The Friends of the Oakland Public Library
To advance the role of the oakland public library as a vital community resource and as an institution critical to the culture, education and welfare of our diverse community.
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library at a glance
In short: The Friends of the Oakland Public Library gave $433K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $433K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $432,877
- +66.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $432,877
- +66.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $432,877
- Total assets
- $1,601,069
- +10.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Friends of the Oakland Public Library
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from The Friends of the Oakland Public Library
Friends of the OPL Equity Grants (Branch Services)
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library
Amount
$1,500 - $2,000+
Deadline
Deadline not published
Friends of the OPL Staff Scholarship
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Mini-Grants for OPL Staff
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library
Amount
$1,500 - $2,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Friends of the Oakland Public Library funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Oakland Public Library ($433K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 4 grants of 5 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How The Friends of the Oakland Public Library gives
- Giving grew 43% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $29K (2020) to $487K (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $433K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oakland Public Library Oakland, CA | Literacy Support | $432,877 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,601,069 | $684,982 | $710,708 | $432,877 | 1 | $18,003 |
| 2024 | $1,445,274 | $526,647 | $438,130 | $260,364 | 1 | $15,378 |
| 2023 | $1,386,184 | $533,528 | $603,724 | $487,234 | 1 | $14,435 |
| 2022 | $1,332,126 | $339,427 | $313,310 | $302,021 | 1 | $65,435 |
| 2021 | $1,045,117 | $313,162 | $253,610 | $240,535 | 1 | $2,843 |
| 2020 | $927,518 | $237,705 | $40,742 | $29,125 | 1 | $12,341 |
| 2019 | $835,740 | $226,438 | $221,232 | $209,140 | 1 | $11,952 |
About The Friends of the Oakland Public Library
Based on IRS filings
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library is a public charity focused on Children and youth, based in Oakland, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $433K. Net investment income was $18K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library is led by Kathryn Sterbenc, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 15 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathryn Sterbenc
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pooneh Koohyar
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Pfiffner
Director
Vice President → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Corey Hatcher
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Colleen Haikes
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aniya Grimm
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mifta Chowdhury
Director
Ass't Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diana Kaw
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Glenn Poppe
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexis Joseph-Merritt
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erica Demmings
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Noah Cohen
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ynez Arce
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Falkner
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Jewell
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Julie Waldman (2019–2024) — Director to
- Former: Ronile Lahti (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Stephen Cole (2019–2024) — Director to
- Former: Charu Mehra (2021–2024) — Director to
- Former: Erica Dennings (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Anastasia Yip (2022–2024) — Secretary to
- Former: Jennifer Chan (2022–2024) — Director to
- Former: Alexis Joseph Merritt (2024) — Director Ao
- Former: Cora Tellez (2024) — Director
- Former: Michael J Dalton (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Valerie Villanueva (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Winifred Walters (2019–2021) — Co-Treasurer
- Former: MC Abbott (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Sanam Nassirpour (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Nick Marble (2021) — Director
- Former: Ashley Robinson (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Genevieve Katz (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Sheila McCormick (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Ellen Moyer (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Friends of the Oakland Public Library
How much does The Friends of the Oakland Public Library give each year?
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library gave $433K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $260K across 1 grant.
How large is The Friends of the Oakland Public Library?
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $685K.
What is The Friends of the Oakland Public Library?
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library is a public charity focused on Children and youth, based in Oakland, CA. It holds $1.6M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does The Friends of the Oakland Public Library operate?
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library has awarded grants in California.
What is The Friends of the Oakland Public Library's EIN?
The Friends of the Oakland Public Library's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2553734. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 13, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Friends of the Oakland Public Library funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Friends of the Oakland Public Library's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from The Friends of the Oakland Public 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.
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