Book'em

What Book'em does

Book'em is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989 and headquartered at 161 Rains Ave., Nashville, Tennessee, whose mission is to create a more literate Nashville by providing free, high-quality books and reading experiences to children ages 0-18 across Davidson County. The organization operates five core programs: Books for Nashville's Kids (general book distribution), Reading is Fundamental/RIF (volunteer readers visiting 17 Metro Nashville elementary school classrooms five times per school year), Ready for Reading (volunteer reading role models in local preschools and early learning centers), Book Bus (mobile distribution using a 2022-donated bookmobile), and Read Me Day (special reading events). Book'em has distributed over 1.5 million books since founding and serves more than 22,000 children annually, with 30,000+ books per year through the RIF program alone (29,681 books and 1,059 classroom visits in the most recent school year).

The organization runs a volunteer-led operating model with a small staff of 27 employees supported by 300+ trained volunteer reading role models who serve as the primary delivery mechanism. There is no proprietary technology platform; Book'em uses standard web-based donation flows (Stripe, PayPal, Venmo @bookemkidsnash, mailed checks, and an Amazon wishlist) and basic volunteer scheduling tools (Airtable forms). The model emphasizes book ownership (children select and keep their own books) and is structured around direct physical distribution into schools, preschools, and community spaces rather than a digital or e-learning product.

Book'em is funded entirely through donations and sponsorships rather than product revenue. The published efficiency benchmark is $2.50 per book provided to a child. Revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and recurring via website, Venmo, and mail) and corporate sponsorship for specific programs (Book Bus sponsors include Frist, Phoenix Club, Preds Foundation, Joe C. Davis Foundation, GELF with Delta Dental/Bridgestone, and Truist). The organization maintains GuideStar/Candid Platinum Transparency, a Charity Navigator rating, and a 2025 Great Nonprofits Top-Rated designation. Operations are bounded to Davidson County with no disclosed expansion into additional geographies.

Name

Book'em

Legal name

Book'em

Website

https://bookem-kids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Book'em is a Nashville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that provides free books and volunteer reading role models to more than 22,000 children ages 0-18 annually across Davidson County through five programs spanning schools, preschools, and a mobile Book Bus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Literacy Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Literacy & Reading Intervention Programs (EDAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Children's literacy programs
• Free book distribution
• Volunteer reading role models
• Nonprofit literacy services
• School-based reading programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute money through the website (one-time or recurring), Venmo (@bookemkidsnash), or mailed checks. Every $2.50 provides a book to a child in need.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Book'em is a nonprofit organization that provides free, high-quality books and literacy experiences to children ages 0-18 across Davidson County, Tennessee. Through five programs (Books for Nashville's Kids, Reading is Fundamental, Ready for Reading, Book Bus, and Read Me Day), the organization distributes over 1.5 million books total and serves more than 22,000 children annually via classroom visits, preschool reading sessions, and mobile distribution. Services are supported by 300+ volunteer reading role models, community partnerships, and donor contributions.

Product overview

Book'em is a nonprofit literacy organization offering a portfolio of five interconnected programs designed to create a more literate Nashville. The core offerings include Books for Nashville's Kids (general book distribution), Reading is Fundamental (school-based volunteer reading and book ownership in 17 elementary schools), Ready for Reading (preschool-based reading role models), the Book Bus (mobile book distribution), and Read Me Day (special reading events). Together these programs distribute over 1.5 million books annually to more than 22,000 children ages 0-18 across Davidson County, serving as Nashville's largest provider of free books to children.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Books for Nashville Kids: A program that distributes free books to children in Nashville.
• Reading is Fundamental (RIF)
• Ready for Reading
• Read Me Day
• Book Bus

