Heyday

What Heyday does

Heyday is an independent, nonprofit book publisher (501(c)(3), EIN 94-3268357) headquartered in Berkeley, California, founded in 1974 by Malcolm Margolin. The company publishes approximately 20 books per year across categories including California history, California Indian cultural renewal, nature, memoir, social justice, and literature, alongside the quarterly magazine News from Native California (in publication since 1987). Core products include the annual book catalog, the Berkeley Roundhouse California Indian publishing program, the membership program ($150/year) bundling three new releases with the magazine and a 30% catalog discount, and the annual Heyday Harvest fundraiser (20th edition in 2026). Sub-brand collections (John Muir Laws, Obi Kaufmann, Tom Killion) and the Fighting for Justice children's series extend the catalog beyond a single annual list.

The business operates on a hybrid revenue model combining one-time book sales (direct via heydaybooks.com, wholesale via Publishers Group West/Ingram since 2018, and through Bookshop.org and independent bookstores), recurring membership and magazine subscriptions, and tax-deductible donations and grants from foundations, tribal nations, and government arts agencies (California Arts Council, California Humanities, Ford Foundation, Amazon Literary Partnership). The customer base is highly distributed across five named segments: general California readers, members/donors, academic educators, California Indian communities, and libraries/institutions. Marketing is event-driven (Heyday Presents, Publisher's Lunches, Harvest) and community-led through the membership program.

The organization is led by co-publishers Steve Wasserman (former Times Books/Random House editorial director and LA Times Book Review editor) and Gayle Wattawa (General Manager/Editorial Director), with founder Malcolm Margolin serving as Publisher Emeritus, supported by a staff of approximately 15-20 plus interns and fellows. Technology is limited to a standard publishing ecommerce platform with no disclosed AI, proprietary models, or differentiated technical infrastructure; fulfillment is outsourced to IndiePubs/Ingram with shipping currently restricted to US and Canada.

Name

Heyday

Legal name

Heyday

Website

https://heydaybooks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heyday is an independent nonprofit publisher founded in 1974 in Berkeley, California, producing approximately 20 books per year and the quarterly News from Native California magazine, serving California readers, California Indian communities, and academic institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Heyday publishes approximately 20 books per year across categories including California Indian, history, memoir, nature, social justice, and literature. Revenue comes from direct retail sales through heydaybooks.com and wholesale/distribution through Publishers Group West.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership at $150 provides three top new releases, quarterly News from Native California magazine subscription, 30% discount on all catalog titles, and VIP event invitations. Partially tax deductible.
3. News from Native California Magazine: Quarterly magazine subscription celebrating Indigenous California culture, available separately or as part of membership. Ships in January, April, July, and October.
4. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Heyday accepts tax-deductible donations for general support and the Berkeley Roundhouse California Indian publishing program. EIN: 94-3268357. Received institutional support from foundations and government arts/humanities agencies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Heyday is an independent, nonprofit (501(c)(3)) book publisher that produces approximately 20 books per year focused on California history, nature, memoir, social justice, and California Indian cultural renewal. The company also publishes the quarterly magazine News from Native California (since 1987) and operates a $150/year membership program, the Berkeley Roundhouse California Indian publishing initiative, and the annual Heyday Harvest fundraiser.

