The Feminist Press

What The Feminist Press does

The Feminist Press is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit book publisher founded in 1970 and institutionally affiliated with the City University of New York (CUNY), operating from 365 Fifth Avenue, Suite 6200, New York. It publishes boundary-breaking feminist literature across novels, memoir and biography, gender studies, and LGBTQ+ categories, with an active catalog spanning 200+ titles and signature imprints including Amethyst Editions and the WSQ (Women's Studies Quarterly) scholarly journal. The organization has been recognized with a 2021 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction (Fiebre Tropical by Julián Delgado Lopera), reinforcing its standing in academic and literary feminist circles.

The press runs its commercial operations on a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront (feministpress.org) for direct-to-consumer book sales, supported by NeonCRM for donor management and recurring monthly giving via a dedicated donation portal. Distribution extends internationally through territory-specific foreign rights agencies in 10+ countries (France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Portugal, Japan, Turkey, Spain, Latin America, Poland), and US rights and permissions are handled through The Permissions Company. A branded merchandise line is sold via Bonfire, and a community book club is operated in partnership with Repro Uncensored.

The revenue model combines one-time book sales (individual titles and curated bundles such as 3-for-$35 and 2-for-$25, plus promotional codes like PRIDE26 for 30% off) with recurring and one-time charitable donations. Educational institutions are served through a free desk-copy program for course adoptions of 10+ copies and a $6 examination copy fee, making academia a primary institutional channel. Primary customer segments include academic and educational institutions, the LGBTQ+ community and allies, feminist activists, and general readers seeking diverse literature; philanthropic grants (notably a $350,000 MacArthur Foundation grant dated 2026-01-20) supplement earned revenue and reflect mission-aligned funding access unique to the nonprofit structure.

Name

The Feminist Press

Legal name

The Feminist Press

Website

https://feministpress.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Feminist Press is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit book publisher founded in 1970 at CUNY, publishing feminist novels, memoirs, gender studies, and LGBTQ+ literature for academic, activist, and general readers via Shopify e-commerce, donor support, and global foreign rights.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Politics, Current Affairs & Social Commentary Publishing (MPAJAAAM), Academic & Scholarly Journals Publishing (Peer-Reviewed) (MPAJABAC)

Keywords

• Independent book publishing
• Feminist literature
• LGBTQ+ titles
• Scholarly journals
• Nonprofit press

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Direct sales of published books through the organization's e-commerce website. Books are sold as physical paperback/hardcover products with prices ranging from approximately $12.95 to $39.95 USD. Individual titles and bundle packages are offered.
2. Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Feminist Press relies on donor support to continue publishing. The organization accepts one-time and monthly recurring donations through its donation portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Feminist Press is a nonprofit book publisher that produces, markets, and sells feminist literature including novels, memoirs, gender studies, and LGBTQ+ titles. It operates an e-commerce bookstore, manages scholarly publishing through WSQ journal and Amethyst Editions imprint, and supports academic adoption through desk and examination copy programs.

Product overview

The Feminist Press is a nonprofit book publisher founded in 1970 at the City University of New York, specializing in publishing boundary-breaking feminist literature. The organization operates primarily as a book publishing house offering a diverse portfolio of products including novels, memoirs, gender studies works, and LGBTQ+ literature across multiple imprints. Key products include the Amethyst Editions sub-brand for innovative feminist works, the WSQ (Women's Studies Quarterly) scholarly journal, award-winning titles, and seasonal Pride collections featuring curated book bundles. The company also operates a merchandise store and a community book club in partnership with ReproductiveCensored. The publishing program spans multiple categories including novels (fiction, pulp revivals), memoir and biography, gender studies, and award winners, with distribution through their Shopify-powered e-commerce platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Amethyst Editions: A publication imprint under Feminist Press featuring feminist literature.
• WSQ (Women's Studies Quarterly)

