After treating yourself with great deals on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, consider giving back to the community on Giving Tuesday.

Donate to support literacy and education for children and adults

Here's a list of nonprofit organizations that support literacy and education for children and adults.

World Literacy Foundation

The World Literacy Foundation is a global a non-profit organization striving to ensure that every child regardless of geographic location has the opportunity to acquire literacy skills and books to reach their full potential – succeeding at school and beyond.

• We provide children with books and educational resources, so they can discover the joy of reading.
• We bring literacy support to disadvantaged children who are struggling to read and write.
• We gather global literacy leaders and organizations to share ideas and collaborate within the sector.
• We bring together innovative technology, e-books, and digital activities to advance the learning of children in remote communities in their mother tongue and English.
• We are a global voice to spread and promote the importance of literacy, we empower people to advocate in their local community for this cause.
• We involve parents in mentoring programs to help them instill the love of reading in their children and create a habit of reading at home.

National Center for Families Learning (NCFL)

National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) works to eradicate poverty through education solutions for families. Partnering with educators, literacy advocates, and policymakers, NCFL develops and provides programming, professional development, and resources for families.

Through these efforts, we invite parents and caregivers to recognize their voice and power to make change in their lives, the lives of children, and their communities. Engaging multiple generations from the same family has been a fundamental and distinguishing aspect of our work, because we know this holistic approach creates a stronger impact and greater success for families.

First Book

First Book believes that education is the best way out of poverty for children in need. We address the needs of the whole child supporting their education, basic needs, and wellness – all of which are essential to educational equity. All of these resources are made affordable to our member network of more than 550,000 educators who exclusively serve kids in need.

Since 1992, First Book has distributed more than 225 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income communities in all 50 states and provinces in Canada. First Book currently reaches an average of 5 million children every year and supports more than a third of the estimated 1.3 million classrooms and programs serving children in need.

Room to Read

Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. We are achieving this goal by helping children in historically low-income communities develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, and by supporting girls as they build skills to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions. We collaborate with governments and other partner organizations to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale.

Kids Need to Read

Kids Need to Read helps children discover the joy of reading and the power of a literate mind by providing inspiring books and literacy programs to underfunded schools, libraries, and community agencies across the United States, especially those serving disadvantaged children.

Kids Need to Read aspires to empower and embolden every last child through a culture of reading. For many of the children it serves, Kids Need to Read represents a crucial link to a strong literacy education, and its programs help build and nurture support systems for the development of literate minds. By immersing children in an integrated world of literary experiences that teaches them, firsthand, the impact of reading on every aspect of life, imagination is ignited and confidence is built for a prosperous future, regardless of race, economic status, or personal capabilities.

Reader to Reader

Reader to Reader, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to expanding literacy and learning opportunities for the nation's most chronically underserved and vulnerable communities, including inner-city schools, Native American reservations, and poor rural towns.

Reader to Reader accomplishes this primarily through innovative literacy programs, book & computer donation programs, and the development of partnerships with school districts that extend the capacity of the education system to transform struggling students into joyful and engaged lifelong learners.

Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.)

The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to an animal. But not just any animal. R.E.A.D. companions are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children.

Donate used books

One can never too many books. However, if your book collection does get out of hand, your taste has changed, your kids are out of the house, you simply need room or would like to give other readers a chance to love your books, here’s a list of where to donate used books.

Libraries

Most libraries accept donations to add those to their collection or to sell through the library’s used bookstore, “Recycled Reads” programs or fundraisers.

Schools

Give your books a new home in your local school library or classroom. Many teachers will really appreciate it.

Local nonprofit organizations

Many local nonprofit organizations and charities welcome book donations, however, check the organization’s policies.

Local thrift stores

Local thrift stores usually accept book donations. Places like Goodwill or Salvation Army use some of the proceeds to support good causes.

Prisons

Donate your books to prisons through a book program for inmates. Read more about what to donate and not to donate and how.

Little Free Libraries

Take a book, share a book – place your books in one of the many local Little Free Libraries.
Little Free Library book-sharing boxes play an essential role by providing 24/7 access to books (and encouraging a love of reading!) in areas where books are scarce. At the Little Free Library nonprofit, we’re working to fill book deserts and grant libraries to underserved communities through our Impact Library Program and other initiatives.
Through Little Free Library book exchanges, millions of books are exchanged each year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds.
Find and read more about Little Free Libraries here.

Let’s Donate Together!

Donate 10 or more My Friends and I books to a charity of your choice! For every 10 books donated, we will donate an additional 5 books! Contact us at giveback@lifeisbetterwithfriends.com for details.