Darien Book Aid Plan Inc

What Darien Book Aid Plan Inc does

Darien Book Aid Plan Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in May 1949 in Darien, Connecticut, that distributes donated books to schools, libraries, community centers, and individuals in need across 190 countries and all 50 US states. The organization operates as an all-volunteer entity with no paid staff, relying on a volunteer base spanning high schoolers to senior citizens with diverse professional backgrounds. Its core operational model involves hand-selecting and curating books in response to specific written requests from recipients, then shipping them via Media Mail domestically (2-3 week delivery) or the most cost-effective international courier (3 weeks to 3 months). The organization ships 20-30 boxes per week, totaling 16-20 tons annually, with packages marked 'Used Books, No Value' to facilitate customs clearance.

The organization's revenue model is exclusively donation-based, accepting tax-deductible monetary contributions via PayPal and book donations through its headquarters (24-hour lobby) and partner drop-off locations at Pequot Library and Westport Public Library. It maintains a specialized wishlist partnership with Barrett Bookstore enabling targeted book purchases. The organization holds a Charity Navigator 4/4 rating and GuideStar Gold Star of Transparency, and operates entirely on private contributions after losing government/Peace Corps funding. Its program portfolio includes international book donations, Peace Corps Volunteer book shipments (~25 lbs per request), domestic US school and organization donations, and a local Little Free Library replenishment program in Darien, CT. Technology is limited to a Wix-hosted website, consumer email tools, and PayPal payment processing — no proprietary technology or AI capabilities are present.

Name

Darien Book Aid Plan Inc

Legal name

Darien Book Aid Plan, Inc.

Website

https://darienbookaid.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Darien Book Aid Plan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that hand-selects and ships donated books to schools, libraries, Peace Corps Volunteers, prisons, hospitals, and Native American communities across 190 countries and all 50 US states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Book Distribution and Literacy Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Literacy Intervention & Dyslexia Support Programs (Gen Ed) (EDAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Book donation programs
• Nonprofit literacy services
• International book distribution
• Community literacy outreach
• Volunteer book charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Darien

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations used to fund shipping costs. Accepts both monetary donations via PayPal and check, as well as book donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Darien Book Aid Plan is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that collects donated books, hand-selects them to match specific recipient requests, and ships them free of charge to schools, libraries, Peace Corps Volunteers, prisons, hospitals, Native American groups, and community centers across the US and 190 countries. The organization funds its shipping costs through tax-deductible monetary donations, the Barrett Bookstore wishlist partnership, and donated books, with no paid staff and no government funding. Operations are run from a single headquarters in Darien, Connecticut.

Product overview

Darien Book Aid Plan Inc is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that operates as a single unified program focused on improving literacy and education worldwide through the free distribution of books. The organization functions through several interconnected service programs: the International Book Donation Program sends books to schools and organizations abroad; the Peace Corps Book Program specifically serves Peace Corps Volunteers; the US Schools and Organizations Donation Program handles domestic requests; and the Little Free Library Replenishment initiative serves the local Connecticut community. The core offering is book selection, curation, and distribution services—all book donations are hand-selected to match specific requests from recipients including Peace Corps Volunteers, libraries, schools, prisons, hospitals, and Native American groups. Founded in 1949, the organization ships 20-30 boxes weekly totaling 16-20 tons annually to 190 countries and all 50 US states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Book Donation Program Distributes hand-selected books to international schools, libraries, and community centers; ships small boxes of books weighing 10-12 kilos to qualifying international requests, prioritizing underserved communities worldwide.
• Peace Corps Book Program Specialized book donation program for Peace Corps Volunteers worldwide; ships approximately 25 pounds of books to PCVs based on their specific needs, students' ages, and reading levels.
• US Schools and Organizations Donation Program Domestic book donation service for US schools, libraries, community centers, non-profit literacy programs, and health organizations; Connecticut region organizations can visit by appointment to choose titles.
• Little Free Library Replenishment Local community literacy initiative that replenishes Little Free Libraries near Darien, CT; volunteers provide bags of assorted books for pickup at the Darien workshop.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributes 16-20 tons of books annually to 190 countries and all 50 US states
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Peace CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partnership where Peace Corps Volunteers request and receive book shipments for their communities overseas. Peace Corps was a key government supporter for many years before funding ended. Currently no government affiliation but ongoing book fulfillment relationship with individual Peace Corps Volunteers.
• Barrett BookstoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal independent book seller in Darien, CT hosting a wishlist of most-needed books. Donors can purchase books from the wishlist at Barrett Bookstore to be donated to students in need worldwide.
• Pequot LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal library in Southport, Connecticut that accepts overflow book donations during library hours as an alternative drop-off location.
• Westport Public LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic library in Westport, Connecticut that accepts overflow book donations during library hours as an alternative drop-off location.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Books Through Bars: Nonprofit that sends free books to incarcerated individuals in the US. Compares specifically to Darien Book Aid's prison book donation program and operates a similar volunteer-driven book distribution model.
• African Library Project: Establishes small libraries in rural Africa by collecting and shipping donated books from the US. Comparable channel (book donation, US-to-international shipping) and recipient model (schools, libraries in underserved communities).
• Books for Africa: The largest shipper of donated books to Africa, operating similarly to Darien Book Aid by collecting and distributing donated books to schools and libraries across multiple countries. The most direct functional peer in the international book donation space.
• First Book: Nonprofit that provides books and educational resources to children in need across the US and internationally, primarily through a distribution network to schools and programs. Directly comparable in mission and recipient model.
• Book Harvest: Provides free books to children and families in need, primarily in the US. Comparable book donation model with similar focus on literacy and education for underserved communities.
• International Book Bank: Nonprofit that distributes donated books to schools, libraries, and organizations in developing countries. Directly comparable mission and operating model with similar international focus and volume.

Emerging players

• Library For All: Builds digital libraries for underserved communities in developing countries. Comparable literacy mission but operates via a digital platform rather than physical book distribution.
• Worldreader: Nonprofit focused on digital reading in low-income communities, distributing e-books via e-readers and mobile devices. Comparable literacy mission but uses a digital distribution model that contrasts with Darien Book Aid's physical book model.

Broad incumbents

• Room to Read: Larger global literacy nonprofit that develops and distributes books, supports literacy programs, and works in schools across low-income countries. Comparable in literacy mission but operates a broader set of programs (publishing, girls' education, school libraries) at much greater scale.
• Better World Books: For-profit social enterprise that collects and sells used books, using proceeds to fund literacy initiatives. Operates in the same used-book supply chain but monetizes inventory rather than donating it directly.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/darien-book-aid

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Darien Book Aid Plan Inc