8 Bookish Organizations You Should Donate To This Holiday Season

After the carnage of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, we’ve finally arrived at “Giving Tuesday.” The day when you examine what’s left of your wallet and decide that after all the splurging, it’s time to give back (kinda seems like that should come first, right?).

Since you’re currently reading this on Glommable.com, home to such groundbreaking journalism as “Here’s What You Should Read Next Based On Your Favorite Gilmore Girls Character” and “Which Indie Bookstore Are You?,” it’s probably safe to assume that you are a fan of books and things of the literary persuasion.

Luckily for you, there are hundreds of bookish non-profits that need your help to keep promoting literacy throughout the holiday season, whatever your particular passion is.

Youth & Literacy Organizations

These three organizations are just a small selection of foundations that specifically focus on the importance of reading for children.

• Reading is Fundamental focuses on preventing the summer learning “slide” by making sure children in need have access to books.
• First Book has donated over 150 million books to young children in need since its founding in 1992.
• Pajama Program provides sleepwear and books to children in need, because every child deserves a comforting bedtime ritual.

Non-Profit Publishing Houses

Again, there are so many great non-profit, independent publishers who need your help to continue creating great literature—and there’s probably one near where you live!

• Coffee House Press publishes innovative, diverse, and inclusive literature – and works to promote literacy in their own community. A selection of their titles: A Girl is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride, Prelude to Bruise by Saeed Jones, and The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli.
• The Feminist Press is an education-based publisher that focuses on promoting women’s rights and amplifying female voices, like Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall and Pussy Riot! A Punk Prayer For Freedom.
• Milkweed Editions is an environmentally-minded organization that publishes transformative literature, like Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Bright Dead Things by Ada Limón.

Literary Centers

Do a quick search to see if there are centers like these shining stars near you—they help promote literacy within the community and act as a gathering space for writers, editors, and book lovers alike (with our without an MFA)—even children!

• Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop in Denver, CO and The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, MN are both wonderful examples of non-profits that offer classes, workshops, and camps; host readings; and act as a community center for literacy.

After you’ve selected the perfect literary nonprofit to donate your hard-earned $$$, treat yourself with a little extra reading time at lunch. Very on-brand.

(Featured photo: Unsplash/Vitaly Taranov)