The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation recently announced $6.9 million in funding that will be awarded through its latest round of grantmaking, a significant portion of which will benefit local libraries in Oregon and Washington. In total, chosen libraries will receive $1.35 million as part of this funding round. Although there is increasing reliance and focus on technology, the foundation upholds libraries as a building block for strong communities because they can foster connections between individuals and institutions. 

Some of the library grants include $190,000 for Multnomah County, Oregon, to develop a mobile application to enhance patrons' experiences and $136,000 for the Walla Walla Public Library for its technology lab support costs. The Washington State Libraries and the Kitsap Regional Library Foundation both received $200,000 for a smartphone application and teen programming, respectively. 

"The Foundation believes in the mission and impact of local libraries, and the contribution they make to vibrant communities," said Susan Coliton, vice president of The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. "We want to help libraries maintain relevance and financial stability by building lasting and meaningful connections with their patrons, especially young people."

Similar to libraries, nonprofits are facing a future in which they must become increasingly tech-savvy or fall behind. As foundations tap into emerging digital channels to raise funds online, they can benefit from nonprofit fundraising software that tracks incoming donations and quantitatively measures the success of their efforts.