Owwl Library System
OWWL Library System is a New York State-chartered cooperative public library system based in Canandaigua, New York. It supports library services and 42 independent member libraries in Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties. Its filing type is Form 990 (a public charity).
Owwl Library System at a glance
In short: Owwl Library System gave $186K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in New York. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $186,227
- -49.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -43.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,325
- -10.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $16,098
- Total assets
- $3,012,004
- +1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Owwl Library System
- Contact
Mailing address: 2557 State Route 21, Canandaigua, NY 14424
Phone: (585) 394-8260
Website: https://owwl.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Owwl Library System funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Geneva Public Library ($24K). Together the top 10 received $166K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 90 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
OWWL supports library services in Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties. The 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York State.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Owwl Library System open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 13 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $146K (2020) to $368K (2024). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $186K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva Public Library Geneva, NY | Enhance Library Services for Public Use | $23,643 |
| Mount Morris Library Mt Morris, NY | Enhance Library Services for Public Use | $17,551 |
| Wadsworth Library Geneseo, NY | Enhance Library Services for Public Use | $17,108 |
| Dansville Public Library Dansville, NY | Enhance Library Services for Public Use | $17,089 |
| Livonia Public Library Livonia, NY | Enhance Library Services for Public Use | $17,082 |
| Caledonia Library Association Caledonia, NY | Enhance Library Services for Public Use | $16,326 |
| Avon Free Library Avon, NY | Enhance Library Services for Public Use | $16,098 |
| Lima Public Library Lima, NY | Enhance Library Services for Public Use | $15,567 |
| Bell Memorial Library Nunda, NY | Enhance Library Services for Public Use | $14,557 |
| Canandaigua - Wood Library Association Canandaigua, NY | Enhance Library Services for Public Use | $11,039 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Amounts are from the funder’s filings; grant figures refer to grants given.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,012,004 | $2,239,904 | $2,193,192 | $186,227 | 13 | $97,515 |
| 2024 | $2,965,090 | $2,410,641 | $2,245,066 | $368,207 | 23 | $114,966 |
| 2023 | $2,799,794 | $2,021,912 | $1,930,934 | $160,750 | 11 | $100,102 |
| 2022 | $2,710,585 | $2,170,825 | $1,990,718 | $345,809 | 26 | $15,699 |
| 2021 | $2,528,981 | $2,261,693 | $1,765,312 | $227,243 | 17 | $3,160 |
| 2020 | $2,031,769 | $1,648,971 | $1,748,734 | $145,756 | 11 | $10,821 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
OWWL’s mission is to support library services across Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties. Its stated vision is equitable access to library services, and its core values are access, community, and intellectual freedom.
The system may provide subsidies for shared services, discretionary grants for projects or needs aligned with system priorities or demonstrating community benefit, professional-development scholarships, and mileage reimbursement for certain system-requested activities. Its 2024 filing says grants to member libraries may be pass-through awards based on state or local formulas, or competitive awards requiring applications, cost projections, and follow-up reports.
The 2025 grants show support for member libraries. For example, Wadsworth Library describes its mission as serving residents of the Geneseo Central School District with materials, programs, information, and services. Dansville Public Library says it provides materials for public loan and educational, cultural, and early-literacy programs. Victor Farmington Library describes its purpose as providing inclusive access to information, technology, and educational resources, and fostering lifelong learning and community connection.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, OWWL reported 13 grants totaling $186,227. Grant amounts ranged from $5,907 to $23,643, with a median of $16,098. The stated purpose for the largest grants was to “enhance library services for public use.”
The largest reported award was $23,643 to Geneva Public Library. Other large awards included $17,551 to Mount Morris Library, $17,108 to Wadsworth Library, $17,089 to Dansville Public Library, and $17,082 to Livonia Public Library. The filing lists these and other 2025 grants to libraries in New York.
OWWL’s policy says grant opportunities may be initiated by the system or proposed by a member library. Its 2024 filing describes competitive grants as requiring an application, cost projections, and follow-up reports; it does not specify a general deadline.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Subrata Paul as president, Alissa Bub as vice president, Judith McKinney as secretary, and Jennifer Tessendorf as treasurer. It lists Patrice Sampson-Bouchard, Thomas Whitmore, Rachel Lee, Maureen Wheeler, Leslie Shaw, and Ron Kirsop as trustees; Ron Kirsop is also identified as executive director.
Owwl Library System is led by Ron Kirsop, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ron Kirsop
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$89K (2020) → $117K (2025)
Subrata Paul
President
Trustee → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrice Sampson- Bouchard
Trustee
Trustee - Joined During Year → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Whitmore
Trustee
Trustee - Joined During Year → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Shaw
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maureen Wheeler
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Lee
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judith McKinney
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Tessendorf
Treasurer
Treasurer → Trustee, 2024
Trustee → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alissa Bub
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Christine Ryan (2020–2024) — President -
- Former: Ellen Mitchell (2020–2024) — Secretary -
- Former: Liz Smith-Rossiter (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Deborah Nagle (2023–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Julie Gruendike (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Virginia Keenan (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jeffrey Clark (2020) — Vice President
- Former: Kathleen Hartness (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Matthew Sickles (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $117K, to Ron Kirsop (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Owwl Library System
How much does Owwl Library System give each year?
Owwl Library System gave $186K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $368K across 23 grants.
What is Owwl Library System's typical grant size?
Owwl Library System's median grant in 2025 was $16,098, and its average grant was $14,325, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Owwl Library System give grants?
Owwl Library System gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Owwl Library System give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Owwl Library System's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Enhance Library Services for Public Use" (13 grants).
Who are Owwl Library System's largest grantees?
Owwl Library System's largest 2025 grantees include Geneva Public Library ($23,643), Mount Morris Library ($17,551) and Wadsworth Library ($17,108), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Owwl Library System?
Owwl Library System reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.2M.
What does Owwl Library System fund?
OWWL’s mission is to support library services across Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties. Its stated vision is equitable access to library services, and its core values are access, community, and intellectual freedom. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Owwl Library System?
Owwl Library System has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check owwl.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Owwl Library System's EIN?
Owwl Library System's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3219499. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Owwl Library System's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Owwl Library System funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/owwl-library-system-morg_37e046472f2c41bfb4080daab7f358dc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_223219499_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Owwl Library System funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/owwl-library-system-morg_37e046472f2c41bfb4080daab7f358dc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Owwl Library System'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.
Owwl Library System down — hundreds of funders to go?