Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators

Name

Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators

Legal name

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

Website

https://scbwi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Membership Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMAJAO

Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Reading, Writing & Literacy Enrichment

Keywords

• Children's book publishing
• Writer illustrator community
• Manuscript critique services
• Literary industry networking
• Regional chapter events

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees charged on the first day of the membership period, granting access to all member benefits for one calendar year. Each membership auto-renews until terminated by the member. Membership is non-cancellable and non-refundable except within seven days of payment.
2. Event Registration Fees: Fees charged for annual conferences (Summer Conference, Winter Conference in New York City), regional in-person events, regional virtual events, webinars, workshops, retreats, and critique sessions. Pricing varies by event and membership status.
3. Member Bookstore and Merchandise Sales: SCBWI-branded merchandise (water bottles, sweatshirts, t-shirts) sold via print-on-demand provider Printify. Member books sold through the Member Bookstore. SCBWI also maintains a Bookshop.org affiliate page.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SCBWI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that provides resources, professional networking, and community-building opportunities to support children's book writers, illustrators, and translators throughout their careers. Core offerings include annual memberships, virtual and in-person conferences (Summer Conference and Winter Conference in New York City), regional chapter events, peer-voted Golden Kite and Crystal Kite Awards, the Essential Guide to Publishing for Children, the Illustrator Gallery, and the Member Bookstore.

Product overview

SCBWI operates as a membership-based nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive platform for children's book writers, illustrators, and translators. The core offering centers on SCBWI Membership, which provides access to an extensive suite of products including The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children (a comprehensive industry resource), the Illustrator Gallery (portfolio showcase platform), the Member Bookstore, SCBWI Podcast, Official Blog, INSIGHT and LA COMETA newsletters, Awards and Grants programs, and Self-Publishing Resources. The organization also hosts major annual events including the Virtual Summer Conference, Annual Winter Conference (in-person in NYC), and Virtual Winter Conference. Regional chapters worldwide offer virtual and in-person events including workshops, critiques, and networking opportunities. Additional offerings include the Featured Illustrator program, DrawThis art challenge, and Discussion Boards (currently offline). The platform architecture is web-based with no public API, and focuses on community-building and professional development rather than technical integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SCBWI Discussion Board: The online forum for SCBWI members, formerly known as the 'Blueboard', offering critiques, craft discussions, and networking opportunities.

Products and services

• SCBWI Membership
• Annual Summer Conference (Virtual)
• Annual Winter Conference (In-Person, New York City)
• Virtual Winter Conference
• Regional Events and Retreats
• Golden Kite Awards
• Crystal Kite Awards
• Bologna Scholarship
• Golden Kite Award for Translation
• The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children
• Self-Publishing Resources
• Illustrator Gallery
• Member Bookstore
• SCBWI Branded Merchandise
• Tomie dePaola Mentorship Award and Winter Portfolio Showcase
• SCBWI at Bookshop.org

