren, Special Projects Coordinator at Chicago Public Library
Too many Chicago students still lack the academic support they need to succeed. According to the 2024 Illinois Report Card, fewer than Chicago Public Schools students in grades 3–8 read at grade level.
Because of donor investment, CPL is delivering programs that change these trajectories: strengthening early literacy skills, building confidence in the classroom, sustaining learning outside of school, and engaging teens in peer-driven literary programming.
Read our highlights to learn more about how donors make literacy and academic support programs at our Library.
The 81 Club
The 81 Club is transforming how Chicago’s K–12 students access their Library. Before this initiative, an estimated one in four young people couldn’t check out materials because of accumulated late fees, locking out many who needed the Library most. Since eliminating fines in 2019 and launching the 81 Club in 2022, CPL can now activate Chicago Public Schools student IDs as Library cards, providing automatic access to more than 300,000 students each year. 2,964 students representing 390 different CPS schools activated their 81 Club accounts in 2025, but access is just the beginning. With continued donor support, we’re aiming to ensure that every student in Chicago is not just enrolled, but actively connected to resources, programs, and opportunities that will help them thrive.
Jump Into Reading
Jump Into Reading is helping Chicago’s youngest learners build strong early literacy skills. In 2025, CPL reached 1,170 children and their family members with 73specialized programs, trained 80 staff in the science of how children learn to read, and shared 4,000 take‑home materials with families, ensuring support continues beyond the branch. With all 81 Library branches now offering Jump into Reading programs, it is quickly becoming a cornerstone of CPL’s early learning offerings. And to reach Chicago’s Spanish-speaking communities, CPL piloted Lánzate hacia la lectura, a similar program that targets children and families learning to read in Spanish, at seven branches. Jump Into Reading is part of CPL’s citywide early learning ecosystem, which delivered nearly 3,000 programs and engaged an estimated 100,000+ children and caregivers last year—making early literacy accessible to families in every neighborhood.
Teacher in the Library
Teacher in the Library is a beloved example of what donor investment makes possible at CPL. The program brings in accredited educators, many of whom live or work near the branches they serve, to provide free homework and reading support to K-12 students. Last school year, our Teachers provided more than 33,000 free , individualized tutoring sessions. Participating students overwhelmingly report higher homework completion rates and more confidence in school– and it’s not just kids who benefit! 85% of parents and caregivers also receive help from Teachers in the Library, empowering them to continue supporting their children at home.
Teen Literacy Initiatives
This suite of initiatives encourages young adults to read and connect through programs designed by their peers. Compensated internships offer teens opportunities to build literacy and digital media skills as they curate book recommendations, lead Banned Books Week activities, and produce authentic, youth‑centered social media content. These interns also help shape Teen Lit Night, a vibrant, teen‑planned celebration of reading that brings together authors, hands‑on creativity, and community, welcoming 250 attendees from 53 zip codes in 2025. Real Ones Read deepens this engagement by creating space for book‑based conversations on social issues, hands‑on projects, and trauma‑informed support for opportunity youth, including teens who are impacted by the justice system or disconnected from traditional learning environments.
Community Connections Fund
What do concerts, gardening workshops, local author events, pumpkin-carving contests, and family foam parties have in common? They were all made possible by the Community Connections Fund, which allows donors to directly support branch librarians and staff in connecting with their communities. In 2025, 58 Library branches received $1,000 mini-grants to conduct programs, activities, and outreach opportunities tailored for their neighborhoods!
Maker Lab
With free maker spaces available at Library branches across the city, Chicagoans can experiment with technologies like 3D printers and laser cutters, explore entrepreneurship opportunities, and connect with others with similar interests. Donor support also enables the Library to host two Makers-in-Residence each year, expert local designers and craftspeople who share their expertise through workshops citywide. Overall, donors supported 3,400 Chicagoans to explore stained glass making, carpentry, 3D design software, and more through 312 free programs offered at the Library last year.
Activate Connection
& Creativity For All
“It’s more than reading and attending events for me. It was a chance to explore an interest I did not think I could do [like birding] and got me out to branches I had not visited before. More importantly, it reaffirmed my love of public libraries and provided unique opportunities to share that love with my daughter. Thank you, CPL, for the access and inspiration!”
– Sabrina, Dunning branch
More than one-third of Chicago residents report feeling lonely—a challenge that comes with real social and health impacts. In a time when connection is harder to come by, donor-powered cultural and creative programs offer welcoming spaces for Chicagoans to meet neighbors, explore interests, and build community. Initiatives across all 81 branches—from community film screenings and hands‑on craft workshops to exhibits drawn from CPL’s archival collections—make it possible for people of all ages to come together, learn from and with one another, and feel a sense of belonging.
Read our highlights to learn how donor support empowers the Library to foster connection and community throughout Chicago.
