Library Foundation

History of Driftwood Library Foundation

Blanche Fischer was born in Long Creek, Oregon, in the northeast central part of the state (30 miles NW of John Day). A gutsy, bright woman, she personified independence by making a name for herself in Portland real estate investment in the 1930s and 1940s.

After retiring to the Lincoln City area on the Oregon coast, she donated the land and building to house the Driftwood Public Library, which until then had occupied a cramped, dusty storefront. The new library site, in fact, was next door to her home. When the library outgrew its quarters and finally moved in 1993, the former site was sold. Its proceeds continue to benefit the library through the Driftwood Library Foundation.

How Endowment Funds are Managed

The Driftwood Library Foundation invests its endowment assets through the Oregon Community Foundation to receive professional investment guidance shared with many other Oregon non-profit organizations. The income received from those investments is used to support Driftwood Library gifts and programs. The Oregon Community Foundation can manage charitable and life income trusts and other planned giving on behalf of the foundation and the contributor.

Purpose of the Foundation

The Driftwood Library Foundation is an independent organization dedicated to developing financial resources in support of the Driftwood Public Library. Financial support from the Foundation provides special gifts and programs to enhance Library services.

Formed in 1994, the Driftwood Library Foundation is a not-for-profit organization under IRC 501(c)(3), independent of Lincoln City government. Contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. Please consult with your tax advisor regarding your gift to the Foundation.

The Foundation is directed by a volunteer community board. Foundation board members work closely with Library staff to identify funding needs that fall outside tax-supported activities of the Library.

Contributing to the Driftwood Library Foundation

Activities of the Driftwood Library Foundation are made possible by the generous donations from our community of library supporters. According to the wishes expressed by donors, gifts are used to support current programs and projects, or are directed to a carefully managed Endowment Fund that generates interest annually to guarantee ongoing support. Generally single gifts of less than $500 are used in current year support while larger gifts are invested in the Library endowment to produce income for programs in future years.

What to Contribute

There are many ways contributors may choose to give, including:, gifts of cash, gifts of stocks or bonds (Gifts of this form are subject to acceptance by the Library Foundation board), gifts of property (Gifts of this form are subject to acceptance by the Library Foundation board), gifts of capital gains, gifts of life insurance and retirement plans, bequests in wills, charitable trusts and estate arrangements, memorials to an individual.

If you match your contribution to the Driftwood Library Foundation with a donation to the Oregon Cultural Trust, that gift might qualify for an Oregon tax credit. For details, see the Oregon Cultural Trust website.

Many corporations provide matching funds for charitable contributions by their employees and retirees. Please submit the appropriate form to increase the amount of your assistance to the Driftwood Library.

Tax Deductible Gifts

Donations to the Foundation may be tax deductible. The Foundation is registered as a private, 501c(3) non-profit corporation with the IRS. Donors should consult their financial advisors regarding specific tax benefits of their gifts.

How to Contribute

The Foundation's endowment with the Oregon Community Foundation provides the opportunity for life income and charitable remainder trusts to be established to benefit the Driftwood Library Foundation and its programs.

You can also Shop for us at Fred Meyer and make us your favorite charity at those sites, thereby giving us a small donation via your purchases at no cost to you.

Shop for Driftwood Library Foundation

Fred Meyer is donating $2.5 million per year to non-profits. You can support Driftwood Library Foundation by going to www.fredmeyer.com/i/community/community-rewards and search for "Driftwood Library Foundation" or enter our organization number 82786. Then every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping Driftwood Library Foundation earn a donation!

Planned Giving

You can ensure a bright future for the Driftwood Public Library by naming the Driftwood Library Foundation as a beneficiary in your will, life insurance policies, or other estate plans. Bequests and gifts may be in the form of money, property, investments, or a portion of an estate. Your gifts can be made directly to the Driftwood Library Foundation or through the Oregon Community Foundation.

We encourage you to consult your attorney, accountant, or financial advisor for help in determining the type of gift that is right for you.