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 books submitted annually to the Golden Kite Awards
• +3 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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Authors Coalition of AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Authors Coalition of America sponsors SCBWI panels, webinars, and regional events. It provides grant funding that makes events such as the Doodles & Drafts virtual event and the From Concept to Career webinar series possible. The Authors Coalition of America also sponsors the SCBWI Blog and Podcast.
• Bologna Children's Book FaircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCBWI maintains an annual presence at the Bologna Children's Book Fair with a dedicated booth featuring free events, networking opportunities, and industry gatherings. SCBWI also awards an annual Bologna Scholarship that provides the winner with a ticket to the fair, travel fare, and accommodation stipend, with portfolio display opportunities at the SCBWI industry party.
• Bookshop.orgminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSCBWI has an official Bookshop.org page featuring books by SCBWI award winners and conference faculty. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores globally, and this partnership allows members to reach readers while supporting the independent book trade.
• Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCBWI provides Premium Members with access to ALLi's Watchdog Ratings Database (flagging unethical self-publishing service providers), the Self Publishing Services Directory (vetted editors, designers, publishers, publicity services), and The Indie Author membership magazine—all exclusive to Premium Members.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationStripe provides payment processing services for SCBWI's website, including membership fees, event registrations, and merchandise purchases. Third-party cookies (__stripe_mid, __stripe_sid) are used to monitor for potentially harmful or illegal use of Stripe services.
• ZendeskcoreTechnology or IntegrationZendesk provides live chat functionality on SCBWI's website, enabling members to contact member services. The __zlcmid cookie stores the visitor's identity across visits and the visitor's preference to disable the live chat feature.
• 577 FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 577 Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community arts and nature center in Perrysburg, Ohio, serving as the venue for the SCBWI Ohio North Skipping Stones Writers and Illustrators Retreat. The historic estate provides unique creative environments for writing and illustrating.
• Hilton Garden Inn Toledo/Perrysburg Levis CommonsminorOthersPreferred lodging partner for the Skipping Stones Retreat. Room block rate of $129/night (single occupancy, standard king) is offered to retreat attendees. SCBWI Ohio North has a designated room block through August 28, 2026.
• Boulder BookstoreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBoulder Bookstore manages the conference bookstore at the Letters & Lines 2026 conference in Colorado, carrying one book per registered attendee who submits the required form before the deadline.
• Organic Roots CateringminorOthersOrganic Roots provides catering services for the Letters & Lines 2026 conference, providing lunch and beverages on Saturday and Sunday, and dessert during the Book Birthday Bash.
• Green Center and Marquez Hall (Colorado School of Mines)minorOthersThe Green Center at Colorado School of Mines hosts registration, keynotes, panels, and the Book Birthday Bash. Marquez Hall hosts breakout sessions, optional intensives, and critiques. Both are adjacent buildings on the Colorado School of Mines campus in Golden, Colorado.
• Hotel GarberminorOthersHistoric hotel venue in Red Cloud, Nebraska, serving as the location for the SCBWI Nebraska Fall Retreat. Attendees book their own rooms. The venue is associated with Willa Cather literary heritage.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Authors Guild: The oldest and largest professional organization for published writers in the United States, providing advocacy, contracts support, and member services. Directly comparable as a writer-focused professional membership association with a similar advocacy, education, and community model.
• Mystery Writers of America: A professional membership organization for mystery/crime writers, best known for the Edgar Awards. Directly comparable as a category-specific writer association offering annual conferences, peer-voted awards, regional events, and member benefits analogous to SCBWI.
• Romance Writers of America: A professional trade organization for romance writers offering conferences, awards (RITA), critique services, and networking. Comparable as a genre-specific writer membership organization with similar event-, awards-, and community-driven value proposition.
• Society of Authors (UK): A UK-based professional membership organization for writers, illustrators, and literary translators offering advocacy, contract advice, events, and grants. Highly comparable structure to SCBWI, with particular overlap on the illustrator and translator member services that SCBWI's English and European chapters also serve.
• Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA): A professional membership organization for science fiction and fantasy writers. Closely comparable structure: genre-specific, membership-funded, runs prestigious awards (Nebula), conferences, advocacy, and community programs aimed at supporting working and aspiring creators.
• Society of Illustrators: A professional membership organization dedicated to illustrators, including those working in children's books, editorial, and advertising. Directly comparable as a member-funded professional association providing portfolio visibility, awards, events, and community for visual creators.
• Children's Book Council: The trade association of the US children's book industry, representing publishers. Comparable as the publisher-side counterpart to SCBWI: same children's book category, overlapping awards visibility (CBC showcases), events (such as Children's Book Week), and member programs.
• Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA): A nonprofit trade association for independent book publishers offering member benefits, education, awards (IBPA Book Award), and advocacy. Comparable as a membership-funded association supporting creators/publishers with educational resources, community, and industry recognition.

Broad incumbents

• Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP): A larger professional organization serving writers, writing programs, and literary centers across academia and creative writing. Comparable as a writer-membership organization hosting a major annual conference, awards, and community programs, though broader in scope (academic creative writing) than SCBWI's narrow children's book focus.

Emerging players

• National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE): A professional organization for English/language arts educators with mission overlap on literacy and writing pedagogy. While not a direct competitor to SCBWI, it shares the children's literacy / writing community space and offers conferences, awards, and member programs relevant to writing-focused educators who advise aspiring creators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@theSCBWI/featured
• Xx.com/scbwi
• Facebookfacebook.com/SCBWI

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators