Whether your nonprofit organization focuses on health, welfare, literacy or another
kind of service, you can incorporate messages about the importance of reading to
children in your outreach to families. Here are a few suggestions:
- Have volunteers model the joy and key techniques of reading aloud at your events
for families or in places where you connect with those you serve, such as a food
pantry waiting areas or a health clinic waiting room
- Post information about library storytimes or book events in your community at your
program locations
- Offer recommended reading lists to expand interests, such as an environmental nonprofit
providing book suggestions on the natural world
You may also get ideas from Verizon’s
Thinkfinity which offers free online courses for volunteers and program
managers that cover such topics as “How Can My Organization Get Involved In Literacy”
and “Orientation to Volunteering in Literacy.”
First Book provides new
books to children in need, tackling a critical barrier to literacy development—access
to books and educational materials
To obtain books and resources, programs must complete a simple online registration to verify
their eligibility. In addition to programs that serve children from low-income families,
First Book also provides new books and educational materials to programs serving
children of active military members, and organizations for children with serious
medical conditions.
Grants for Reading Programs and Book Donations
Since access to reading material is one of the greatest barriers to parents reading
to their children, nonprofits, schools, libraries and other groups that work with
children and families can support reading by providing books. Below are a few resources
for book donations and grants for book purchases.
Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant programs are available to qualifying
non-profit organizations in the 35 states where Dollar General Stores operate.
Target awards grants to schools, libraries and nonprofit
organizations to support programs such as after-school reading events and weekend
book clubs.