The Foundation's endowment with the Oregon Community Foundation provides the opportunity to establish life income and charitable remainder trusts benefiting the donor and the Driftwood Library Foundation.

To ensure that your gift reverts to the Driftwood Library Foundation, we suggest the following wording in your will or trust documents: "I devise to (or upon the Dissolution of this Trust) (or make as Beneficiary) The Driftwood Library Foundation, an Oregon non-profit corporation, the sum of $_______ (or the ________% of the Estate) (or all the rest, residue and remainder of my Estate or Trust) to be used for carrying out its missions."

Your Goals Your Strategy Your Benefits
Make a gift for Driftwood Library Foundation's future that doesn't affect your cash flow or portfolio now. Put a bequest in your will (cash, specific property, or a share of the estate residue). Today – a gift that costs you and your family nothing. Tomorrow – an estate tax deduction.
Retain income benefits from the assets you give to Driftwood Library Foundation – thus afford a larger gift. Create a charitable gift annuity or a charitable remainder annuity trust or unitrust. Receive income for your lifetime; receive a charitable deduction; diversify your holdings.
Reduce high tax liability now; gain additional income later. Establish a deferred gift annuity. A larger deduction and a higher income rate than other life-income gifts offer.
Tap one of the most valuable assets in your portfolio to make a gift to Driftwood Library Foundation. Use real estate to make your gift to Driftwood Library Foundation. Avoid capital gains tax, receive an income tax deduction – and have the option of a gift that doesn't affect your lifestyle.
Reduce gift and estate taxes and control the timing of passing assets to your children and grandchildren. Create a charitable lead trust which supports programs at Driftwood Library Foundation for a fixed, finite period with the principal going to your heirs. Reduce gift and estate taxes, and freeze the taxable value of growing assets before they pass to your family.
Avoid capital gains liability on the transfer of a business or partnership interest. Contribute the partnership interest or closely-held stock to Driftwood Library Foundation. Avoid capital gain liability, receive an income tax deduction, and utilize a gift asset you may have overlooked.
Locate an overlooked asset that you can easily give to Driftwood Library Foundation. Name Driftwood Library Foundation as beneficiary of your retirement plan; leave other assets to family. Eliminate income tax on retirement plan assets; free up other property to pass to your heirs.

Legal Designation

If you wish to name Driftwood Library Foundation in your will or estate plan, we should be named as: Driftwood Library Foundation of Lincoln City, a nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under the laws of the Oregon, with principal business address of 960 SE Highway 101, PMB #331, Lincoln City, OR 97367

Tax identification number: 53-0242652

Date of Incorporation: September 27, 1994

Driftwood Library Foundation is tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is a 50%-type organization under section 170(b)(1)(A).

Contact Information:
Driftwood Library Foundation
2150 SE Highway 101, PMB #331
Lincoln City, OR 97367
E-mail: foundation@driftwoodlib.org

Grants: US Bancorp Foundation

Board Members

Robert Portwood, President

Rare and used book dealer

Mark Irmscher, Secretary

Driftwood Library

John Collier, Treasurer

Retired, computer industry

Mr. Collier joined the board in 2009. In addition he serves as Board President of the Lincoln City Cultural Center and is an elected board member of the Salishan Sanitary District. He volunteers for the AARP Tax Aide program doing income tax returns for the elderly and low income during the tax season.

Previously, he was a public member of the Judicial Administration Committee for the Oregon State Bar association.

Patty Heringer

Retired, librarian

Founding member and current president of Driftwood Library Foundation. Charter member and current treasurer of local chapter of AAUW. Board member and chairman of Neskowin Valley School. Four times host family for AFS foreign high school students.

Lori Lashbrook

Retired Accounting, Nursing, Driftwood Library volunteer.

Financial Reports

2025-2026 Fiscal Year

2024-2025 Fiscal Year

2023-2024 Fiscal Year

Purchases on behalf of the Library

Library Programs sponsored by the Foundation

Driftwood Award Winners