$6M gift to support new Washougal librarySubscriber Exclusive

The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District and the FVRL Foundation have announced a $6 million gift from The Endeavour Fund to support the new Washougal Community Library, scheduled to break ground this winter.

The gift represents the largest philanthropic investment in the foundation’s history, according to a news release.

“With the extraordinary generosity of The Endeavour Fund, we are rounding the final turn for the Washougal Library fundraising campaign,” foundation Director Jenny Wilkerson said in the news release. “We’re just $400,000 away from reaching our $10.4 million goal, and we’re calling on our community to help us finish the job.”

The current Washougal Community Library, established in 1981, serves nearly 18,000 residents from a 2,300-square-foot space inside the city’s administrative complex. The new 14,000-square-foot library, slated to open in early 2028, will expand access and amenities, with dedicated spaces for children and teenagers; a large community room; three meeting rooms; a courtyard designed for year-round access; expanded collections and resource access; public computers and technology; and a “welcoming, accessible design rooted in the spirit of Washougal and its surrounding rivers,” according to the news release.

The library will anchor a “revitalized civic campus in downtown Washougal” alongside an expanded community center, splash park, dog park and additional public parking, the news release states.

“The vision for a new Washougal library has been years in the making, and today, that promise is finally being fulfilled,” FVRLibraries Executive Director Jennifer Giltrop said in the news release. “The Endeavour Fund’s extraordinary gift reflects the power of partnership, generosity, and a shared belief that public libraries are essential to strong, thriving communities. Driven by community input and inspired by Washougal’s natural landscape, the new building will provide a sevenfold increase in community space, creating new opportunities for learning, connection, and engagement for generations to come.”

The $19.4 million project has secured $19 million to date through a combination of public investment, state support and private philanthropy.