Teen Arts Iniatives
Donors help activate welcoming, creative Library spaces where teens can explore identity, build artistic skills, and connect with peers. Radical Fit provides queer youth and allies with fashion‑based programs, mentorship, and affirming opportunities for self‑expression. 12 teen designers completed the Radical Fit fashion incubator internship in 2025 and showcased their work at the annual Queer Radical Fair to an audience of 370 all-ages attendees. The annual Teen Winter Challenge amplifies teen creativity through a citywide art competition, Teaching Artist‑led workshops, and a public exhibition that helps young artists build portfolios and confidence. In 2025, the Teen Winter Challenge had 220 entries from a diverse group of young artists representing at least 44 Chicago high schools.
The Renaissance Project
The Renaissance Project expands access to our city’s rich Black history by activating archival materials from the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection and Special Collections through free, intergenerational programs across neighborhood branches. Powered by a landmark grant from the Mellon Foundation, the project brings Black Chicago’s cultural legacy to life through hands‑on workshops, performances, and creative experiences—including a DJ Scholar-in‑residence who blends contemporary storytelling with historical archives. In 2025, these offerings deepened public engagement with lesser‑known African American narratives while simultaneously digitizing, preserving, and sharing Black history materials systemwide.
Digital Navigators
Digital literacy is more crucial than ever. Through one-on-one coaching and support, our Digital Navigators helped more than 24,000 Chicagoans build their confidence in topics such as using a web browser, finding health information online, and applying for jobs online. In fact, participants submitted nearly 3,000 online job applications last year thanks to Digital Navigators!
Chicago DigitalLearn
“Use a computer to do almost anything!” greets users of the Chicago DigitalLearn program, which helps anyone, anywhere, build skills and confidence online. Customized with Chicago-based resources, the platform currently offers 38 beginner-friendly and bilingual video modules that guide individuals through topics ranging from identifying online scams to applying for jobs online to using an iPhone. Last year, more than 3,500 lessons were completed on the platform, showing the continued demand for this unique donor-powered resource.
Cell-Ed
Public libraries like ours are committed to supporting learning at any age. Available 24/7 via smartphone app or text messaging, Cell‑Ed is a low‑barrier adult learning resource hosted by our Library. The platform supports adult users—particularly those with lower levels of formal education—in literacy, numeracy, and other essential skills. It is especially popular among those learning English as another language, with lessons focused on everyday scenarios like the workplace or a doctor’s visit. In 2025, Cell‑Ed served 476 learners, who collectively completed 11,546 lessons across the platform.
Bridging the Digital Divide
“Witnessing [Jerome] adapt to technology and learn to use his own devices showed me that, as Digital Navigators, we impact our community and can teach anyone willing to learn, no matter their age, race, or gender. ”
– Dashon, Digital Navigator at Douglass Branch
With 15% of Chicago households lacking home internet, our 81-branch Library is indispensable to Chicagoans looking to engage with our digital world. Donor support ensures that Chicagoans can learn essential digital skills, navigate online job platforms, create resumes, search for jobs, and access training resources, all in a trusted, low‑barrier environment. By linking digital literacy with workforce readiness, our Library helps Chicagoans build the confidence and competencies needed to pursue employment, strengthen financial stability, and advance economically.
Professional Skill-Building for Teens and Adults
Across our 81 branches, donor‑supported programs help Chicagoans build the digital, creative, and career skills needed to navigate the job market today and in the future. In 2025, 82 teens gained real‑world experience through paid internships, strengthening their leadership and communication skills and building resume‑ready skills such as public speaking, storytelling, and social media strategy. Thanks to our donors, adults also benefit from low‑barrier workforce support at CPL, including help with resumes, free access to LinkedIn Learning courses, programs exploring artificial intelligence, and essential digital literacy tools provided by trained Library staff.
Events
Night in the Stacks
Does our Library make you feel like dancing? Well, you can with the Library Foundation Associate Board’s annual Night in the Stacks event! This “party with a purpose” in Harold Washington Library’s Winter Garden brought in $120,000 in 2025.
Get Carded Series
In 2025, our Associate Board hosted two special events to raise awareness and support for our Library. Together with our partners at Great Central Brewing and Stay and Play Game Cafe, 200+ attendees joined us at Pages and Pints and Noche de Trivia to meet other library lovers and support our mission.
Chicago Public Library Foundation Awards
This annual event celebrates the storytellers, artists, and civic leaders who invite us to see the world and imagine the future in ways we never knew possible. In 2025, we honored poet José Olivarez, former CPL Commissioner and civic leader Mary Dempsey, and Pulitzer-Prize-winning novelist Percival Everett. A free recorded broadcast of event highlights has also invited 75,000 Library lovers (and counting!) from around the world to enjoy the inspiring content this event is so known for.
Honoring the Legacy of Cindy Pritzker, Chicago Public Library Foundation Founder (1923-2025)
Cindy Pritzker’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to lifelong learning have left an indelible mark on our city. As the founder of the Chicago Public Library Foundation, Cindy played an instrumental role in transforming our Library into a world-class institution, ensuring that all Chicagoans have access to the resources they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Her fearless approach, her ability to bring people together around bold ideas, and her deep dedication to expanding access to opportunities for all have inspired our donors to follow in her footsteps.
Today, as we work to carry forward Cindy’s legacy, we are filled with a profound sense of gratitude for her many contributions and share that gratitude with every donor who helps to ensure that Chicagoans continue to have access to life-changing resources at our Library.
