In the midst of the last-minute, pre-holiday gift buying frenzy, I’d like to take a moment to recognize a few non-profits whose work supports reading, access to books, libraries, literacy programs, and more. If you’re looking to make donations to worthy causes before the end of the year, why not consider something near and dear to the hearts of booklovers?

I thought I’d share information on bookish nonprofits I’ve supported at various times over the past several years.

First Book:

First Book is dedicated to ensuring that all children, regardless of their background or zip code, can succeed, by removing barriers to equitable education. We reach 6.5 million kids each year in low-income communities across North America, providing books and resources through a powerful network of more than 600,000 individual educators, professionals and volunteers specifically serving children in need. This is the largest online community of its kind. By infusing high-quality resources into classrooms and programs nationwide, we level the playing field so that kids are ready to learn — because education transforms lives.

Little Free Library: Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. 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 Library book-exchange boxes.

Our vision is a Little Free Library in every community and a book for every reader. We believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege.

And digging a little deeper:

How do we achieve our mission and vision?

1. Providing 24/7 book access.
   Little Free Library book-sharing boxes are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day and are freely accessible to all, removing barriers to book access.
2. Fostering new Little Free Libraries.
   Little Free Library (LFL) equips, educates, and guides volunteer stewards to establish Little Free Libraries in their communities.
3. Granting Little Free Libraries to high-need areas.
   Through our programs, LFL grants no-cost Little Free Libraries full of books to underserved urban, suburban, rural, and Indigenous communities.
4. Championing diverse books.
   Through our Read in Color program, LFL makes books available representing BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other diverse voices to promote understanding, empathy, and inclusion.
5. Working with key community partners.
   LFL collaborates with schools, public libraries, civic organizations, businesses, and other groups to bring Little Free Libraries to their communities.

JWI (Jewish Women International): National Library Initiative

JWI does all sorts of valuable community work, but in the context of book-related nonprofits, I want to highlight JWI’s National Library Initiative:

For a woman fleeing an abusive relationship, the immediacy of danger often means leaving home with only her children and the clothes on their backs.

JWI helps ease this traumatic upheaval by creating children’s libraries in domestic violence shelters – transforming basic spaces into comforting havens with colorful furniture and rugs, computers and toys, and hundreds of new books that represent the diversity of the women and children served.

For kids whose lives have been upended by violence, JWI libraries provide a safe place to relax, escape into a book, and keep up with homework when they’re most at risk of falling behind.

Our goal is to complete 100 fully-furnished new libraries in shelters across the country, and restock the shelves as each child leaves the shelter with a favorite book in hand, ready to start a new life.

In 2022, JWI launched two new spaces for teens and women living in shelters to find respite and comfort.

The new spaces are peaceful oases where survivors and their teen children can access laptops to find employment and do schoolwork, quietly read, and heal together.

The next two are nonprofits I’ve come across because of particular authors I follow:

Storyknife Writers Retreat:

Overlooking Cook Inlet and the heart-stopping grandeur of the Aleutian Mountain Range, Storyknife Writers Retreat, a literary nonprofit located in Homer, Alaska, hosts residencies for women from Alaska, across the United States, and internationally. Our mission is to give women writers the time and space to explore their craft without distraction. Storyknife provides women with a community to support their efforts, lifting their voices.

Founded in 2014 by author Dana Stabenow, Storyknife is now open for residencies.

Scottish Book Trust: Supporting reading and literacy projects throughout Scotland.

Scottish Book Trust works to tackle inequality and break the poverty cycle through access to books and reading. Since 2020, Scottish Book Trust has distributed over 300,000 books to children and families in need through food banks, community hubs and other charities across Scotland.

And this is one that I haven’t personally contributed to (yet), but it was recently mentioned to me by a friend connected to a military family, and I thought it sounded amazing!

United Through Reading: Supports both reading and emotional connection for military families.

Deployments and frequent separations are a reality for military families. In fact, every year, more than 100,000 military parents deploy leaving nearly 250,000 children at home. That’s millions of bedtime stories missed each year by military children. 

United Through Reading knows that hearing a parent’s voice and seeing their face is a truly unique experience that cannot be replaced. That’s why our storytime video recordings are able to be watched on-demand with their own copy of the book, whenever the child misses their service member. Being read to by a parent helps military children feel like their parents are closer to home, reducing stress and anxiety levels and making it easier to cope while their parents are away.

Our storytime video recordings also have many developmental benefits for military children. The shared read aloud experience expands their literacy, vocabulary, and imagination. Also, according to a National Academies of Sciences study, reading stories aloud is associated with positive child outcomes in emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and social competence.

United Through Reading provides benefits for all military family members, not just children. Through these storytime video recordings, servicemembers are also able to maintain close emotional bonds with their families at home, reducing feelings of separation or loneliness and helping them reintegrate to home life when they return.

Support your local library! Our libraries do so much for us as individuals, as readers, and as community members. Why not show them a little love in return?

Of course, there are many more worthy organization supporting reading and literacy efforts across the US and around the world. Here are just a few that I’ve come across:

• Room to Read
• Reading Is Fundamental
• World Literacy Foundation
• Books For Africa
• 826 National (Youth Writing)
• Worldreader

Do you have any favorite nonprofits that support reading, literacy, libraries, writing, or other book-related causes? Please feel free to share links in the comments!