Products and services

• Books for Nashville's Kids The flagship program that distributes free books to children in Davidson County, forming part of Book'em's core literacy mission to ensure all children own books.
• Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Program administered in 17 Metro Nashville elementary schools where volunteer readers visit classrooms five times per school year, engaging students through interactive reading and allowing each child to select their own book to keep, distributing 30,000+ books annually.
• Ready for Reading Program placing reading volunteers in local preschools and early learning centers for weekly or bi-weekly reading sessions, serving as reading role models who read to children one-on-one, in small groups, or to entire classrooms.
• Book Bus Mobile book distribution program launched in 2022 after receiving a donated bookmobile from Parnassus Books, taking book distribution to various community spaces and events throughout Davidson County.
• Read Me Day Special volunteer reading event program where readers visit schools to share the joy of reading with children.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22,000+ children served annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBook'em administers the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program locally in 17 Metro Nashville elementary schools. This national partnership, established in 2006, enables volunteer readers to visit classrooms five times per school year, with each child receiving and keeping their own book.
• Parnassus BookscoreOthersIn 2022, Parnassus Books donated their bookmobile to Book'em, enabling the creation of the Book Bus mobile distribution program. This in-kind donation was foundational to launching the Book Bus.
• FristcoreOthersFrist is a Book Bus sponsor supporting the mobile book distribution program.
• Phoenix ClubcoreOthersPhoenix Club is a Book Bus sponsor supporting the mobile book distribution program.
• Preds FoundationcoreOthersPreds Foundation is a Book Bus sponsor supporting the mobile book distribution program.
• Joe C. Davis FoundationcoreOthersJoe C. Davis Foundation is a Book Bus sponsor supporting the mobile book distribution program.
• Delta Dental / Bridgestone (GELF)coreOthersGELF (Greater Nashville Corporate Fund) with Delta Dental and Bridgestone is a Book Bus sponsor.
• TruistcoreOthersTruist is a Book Bus sponsor supporting the mobile book distribution program.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Little Free Library: Nonprofit that stewards a global network of small, free book-sharing libraries placed in communities. Adjacent to Book'em's mission of expanding physical book access for children, though operating through a decentralized network rather than direct distribution.
• PJ Library: Jewish nonprofit that mails free children's books to families monthly. Comparable donor-funded, direct-to-family book distribution model to Book'em, though narrower audience and national rather than hyper-local.

Direct peers

• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Global nonprofit that mails free, age-appropriate books directly to children from birth to age five. Most directly comparable to Book'em in mission (free book ownership for children) and model (donor-funded book distribution to kids), though it operates at much larger scale and via mail rather than in-person.
• Reach Out and Read: National nonprofit that partners with pediatricians to give free books to children at well-child visits and promote early literacy. Comparable in its free-book-distribution model targeting young children from low-income families and in leveraging institutional partners for reach.
• First Book: National nonprofit that distributes free and low-cost books to children in low-income communities, with a strong volunteer and donor-supported model. Directly comparable to Book'em in targeting underserved children with free books and in mobilizing a national network of educators.
• Book Harvest: North Carolina-based nonprofit that provides free books to children and families, including a mobile book distribution program. Most comparable regional peer to Book'em — similar scale, similar free-book-ownership mission, and a mobile distribution asset analogous to the Book Bus.
• Raising A Reader: National nonprofit that operates early literacy and book rotation programs through partner preschools, libraries, and schools. Comparable to Book'em's Ready for Reading program in targeting preschool-age children via institutional partner sites.

Broad incumbents

• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): National nonprofit that originated the Reading Is Fundamental program administered locally by Book'em. Both organizations focus on free book ownership and reading engagement for children in low-income communities; RIF is the broad incumbent parent of Book'em's flagship school-based program.
• Room to Read: International nonprofit focused on children's literacy and gender equality in education, including book publishing and distribution in low-income communities. Broadly comparable mission to Book'em, though operating globally and at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Literacy Inc (LINC): New York City-based nonprofit mobilizing community volunteers to read with and distribute books to children in low-income neighborhoods. Comparable volunteer-driven, community-embedded model to Book'em, though operating in NYC rather than Nashville.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/book-em

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Book'em