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November 28, 2023, 12:47pm
The sales are over (mostly), the pie has been eaten (mostly), the gratitude has been felt (mostly), and we’re back to work (er, completely, boss!) It’s time for Giving Tuesday, so why not consider donating a few dollars to these worthy literary organizations?
Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC)
BINC’s mission is to support and strengthen the bookselling community. They can also hook you up with these Jon Klassen hats; a portion of the proceeds goes to supporting BINC!
For over 30 years, this nonprofit has been championing the voices of LGBTQ writers. According to their mission statement: “We believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer literature is fundamental to the preservation of our culture, and that LGBTQ lives are affirmed when our stories are written, published, and read.”
What is the gender breakdown like in the literary community? VIDA is a watchdog on behalf of women in the literary arts, rallying for intersectional feminism and transparency with regards to gender imbalances and a lack of diversity in our industry.
Books Through Bars consists of volunteer booksellers, librarians, archivists, writers, editors, and avid readers who thoughtfully match book requests sent in from people in prison. This is a group that believes in the transformative power of books and storytelling, a group that believes that education is a human right. If you’re an abolitionist or pro-prison reform, this might be the organization for you.
Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP)
CLMP is an important nonprofit that champions independent presses and literary magazines. They bring together separate literary communities, and by providing technical and financial support to their members, as well as events and programming, they operate as a valuable resource for indies.
In addition to hosting the annual National Book Awards, the National Book Foundation provides educational and entertaining public programming year-round (see: their Literature for Justice program) to encourage readers and to help direct the culture conversation around books.
A quality print and digital magazine of literature, culture, and politics in an era where good magazines are dying left and right. Plus, if you donate, they will send you a personality test that will tell you which books to read next.
The Common Foundation is a “nonprofit dedicated to publishing and promoting art and literature that embodies a sense of place”; their journal, The Common, is dedicated to highlighting writers from all stages of their careers, and their Literary Publishing Internship nurtures the next generation of writers and editors. This year, as usual, you can support The Common by bidding on a postcard from your favorite author!
Orion is a bimonthly magazine of nature and culture that still abides by the mission set by its first editor-in-chief, George Russell, in 1982: “It is Orion’s fundamental conviction that humans are morally responsible for the world in which we live, and that the individual comes to sense this responsibility as he or she develops a personal bond with nature.” Orion does not sell advertising, so according to their website, “about 30% of Orion’s operating budget comes from subscriptions and sales and about 70% from donations from foundations and individuals.”
Apogee is a valuable literary and arts journal that, in their own words, “encourages the thoughtful exploration of identity and its intersections, including but not limited to: race, gender, sexuality, class, and ability.” It is run by volunteers, and donations go toward a host of endeavors, including supporting incarcerated writers and paying contributors.
But of course these are just a few of the groups promoting literacy, literature, and literary culture that could use all of our support. Drop your own suggestions below; the more the merrier.