Products and services

• Novels Fiction and literary works published by Feminist Press, spanning novels, short story collections, and pulp fiction revivals, focusing on feminist, LGBTQ+, and marginalized voices.
• Memoir and Biography Personal narratives, autobiographical works, and biographical accounts documenting women's lives, activism, and historical experiences across diverse backgrounds.
• Gender Studies Books Academic and scholarly works exploring gender theory, sexuality, feminist criticism, and intersectional studies.
• LGBTQ+ Books Books celebrating and exploring LGBTQ+ identities, history, and experiences, featured in the annual FP Pride collection.
• Amethyst Editions Imprint A signature imprint of Feminist Press dedicated to publishing innovative feminist literature, including works featured in new releases and curated collections.
• WSQ (Women's Studies Quarterly) Journal A scholarly journal published by Feminist Press covering women's studies, gender studies, and feminist scholarship, with subscription options, calls for papers, and editorial oversight.
• FP Pride Collections and Bundles Curated book bundles and collections for Pride celebrations, including themed packs like 'Queer Short Stories', 'Be Gay. Read Crime.', and 'Trans Masc Classics'.
• Feminist Press Merchandise Store Branded merchandise including apparel and accessories featuring Feminist Press branding, sold through a third-party platform (Bonfire).

Quantifiable outcome

• Lambda Literary Award winner (Fiebre Tropical, 2021)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationShopify powers the Feminist Press e-commerce storefront and website, providing the platform infrastructure for all online sales, inventory management, and order processing.
• Repro Uncensored (Feminist Book Club)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Repro Uncensored's Feminist Book Club, directing book club members to the Feminist Press for purchases.
• The Permissions Company LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFrederick T. Courtright, President of The Permissions Company LLC, handles US permissions inquiries for Feminist Press.
• Deborah Druba (France)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLiterary agent handling foreign rights for France territory.
• Silke Weniger Literary Agency (Germany)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLiterary agency handling foreign rights for Germany territory.
• Natoli, Stefan & Oliva (Italy)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLiterary agency handling foreign rights for Italy territory.
• VBMLitag (Brazil and Portugal)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLiterary agency handling foreign rights for Brazil and Portugal territories.
• Japan Uni AgencyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgency handling foreign rights for Japan territory.
• AnatoliaLit Agency (Turkey)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgency handling foreign rights for Turkey territory.
• The Foreign Office (Spain and Latin America)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgency handling foreign rights for Spain and Latin America territories.
• Book/lab Literary Agency (Poland)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgency handling foreign rights for Poland territory.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Haymarket Books: Haymarket Books is a nonprofit, independent publisher of progressive and radical literature with a mission-driven catalog, closely paralleling The Feminist Press's nonprofit book-publishing model and its emphasis on social-justice-oriented titles.
• AK Press: AK Press is a worker-run, independent publisher producing anarchist, feminist, and activist literature. Its nonprofit collective model and activist-aligned catalog mirror Feminist Press's mission and direct-to-consumer channel.
• Verso Books: Verso is an independent publisher of radical and leftist thought and fiction, including significant feminist and queer titles. Comparable in mission, indie press positioning, and scholarly-adjacent catalog targeting overlapping readerships.
• Seven Stories Press: Seven Stories Press is an independent publisher of politically engaged fiction, nonfiction, and progressive voices. Comparable in independent-press mission, activist-aligned content, and direct e-commerce distribution.
• Graywolf Press: Graywolf Press is a nonprofit literary publisher known for poetry, nonfiction, and diverse literary voices. Comparable in nonprofit independent-publisher model, literary catalog focus, and author-development ethos.
• Milkweed Editions: Milkweed Editions is a nonprofit literary publisher focused on fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that explores place, identity, and justice. Comparable in nonprofit model, literary mission, and curated book-publishing program.
• Akashic Books: Akashic Books is an independent publisher known for literary fiction, noir, and diverse urban voices. Comparable in indie publishing scale, literary mission, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales.
• Restless Books: Restless Books is an independent publisher of international fiction and nonfiction in translation, with a focus on underrepresented voices. Comparable in translation-driven catalog, foreign rights strategy, and indie nonprofit ethos.
• Copper Canyon Press: Copper Canyon Press is a nonprofit literary publisher specializing in poetry, with a strong independent press identity and educational/cultural reach. Comparable in nonprofit mission, literary publishing model, and institutional sales programs.
• Alice James Books: Alice James Books is a nonprofit cooperative poetry press affiliated with the University of Maine. Comparable as a small nonprofit literary press with educational institutional ties and mission-driven publishing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FeministPress
• Instagraminstagram.com/feministpress
• Xx.com/FeministPress
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/feminist-press

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Feminist Press