Friends of Gale Free Library
Arts, culture & humanities: We have been able to maintain gifts to the library, benefitting tens of thousands of people using Gale Free Library resources.
Friends of Gale Free Library at a glance
In short: Friends of Gale Free Library gave $188K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $94K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $188,348
- +841.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- +100.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $94,174
- +370.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $94,174
- Total assets
- $1,115,403
- +13.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Friends of Gale Free Library funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Town of Holden Massachusetts ($150K). Together the top 2 received $188K.
Grant Size Distribution
4 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 4 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $40 (2020) to $188K (2024). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $188K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Holden Massachusetts Holden, MA | $150000 was gifted to the town of Holden MA to pay for the restoration of the historic stained-glass windows in the library | $150,000 |
| Town of Holden Gale Free Library Special Gifts Account Holden, MA | Payments to supplement town support of library. To support purchasing library patron materials and fund library programs such as museum passes and to pay for architectural fees for modernization of children's room in library | $38,348 |
Ready to take the next step with Friends of Gale Free Library?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,115,403 | $204,262 | $194,015 | $188,348 | 2 | $7,229 |
| 2023 | $979,054 | $73,776 | $47,229 | $20,000 | 1 | $7,034 |
| 2022 | $797,097 | $52,315 | $45,953 | $43,798 | 1 | $4,127 |
| 2021 | $950,776 | $135,428 | $2,027 | $72 | Total only | $130,038 |
| 2020 | $817,375 | $94,787 | $2,250 | $40 | Total only | $89,142 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Friends of Gale Free Library
Based on IRS filings
Friends of Gale Free Library is a public charity, based in Holden, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $188K. Net investment income was $7K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Friends of Gale Free Library is led by Karen Cavan, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Karen Cavan
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Skillings
Membership Chair
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Foley
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Shapiro
Clerk
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Penny Morgan
Fundraising Cochair
Library Trustee → Fundraising Cochair, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Adams
Vice President
Library Trustee → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sue Albertini
At Large
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Korandanis
At Large
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Richard Maurer (2020–2022) — Newsletter Editor
- Former: Sandra Hakkarainen (2020–2022) — Webmaster
- Former: Chuck Skillings (2020–2021) — Membership Chair
- Former: Donna Perkins (2020–2021) — Book Store Volunteer Coordinator
- Former: Edna Sexton (2020–2021) — Publicity
- Former: Jeanne Tolomeo (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Stephen Perkins (2020–2021) — At Large
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Friends of Gale Free Library
How much does Friends of Gale Free Library give each year?
Friends of Gale Free Library gave $188K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $20K across 1 grant.
How large is Friends of Gale Free Library?
Friends of Gale Free Library reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $204K.
Where does Friends of Gale Free Library operate?
Friends of Gale Free Library has awarded grants in Massachusetts.
What is Friends of Gale Free Library's EIN?
Friends of Gale Free Library's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3021983. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 9, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Friends of Gale Free Library's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in Massachusetts
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
Barr Foundation
Boston, MA
The Barr Foundation funds arts and creativity, climate, education, and New England’s social sector, primarily through long-term support for organizations in New England. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $3.275 million, with a median of $80,000. Its filing says it accepts only requests from preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests, though its website describes program-page inquiries and occasional open calls.
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
903
Total Given
$123.2M
Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
Liberty Mutual Foundation funds basic needs such as food and shelter, education and workforce development, and climate and community infrastructure, including homelessness and community preparedness programs. Its 2024 grants had a median of $35,000, and most funding supports organizations or programs serving the Boston area, though it also gives elsewhere. It accepts unsolicited online requests on a rolling basis, with no submission deadlines.
Assets
$46.1M
Grants
706
Total Given
$50.6M
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc (FKA Oneworld Boston Inc)
Woburn, MA
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc. funds nonprofits working in human services, education, healthcare, fairness and justice, and the environment, primarily in greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $3.5 million, with a median of $35,000; it accepts letters of inquiry through an online portal during its application cycle, which was not open at the time described.
Assets
$258.2M
Grants
658
Total Given
$38.2M
American Tower Corporation Foundation
Boston, MA
Assets
$15.4M
Grants
632
Total Given
$1.7M
The Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund Inc
Boston, MA
The fund awards need- and merit-based scholarships to full-time students pursuing bachelor’s degrees who permanently reside in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont; recipients may attend college anywhere in the United States. Awards generally range from $3,000 to $17,000, with typical annual awards of $6,000 to $10,000. It accepts applications through an online student portal; the profile does not describe other unsolicited requests.
Assets
$41.6M
Grants
520
Total Given
$5.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Friends of Gale Free Library's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Friends of Gale Free Library down — hundreds of funders to go?