Imagination Library of Johnson County Launches $1 Million Matching Campaign Following Loss of State Funding
Published: August 4, 2025 by Johnson County Community Foundation
Your Gift Today. Their Story Tomorrow.
The Imagination Library of Johnson County (ILJC), a beloved early literacy program providing free books to children from birth to age five, is launching a fundraising campaign following the Indiana General Assembly’s recent decision to eliminate state funding for the statewide Imagination Library initiative.
In response to this critical funding gap, the Johnson County Community Foundation (JCCF) has stepped in to support ILJC by allocating $500,000 toward a dollar-for-dollar matching campaign. The goal is to raise a total of $1 million to build a permanent endowment for ILJC. This fund will generate approximately $40,000 annually, ensuring the program’s sustainability for generations to come.
“This is where our community comes in,” said Kim Kasting, President & CEO of the Johnson County Community Foundation. “We believe in the power of books and the impact of early literacy, and we know our neighbors do, too. Every gift to ILJC will be matched 1:1 by the Foundation, doubling the impact of your generosity.”
Why Early Literacy Matters
ILJC was launched in July 2017 in response to troubling statistics about school readiness and literacy rates in Johnson County. When children begin kindergarten without essential literacy skills, they are already behind, and some never catch up. Here are some facts about Imagination Library and statistics that show how the program improves literacy rates.
- Initial research data from the past 3 years show that Franklin Community Schools kindergartners enrolled in the Imagination Library for at least 4.5 years score higher on kindergarten literacy tests than the school district average.
- Since September 2017, ILJC has mailed over 218,000 books to Johnson County children.
- ILJC cost per child per year: $16
- To sponsor a ILJC child for all 5 years: $80
- Total children enrolled in ILJC: 4,800
- Research by Frank Ridzi and his colleagues in Syracuse, NY (2011), found that children enrolled in Imagination Library demonstrated a 30% increase in kindergarten preparedness.
Since its founding in Franklin, ILJC has expanded to serve all communities in Johnson County. In 2020, it became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit, dedicated to helping all children build a foundation for lifelong learning and success.
How You Can Help
The Foundation’s matching campaign offers a powerful way to make your donation go further. Whether you give $5 or $5,000, every contribution helps secure the future of this vital program.
Donate online: https://onecau.se/imaginationlibrary or mail a check to:
ATTN: Imagination Library of Johnson County
Johnson County Community Foundation
398 South Main Street, Franklin, IN 46131
If you wish to make a non-cash contribution to this campaign in the form of stocks, retirement funds, grain, insurance policies, or other methods, please contact the Johnson County Community Foundation directly for assistance.
Together, we can ensure that every child in Johnson County has the chance to grow up with books in their homes.
