Freedom To Read Foundation

What Freedom To Read Foundation does

The Freedom To Read Foundation (FTRF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal and educational organization incorporated on November 20, 1969 by members of the American Library Association to defend the First Amendment and protect the right of libraries to collect and individuals to access information. Headquartered at 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL, FTRF operates with 5 paid staff and a 15-member Board of Trustees (11 elected by members serving two-year terms, plus 4 ex-officio seats held by ALA's President, President-Elect, Executive Director, and Intellectual Freedom Committee chair). The organization is structurally separate from the ALA while remaining operationally embedded in its ecosystem.

FTRF delivers its mission through three primary activities: (i) litigation support — direct participation in First Amendment court cases, filing amicus briefs, and providing legal counsel or funding to librarians whose positions are jeopardized for resisting censorship; (ii) education — webinars, academic collaborations with library/information science programs, downloadable First Amendment posters, and Banned Books Week programming, in partnership with PEN America, Penguin Random House, AASL, ACRL, PLA, Central Arkansas Library System, and the National Associations of Librarians of Color; and (iii) grants and awards — the Conable Conference Scholarship, the Holley Fund (free 1-year memberships for LIS students), the Judith Krug Banned Books Week Grant, and the Roll of Honor Award. Products are non-software and human-staffed rather than technology-delivered.

Revenue is generated entirely through annual membership dues (tiers ranging from $10 student/retiree memberships up to $1,000 Benefactor memberships across individual and organizational categories) and tax-deductible donations across multiple named funds (unrestricted, Hands Off Our Books, Judith F. Krug Memorial, Gordon M. Conable Memorial, Frank Zappa, and tributes). Distribution is via the FTRF website (ftrf.org), email newsletter, Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky social channels, webinars, ALA conferences, and merchandise through the ALA/Library Gift Shop under the registered "Free People Read Freely" trademark. Financials are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Freedom To Read Foundation

Legal name

Freedom to Read Foundation

Website

https://ftrf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Freedom To Read Foundation is a 55-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit that defends First Amendment rights in libraries through direct litigation, grants to censored librarians, and educational programming for the ALA ecosystem and broader library community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Advocacy and Library Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Media Freedom, Access to Information & Digital Rights (BPADAGAE), Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO)

Keywords

• First amendment advocacy
• Library intellectual freedom
• Banned books defense
• Nonprofit litigation support
• Continuing legal education

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from individual and organizational members at various levels ranging from $10 to $1,000 per year
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations to various funds including unrestricted donations, Hands Off Our Books, Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund, Gordon M. Conable Memorial Fund, Frank Zappa Fund, and tributes

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Freedom to Read Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that defends the First Amendment rights of library users and works to protect intellectual freedom in libraries. It provides financial support for litigation, organizes CLE webinars for librarians and legal professionals, distributes Banned Books Week grants, and offers resources to libraries facing book challenges and censorship efforts.

Product overview

The Freedom to Read Foundation is a non-profit legal and educational organization that operates through three primary activities: litigation support (direct participation in First Amendment court cases and amicus briefs), education (webinars, academic collaborations, and downloadable First Amendment resources), and grants (Conable Conference Scholarship, Holley Fund, Judith Krug Banned Books Week grants, and Roll of Honor awards). The organization does not offer a traditional software product but provides advocacy services, educational programming, and financial support to protect First Amendment rights in libraries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Litigation Support Program Provides financial and legal support for First Amendment cases involving libraries, library users, and intellectual freedom. Targeted at libraries and individuals involved in censorship disputes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participated in hundreds of First Amendment cases since 1969 including landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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.

• American Library Association (ALA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTRF is a non-profit organization affiliated with ALA. Four ALA officers serve as ex-officio trustees on FTRF's Board: President, President-Elect, Executive Director, and Intellectual Freedom Committee chairperson. FTRF works closely with ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom on education, litigation, and advocacy.
• Penguin Random HousecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing supporter co-sponsoring educational events and webinars. Committed to standing against book bans and censorship, believing stories foster empathy and connection.
• PEN AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for digital safety education. Collaborating on workshops addressing doxing defense for librarians and library workers, including 'think like doxers' training and digital safety action plans.
• ALA Office for Intellectual FreedomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint educational webinars on intellectual freedom topics. Co-hosting programs on First Amendment issues, book challenges, and censorship defense for library workers.
• American Association of School Librarians (AASL)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of digital safety webinar for librarians and library workers.
• Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of digital safety webinar for librarians and library workers.
• Public Library Association (PLA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of digital safety webinar for librarians and library workers.
• Central Arkansas Library System (CALS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for educational webinar on 'The Journey of a Book' explaining how the book journey protects First Amendment rights. CALS created educational video used by FTRF.
• National Associations of Librarians of Color (including APALA, BCALA, CALA, AILA, REFORMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint programming on intellectual freedom and social justice, responding to challenges to works by or about persons of color. FTRF leaders collaborating with leaders from library associations representing diverse communities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC): Coalition of 60+ nonprofits including literary, artistic, religious, and educational groups that fights censorship in schools, libraries, and the arts. Directly comparable to FTRF in advocating against book bans and supporting First Amendment rights in library settings.
• Every Library Institute: Library-focused political action and advocacy nonprofit that supports library funding and fights censorship at the local and state level. Comparable mission, narrower focus on policy and electoral advocacy.
• PEN America: Free-expression organization that actively opposes book bans and partners with FTRF on digital safety training for librarians. Highly comparable on First Amendment advocacy, with overlapping donor and member constituencies.
• American Library Association (ALA): Parent trade body for U.S. libraries and the organization that founded FTRF in 1969. Four of FTRF's trustees are ex-officio ALA officers and the two collaborate closely on intellectual freedom education, litigation, and advocacy — making ALA the most direct peer and operational partner.
• ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom: ALA division that tracks book challenges, publishes banned-books data, and runs intellectual freedom education. Operates alongside FTRF as the data-and-resources counterpart to FTRF's litigation focus.

Emerging players

• Comic Book Legal Defense Fund: Nonprofit that protects First Amendment rights of comic book readers, creators, and sellers. Comparable as a niche free-expression legal advocacy organization with a smaller, more specialized community.

Regional players

• Index on Censorship: U.K.-based international free-expression organization publishing on global censorship cases. Comparable mission and advocacy approach, with a transatlantic rather than U.S.-only focus.
• International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA): Global umbrella for library associations that runs an active 'IFLA Statement on Censorship' and intellectual freedom programs. Comparable mission at an international scale, serving as FTRF's global counterpart.

Broad incumbents

• National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE): Professional organization for English-language educators that actively opposes censorship of classroom literature. Comparable intellectual-freedom advocacy aimed at teachers and schools rather than libraries specifically.
• ACLU: Broad incumbent in civil liberties and First Amendment litigation with a much larger footprint. Comparable as a constitutional rights advocate, though ACLU's scope extends well beyond libraries and reading.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/freedomtoread
• Instagraminstagram.com/freedom_to_read_foundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ftrf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Freedom To Read Foundation