The 2021 Bookish Charitable Giving Guide
It’s cool to see how the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is coming to be known as Giving Tuesday. And I have just the thing to celebrate.
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Interested in giving to a good cause? Are you a fan of literacy? This is the guide for you. Here are some of the literacy-focused organizations doing good work. Pitch in a few bucks to support them.
I “adapted” this idea from boing boing, who put together a great Charitable Giving Guide you should also visit.
(What did I miss? Let me know in the comments.)
Little Free Library.org
“Our mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries.”
826 National
“826 National’s chapters offer a variety of inventive programs that provide under-resourced students, ages 6-18, with opportunities to explore their creativity and improve their writing skills.”
An Open Book
“Our mission is to promote literacy among low-income children and teens
in the greater Washington, D.C. area by giving books to students and schools
and providing access to authors and illustrators.”
Author’s League Fund
“Since 1917, the Authors League Fund has been helping professional writers and dramatists who find themselves in financial need because of medical or health-related problems, temporary loss of income, or other misfortune.”
Barbershop Books
“The nation’s most innovative solution for inspiring young black boys to read.”
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
“Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month.”
Family Reading Partnership
“The Family Reading Partnership is a non-profit community organization that promotes early literacy.”
First Book
“First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need.”
LitWorld
“Our Mission: Strengthening kids and communities through the power of their own stories. Together, authoring a bold new world of equity and opportunity.”
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance
“Founded in 1997 by a motley crew of young people’s authors and illustrators, the NCBLA is a small, action-oriented education and advocacy organization with 501(C)(3) not-for-profit status.”
Never Counted Out
Raising a Reader
“Raising A Reader Helps Families Develop, Practice, and Maintain Home Literacy Routines”
Reading is Fundamental (RIF)
“For 50 years, Reading Is Fundamental has used its experience and expertise to motivate and inspire young children to read. Millions of children need help improving their reading skills. Millions of children need RIF.”
Room to Read
“Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education.”
We Need Diverse Books
“Putting more books featuring diverse characters into the hands of all children.”
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
“We deliver exceptional exhibitions and highly acclaimed educational programming, ensuring that generations of children can benefit from the joys of art and reading.”
Bookworm Gardens
“To enrich the mind, body, and spirit of the young and young at heart through exploration in a garden environment based on children’s literature.”
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About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
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The Little Free Library nonprofit, though I may be a little biased! I started working for them in September to enhance book access and promote literacy nationwide through their Impact Library Program and to develop a culturally responsive Native Library Program that serves Indigenous communities and peoples. I love my job! https://littlefreelibrary.org
Thanks, Valarie – I’ll add it now!
Thank you, Travis! =D
What a nice roundup — thanks!
I’d like to add Reach Out and Read (https://reachoutandread.org/) which is an amazing non-profit that promotes reading and early literacy by working with pediatric providers who show families how to engage their young children. Book Harvest (https://reachoutandread.org/) is a grass roots initiative and non-profit in North Carolina that provides books and early literacy supports. End Book Deserts is a great organization and has a helpful link of many additional organizations working to provide books for communities. You can find them here (https://www.endbookdeserts.com/our-guests).
Thank you, Hope!