Product overview

Heyday is an independent nonprofit book publisher founded in 1974, producing approximately 20 books annually alongside the quarterly magazine News from Native California. The company's portfolio centers on California-focused nonfiction—nature, history, Native American cultural renewal, and social justice—with notable sub-brands including the John Muir Laws Collection, Obi Kaufmann Collection (California Field Atlas Series), and Tom Killion Collection. The Berkeley Roundhouse Program specifically supports California Indian publishing. Heyday offers a membership program ($150/year) providing books, magazine subscriptions, and event access, and hosts the annual Heyday Harvest fundraiser.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Heyday Book Publishing Independent nonprofit publishing program producing approximately 20 books per year across California history, California Indian cultural renewal, memoir, nature, social justice, and literature categories, distributed direct-to-consumer, through Bookshop.org, and via Publishers Group West (Ingram) wholesale.
• News from Native California (Magazine) Quarterly print and digital magazine (35+ years in publication) dedicated to Indigenous California storytelling, art, and cultural preservation; ships in January, April, July, and October, available by subscription or as part of Heyday membership.
• Heyday Membership Program Annual membership subscription ($150/year, partially tax-deductible) providing three top new release books per year, a News from Native California quarterly subscription, 30% discount on all Heyday titles, and VIP event invitations including Publisher's Lunches and Heyday Presents.
• Fighting for Justice Series Children's nonfiction book series featuring historically underrepresented figures who fought for civil rights and equal education, designed for classroom adoption and family reading.
• Berkeley Roundhouse Program Heyday's California Indian publishing initiative that supports Indigenous storytelling and culture-keeping through dedicated book publishing and the News from Native California magazine, funded by earmarked tax-deductible donations and supported by partner tribal nations including the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 years of publishing, founded 1974
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Publishers Group West (Ingram)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018National distribution partnership with Publishers Group West, an Ingram brand, established in 2018. This partnership enables Heyday's books to reach bookstores and libraries throughout the United States via standard wholesale channels.
• Bancroft Library at UC BerkeleymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for producing distinguished books together. The Bancroft Library is a major research center for Western Americana at UC Berkeley.
• California Historical SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative publishing partner for California history books and cultural preservation projects.
• California State LibrarymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for state-level educational and historical publishing initiatives.
• Los Angeles TimesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative publishing partner for books and media projects.
• Santa Clara UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for publishing collaborations.
• Sierra College PressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional academic press partnership.
• Save the Redwoods LeaguemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published 'The Once and Future Forest: California's Iconic Redwoods' for the League's centennial. Long-standing conservation publishing partner.
• Yosemite ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Yosemite and California nature-focused publications.
• Federated Indians of Graton RancheriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederated Indians of Graton Rancheria is a key partner for California Indian publishing. Chairman Greg Sarris serves on Heyday's Advisory Council and has authored multiple books with Heyday.
• Bookshop.orgcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarketplace partnership allowing customers to purchase Heyday books while supporting independent bookstores.
• Bay Nature InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeyday co-founded Bay Nature Institute, which publishes Bay Nature magazine separately from Heyday's operations.
• Alliance for California Traditional ArtistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeyday founder Malcolm Margolin helped establish this organization supporting traditional arts.
• ACLU of Northern CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil liberties organization partner listed among Heyday's institutional supporters.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Graywolf Press: Independent nonprofit literary publisher based in Minneapolis with a similar team size, mission-driven editorial approach, and national distribution model. Closely comparable to Heyday in structure (501(c)(3)), scope, and dependence on individual donors and grants.
• Milkweed Editions: Independent nonprofit literary publisher with a mission-driven focus on books that 'make meaning where it matters most,' closely parallel to Heyday's nonprofit publishing model. Operates Milkweed Editions, Milkweed Books, and a membership/model similar to Heyday's community publishing model.
• Copper Canyon Press: Independent nonprofit literary publisher with a 501(c)(3) structure, national distribution, and reliance on donations and membership support. Comparable operating model to Heyday, although focused on poetry.
• Counterpoint Press: Independent literary publisher producing trade nonfiction and fiction on regional, cultural, and environmental themes. Comparable to Heyday's mix of California-focused, nature, and cultural nonfiction titles.
• Island Press: Independent nonprofit publisher focused on environmental and conservation books. Strong overlap with Heyday's nature/environmental publishing (Save the Redwoods League, Yosemite Conservancy partnerships) and shared nonprofit publishing model.
• Akashic Books: Independent publisher with a strong regional/cultural focus and a mission-driven editorial lens. Comparable to Heyday's publishing of California-focused, justice-oriented, and community-rooted nonfiction.
• Catapult: Independent literary publisher with a mix of books, magazine-style digital content, and event/community programming. Comparable to Heyday's blended books-plus-events-plus-quarterly-magazine model.
• Torrey House Press: Independent nonprofit publisher focused on the literature and environment of the inland West and American West. Comparable to Heyday's American West regional focus and nonprofit publishing mission.

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Club Books: Long-standing publisher of nature, conservation, and environmental books affiliated with the Sierra Club. Closely comparable to Heyday's nature publishing line (Obi Kaufmann, John Muir Laws) and conservation partnerships (Save the Redwoods League).
• W. W. Norton & Company: Largest and oldest publishing house owned wholly by its employees, with strong trade and academic publishing. Comparable to Heyday in independent ownership structure and broad reach into academic and trade channels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/heydaybooks
• Facebookfacebook.com/heydaybooks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Heyday