Women's National Book Association

What Women's National Book Association does

The Women's National Book Association (WNBA) is a non-profit, volunteer-run professional association founded in 1917 that represents all aspects of the U.S. book industry. The organization serves authors, editors, publishers, librarians, booksellers, literary agents, designers, illustrators, and production and management professionals, as well as readers and students outside the industry. It operates through individual Active Members in ten city-based chapters, individual Network Members distributed nationwide, corporate Sustaining Members, and chapter Honorary Members.

WNBA's core offerings are organized around three national awards (the biennial WNBA Award, the annual WNBA Pannell Award co-sponsored by Penguin Young Readers Group, and the annual Eastman Grant for library training programs), the National Reading Group Month / Great Group Reads literary program, the Bookwoman national newsletter, and a continuous calendar of chapter events including author conversations, panels, workshops, networking parties, and book clubs. The organization maintains NGO status with the United Nations Department of Public Information for nearly 60 years and participates in UN advocacy on literacy, press freedom, and sustainable development goals through UN Youth Representatives.

WNBA generates revenue through membership dues (subscription/recurring across Active, Network, and Sustaining tiers) and event admission fees (one-time/per-event, e.g., $10 for non-members, with free admission for members of any chapter). GTM is primarily organic and community-driven through social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube), an email newsletter, the wnba-nyc.org and wnba-books.org websites, and in-person event marketing, supplemented by partnerships with literary institutions (Brooklyn Book Festival, NYU Creative Writing Program, Pace University, Pen + Brush Gallery, Penguin Young Readers Group). Revenue, financials, and membership counts are not publicly disclosed; the organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and operates without venture or institutional capital.

Name

Women's National Book Association

Legal name

Women's National Book Association

Website

https://wnba-nyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Women's National Book Association is a volunteer-run, non-profit professional association founded in 1917 that connects, advocates for, and educates women across all sectors of the U.S. book industry through ten city chapters, three national awards, and year-round literary programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary Professional Association

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Literary Arts & Writing Organizations (BPAGAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Literature & Book Clubs / Guided Reading Groups (EDAMAJAG)

Keywords

• Book industry association
• Literary professional membership
• Publishing industry networking
• Book advocacy nonprofit
• Literary awards programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The organization generates revenue through membership fees from Active Members (in chapter cities), Network Members (across the country), and corporate Sustaining Members. Membership provides access to events, networking, and programs.
2. Event Fees: WNBA charges fees for events and programs - $10.00 for non-members to attend events like 'The Winding Road: From Proposal to Published' panel, while members receive free admission to many events.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Women's National Book Association (WNBA) is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that connects, advocates, educates, and leads in the world of books since 1917. It sells membership (Active, Network, and corporate Sustaining) and delivers networking events, awards (WNBA Award, Pannell Award), grants (Eastman Grant), curated book programs (Great Group Reads), publications (Bookwoman newsletter), and advocacy for women in the book industry through ten U.S. chapters.

Product overview

The Women's National Book Association is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of awards, grants, literacy programs, publications, and events for professionals in the book industry. Core offerings include the biennial WNBA Award, annual Pannell Award for children's booksellers, and Eastman Grant for library training. The organization operates National Reading Group Month with its Great Group Reads curated book list, publishes the Bookwoman newsletter, and runs chapter events including author panels, networking gatherings, and writing workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WNBA Membership Program
• WNBA Award

Quantifiable outcome

• Three national awards recognizing excellence in bookselling, literary achievement, and library professional training
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Nations Department of Public InformationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014The WNBA has held NGO status with the United Nations Department of Public Information for nearly 60 years. The organization has UN Youth Representatives who participate in UN events, including Committee on Teaching About the UN conferences, World Press Freedom Day briefings, and NGO conferences. WNBA contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through literacy advocacy.
• National Reading Group Month (NRGM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWNBA partners with National Reading Group Month to produce the annual Great Group Reads list, selecting books for reading groups and book clubs. This partnership includes joint author panels and exhibits at events like the Brooklyn Book Festival.
• Brooklyn Book FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWNBA-NYC exhibits annually at the Brooklyn Book Festival (booth #149), promoting Great Group Reads, membership, and upcoming programs. The festival pays homage to independent and literary presses.
• Penguin Young Readers GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPenguin Young Readers Group co-sponsors the WNBA Pannell Award, which recognizes bookstores that enhance communities by fostering children's interest in reading.
• Pen + Brush GalleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWNBA has held events at the Pen + Brush gallery in New York, including award presentations and author panels.
• NYU Creative Writing ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWNBA partnered with NYU's Creative Writing Program to present panels such as 'Women Writing About Sex and Desire' at the Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House.
• Pace UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPace University's downtown campus has hosted WNBA events including panels on environment writing. Pace MS in Publishing students have been involved as UN Youth Representatives.
• Book Industry Guild of New YorkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWNBA-NYC participates in the Book Industry Guild's annual charity softball game benefiting the Literacy Assistance Center. WNBA members attend and volunteer at the event.
• Literacy Assistance CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Book Industry Guild works with the Literacy Assistance Center to improve lives of illiterate New Yorkers. WNBA participates in related fundraising events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): The largest children's literacy nonprofit in the U.S., focused on literacy promotion and book distribution. Comparable to WNBA's literacy-advocacy mission and Great Group Reads program, though focused on children rather than industry professionals.

Direct peers

• Book Industry Guild of New York: A New York-based nonprofit of book-industry professionals hosting networking events and charity initiatives — directly overlapping with WNBA-NYC's local mission, member base, and event programming.
• National Book Critics Circle: A nonprofit organization of book critics and literary professionals that gives annual awards and promotes literary criticism — comparable to WNBA in mission of recognizing excellence in the book industry through awards.
• American Library Association (ALA): The largest library association in the world, providing professional development, advocacy, and grants to library professionals — overlapping with WNBA's librarian-focused Eastman Grant and broader book-industry membership.
• Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA): A nonprofit trade association serving independent book publishers with education, networking, and advocacy — comparable to WNBA in serving book-industry professionals through events, awards, and chapter-based programming.
• Authors Guild: The nation's oldest and largest professional organization for published authors, providing advocacy, contract support, and community. Closely comparable to WNBA's mission of serving book-industry professionals and advocating for creators.
• PEN America: A national literary nonprofit advocating for writers' free expression and supporting the literary community. Directly comparable to WNBA in mission (literary advocacy), membership structure, and event programming.
• Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI): The world's largest organization for writers and illustrators of children's literature, offering networking, awards, and education — overlapping with WNBA's Pannell Award focus on children's literacy and book-industry professionals.
• American Booksellers Association (ABA): A national nonprofit trade association representing independent bookstores, directly aligned with WNBA's bookseller-engagement mission (Indie Bookstore Day, Pannell Award for children's booksellers).

Broad incumbents

• Association of American Publishers (AAP): The major trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry, representing most major commercial publishers. Broader in scope than WNBA but operates in the same book-industry association space with advocacy and industry programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wnbanyc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFQ-43NoUKQwM6fPJpzzLtg
• Facebookfacebook.com/wnbanyc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/Women-s-National-Book-AssociationNYC-101782/about

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Women's National Book Association