Better World Books Readers' Choice Literacy Grant

Background

Better World Books sells used and new books online to fund meaningful literacy programs and projects around the world. EVERY book we sell helps generate this funding, and with the help of our partners and customers we have raised over $7 million since 2002.

Our programs are designed to allow our partners to designate a non-profit literacy partner (NPLP) as the beneficiary of the sale of their donated books. However, books which we acquire by means other than donation , such as new books, do not have an NPLP designated. When these books sell, literacy funds are accrued into our General Literacy Fund.

We have found that many of our customers would like to better understand and get involved in literacy initiatives and that they also generally prefer seeing their dollars and donations going towards specific projects with concrete outcomes.

In an effort to more deeply engage these customers while continuing to fund meaningful literacy projects, Better World Books seeks to match up the General Literacy Fund to specific projects and to let our customers determine what those projects will be. We have therefore designated the General Literacy Fund for the purpose of funding the new Readers' Choice Literacy Grant every 6 months.

Available Funds

The Fall 2009 Readers' Choice Literacy Grant will be in the amount of $20,000 (USD). The funding will be provided to the winner of the grant no later than 31-December-2009 31-January-2009.

Grant Criteria

• Applicants can be any organization devoted to promoting literacy in some way.
• Applicants must propose a specific use that would be made of the grant money if they win, and must apply the grant money to that use.
• The project must demonstrate meaningful impact on literacy through the use of the grant money.
• By applying applicants agree to report back on use of funds including the impact made through use of funds and must agree to permit the use of this information in Better World Books' customer communication.
• By applying applicants agree to permit the use of their organization's name, description, logo, and grant specifics in print and on the Internet by Better World Books.

Application Process

• Applications must be typed, 11-point font, 1 inch margins, and no longer than 10 pages.
• Applications must be accompanied by summary information to be provided on the form found within this document and submitted along with the proposal.
• All materials must be submitted electronically by e-mailing them to RCLG@betterworldbooks.com. Applicants will receive an acknowledgement e-mail at the contact e-mail address provided within 24 business hours of receipt.
• Applications are due by 5:00pm EDT on 13-November-2009 30-November-2009.
• The grant recipient will be announced on 18-December-2009 22-January-2009.

Selection Process

• Better World Books will screen applications for the grant and retains the right to refuse or request changes to any application.
• Better World Books' internal Literacy Committee will determine finalists whose proposals will then be put to a public vote on www.BetterWorldBooks.com.
• Only one vote per person will be accepted.
• Voting will begin on 30-November-2009 1-January-2010 and end on 16-December-2009 20-January-2010.