National Book Foundation Inc
The National Book Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York, NY that serves as the nation's foremost literary curator and champion for books and book culture. The organization is perhaps most widely known for presenting the National Book Awards, one of the nation's most prestigious literary prizes. The Foundation operates as a national advocate for literature and the literary arts, working to celebrate exceptional writing and expand access to books across American communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.6M
+16.8% YoY
Revenue
$3.1M
+29.7% YoY
Net Investment Income
$124K
+12.7% YoY
Expenses
$2.7M
+11.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The mission of the National Book Foundation is to celebrate the best literature published in the United States, connect books with readers of all ages, and champion the literary arts as a vital part of our culture.
Core Beliefs:
- Books are essential to a thriving cultural landscape
- Books and literature provide a depth of engagement that helps to protect, stimulate, and promote discourse in American society
- Books and literature are for everyone, no matter where the reader is situated geographically, economically, racially, or otherwise
Primary Program Areas:
Awards & Honors — Recognizing exceptional authors, literature, and literary programs through the National Book Awards and other recognition programs. The National Book Awards are presented in five categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people's literature. The Foundation also presents Lifetime Achievement awards and the 5 Under 35 program.
Education & Access — Helping young and adult readers develop a lifelong passion for books through initiatives including BookUp, Book Rich Environments, and the NBF Teacher Fellowship.
Public Programs — Bringing acclaimed authors to communities nationwide to engage in conversations about books and the power of literature as a tool for understanding the world and cultivating meaningful discourse around contemporary issues.
Service to the Literary Field — Providing support to the literary ecosystem through grantmaking and capacity-building initiatives for literary nonprofits.
Grantmaking
The National Book Foundation awards grants to support the literary arts sector. Recent grantmaking activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The National Book Foundation operates nationally, with grantmaking and programming reaching across the United States. The Foundation has awarded capacity-building grants to literary nonprofits in multiple states and conducts public programming nationwide to bring authors and literary conversations to communities across the country.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year Ending April 2024:
- Total Revenue: $3,106,519
- Total Expenses: $2,658,910
- Net Income: $447,609
- Total Assets: $5,643,387
- Total Liabilities: $320,000
Revenue Composition (FY 2024):
- Contributions represent the primary source of revenue
Staffing: The organization employs 13 staff members.
Tax-Exempt Status: The National Book Foundation has been tax-exempt since September 1986 (EIN: 13-3347524).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,643,387 | $4,829,963 | $4,696,616 |
| Revenue | $3,106,519 | $2,395,970 | $3,836,375 |
| Expenses | $2,658,910 | $2,376,616 | $3,671,609 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $124,305 | $110,276 | $-7,731 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 0 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID STEINBERGER | BOARD CHAIR | 1 | — |
| FIONA MCCRAE | BOARD VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| ELPIDIO VILLARREAL | BOARD TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CALVIN SIMS | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| QUANG BAO | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JAMES DAUNT | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARKUS DOHLE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MORGAN ENTREKIN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LUCIA FERREIRA | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KIMBALL HASTINGS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| AMANDEEP KOCHAR | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LISA LUCAS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ANTHONY W MARX | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DEBORAH NEEDLEMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SAMIRA NASR | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JULIA REIDHEAD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KENNETH L WALLACH | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MICHELLE WEINER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JONATHAN YAGED | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CHARLES YU | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| RUTH DICKEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $250,000 |
| JORDAN SMITH | DEPUTY DIRECTOR | 40 | $160,000 |
| MARGARET TANSEY | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $132,720 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation announced capacity-building grants to 49 literary nonprofits across the United States.
National Book Foundation to Award Capacity-Building Grants to 49 LiteraryThe Inside Literary Prize revealed its 2026 shortlist and announced a six-state prison tour featuring incarcerated judges, demonstrating the Foundation's commitment to expanding access to literary recognition and engagement.
National Book Foundation to Award Capacity-Building Grants to 49 LiteraryThe Foundation continues to accept entries for the 2026 National Book Awards.
National Book Foundation to Award Capacity-Building Grants to 49 LiteraryContact Information
Mailing Address: National Book Foundation 90 Broad Street, Suite 604 New York, New York 10004
Phone: (212) 685-0261
Email: nationalbook@nationalbook.org
Social Media:
- X: @nationalbook
- Facebook: facebook.com/NationalBookFdn
- Instagram: instagram.com/nationalbookfoundation
- Threads: threads.com/@nationalbookfoundation
- YouTube: youtube.com/NationalBook
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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