We Need Diverse Books
We Need Diverse Books is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that supports marginalized creators and promotes diversity across children's publishing through grants, mentorship, awards, advocacy, and direct book donations to schools and libraries nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersBethesda, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What We Need Diverse Books does
We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 in Bethesda, Maryland (mailing address in Frederick, MD), that operates across the entire publishing pipeline to increase representation of marginalized voices in children's and young adult literature. The organization originated as a viral social media hashtag during BookCon 2014 and has since grown into a nationally recognized nonprofit with 1-10 employees supporting programs spanning creator development (Walter Dean Myers Grants, Mentorship Program, Native Writing Intensive, Black Creatives Fund/Revision Workshop), workforce diversification (Internship Grants Program serving 150+ students), public recognition (Walter Dean Myers Awards, Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards), and direct reader outreach (WNDB in the Classroom donating 110,000+ books to schools and libraries across all 50 states, plus the Books Save Lives advocacy initiative combating book censorship).
WNDB's product portfolio consists of grant programs, awards, mentorship cohorts, workshops, book donation drives, and advocacy campaigns rather than technology products. The organization's underlying technical footprint is minimal, limited to a Squarespace-hosted website (diversebooks.org) integrated with Google Analytics and Mailchimp for email communications, and a Bonfire-hosted merchandise store. Strategic value is created through programmatic curation and convening power rather than technology infrastructure.
The business model is donation-dependent: revenue streams comprise individual one-time and monthly recurring donations ("Story Defenders" program with tiers ranging from $10 to $10,000), corporate and foundation grants (including core partners Penguin Random House, Estée Lauder, HarperCollins, and Scholastic), and merchandise sales through Bonfire. Programs are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries, with go-to-market executed via community-led grassroots engagement, event-driven programming (Walter Awards ceremony, LA Times Festival of Books panels), and direct-to-consumer fundraising. Customer/beneficiary segments include K-12 educators and students at low-income schools, marginalized writers/illustrators, aspiring publishing professionals, and general readers advocating against censorship.
We Need Diverse Books firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- We Need Diverse Books
- Legal name
- We Need Diverse Books
- Website
- https://diversebooks.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- We Need Diverse Books is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that supports marginalized creators and promotes diversity across children's publishing through grants, mentorship, awards, advocacy, and direct book donations to schools and libraries nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
We Need Diverse Books industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Literary Advocacy Nonprofit
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Other Publishers (51319)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Literature & Book Clubs / Guided Reading Groups (EDAMAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Children’s Nonfiction Publishing (MPAJAFAE), Foundational Reading & Writing Literacy (EDAAAAAA)
Keywords
Where We Need Diverse Books is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bethesda
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
We Need Diverse Books business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute one-time or recurring monthly gifts (Story Defenders program) to support WNDB's mission of promoting diverse literature and supporting marginalized creators.
- Corporate and Foundation Grants: Corporate partners and foundations provide grant funding for specific programs such as internship grants, writing awards, and workshop programs.
- Merchandise Sales: WNDB operates an online store through Bonfire for merchandise sales including stickers, bookmarks, and branded items.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | $10 donation - provides one diverse book to a student |
| Other | Monthly | $25 donation - Bookish Care Package for LGBTQ+ teen |
| Other | Monthly | $50 donation - bundle of bilingual or graphic novels to a classroom |
| Other | Monthly | $100 donation - diverse books and curriculum materials for educators |
| Other | Monthly | $500 donation - Emergency Grant for diverse creator or sponsorship of Native author |
| Other | Monthly | $2,000 donation - Walter Dean Myers Grant for marginalized creator |
| Other | Monthly | $3,000 donation - Internship Grant for future publishing professional |
| Other | Monthly | $10,000 donation - Adopt a School Library program |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
We Need Diverse Books product offering
Product offeringCore offering
We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advocates for greater diversity in the publishing industry. It runs educational programs, awards, grants, and mentorship initiatives that support underrepresented authors, illustrators, and readers—particularly in children's and young adult literature. The organization also sells branded merchandise to fund its mission.
Product overview
We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that takes a holistic approach to improving literacy and building compassion by affecting change across the entire reading pipeline. Founded in 2014, WNDB supports marginalized creators through multiple interconnected programs: grant programs (Internship Grants, Walter Dean Myers Grants, Emergency Fund, Educator Grants), writing programs (Mentorship Program, Black Creatives Fund/Revision Workshop, Native Writing Intensive), award programs (Walter Dean Myers Awards, Creative Writing Awards), and direct reader outreach (WNDB in the Classroom, Books Save Lives initiative). These programs work together to transform diverse manuscripts into published books and donate diverse titles to readers nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Walter Dean Myers Awards Annual literary awards that recognize outstanding diverse authors and illustrators of young adult and children's literature, supporting marginalized voices in publishing.
- Internship Grants Financial grants awarded to individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to support publishing internships, helping to diversify the publishing workforce.
- Books Save Lives Initiative Program focused on increasing access to diverse books for underserved communities and promoting literacy through reading.
- WNDB in the Classroom Educational program providing educators with resources, lesson plans, and diverse book recommendations to use in K-12 classroom settings.
- Black Creatives Fund Funding program providing grants and resources specifically for Black creators, authors, and illustrators in publishing and related creative fields.
- Creative Writing Awards Awards program recognizing emerging diverse writers of children's and young adult literature through cash prizes and publication opportunities.
- Mentorship Programs Mentorship initiatives pairing established publishing professionals with aspiring diverse authors, illustrators, and publishing industry entrants.
- WNDB Merchandise Branded merchandise (apparel, accessories, and print materials) sold through the organization's website to raise funds for its programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 110,000+ diverse books donated to schools and libraries across all 50 states
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use We Need Diverse Books
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
We Need Diverse Books technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
We Need Diverse Books partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Penguin Random HousecoreFlagship partnership for the Creative Writing Awards program providing $60,000 in scholarships to six high school seniors. Also co-sponsors the Black Creatives Fund including the Revisions Workshop program. Additional career programming provided for internship grant recipients.
- Reese's Book ClubminorCollaborated with Reese's Book Club to support programs assisting diverse creators and help distribute diverse books to readers.
- Fisher PriceminorPartner helping to distribute thousands of diverse books to schools through WNDB's classroom programs.
- ScholasticminorPartner in distributing diverse books to schools and supporting literacy initiatives across the United States.
- Library of CongresscoreCo-host of the annual Symposium on Diversity in Children's Literature, bringing together industry professionals, authors, and advocates to discuss diversity in publishing.
- Penguin Random HousecoreInaugural sponsor of the Black Creatives Fund, which supports emerging and established Black writers and illustrators through revision workshops and manuscript development programs.
- Barefoot BooksminorChildren's publishing partner for the Internship Grant program, hosting diverse interns in their publishing operations.
- Candlewick PressminorChildren's publishing partner for the Internship Grant program, hosting diverse interns in their publishing operations.
- MacmillanminorChildren's and adult publishing partner for the Internship Grant program, hosting diverse interns across multiple imprints.
- Simon & SchusterminorChildren's and adult publishing partner for the Internship Grant program, hosting diverse interns in their publishing operations.
- Hachette Book GroupminorChildren's and adult publishing partner for the Internship Grant program, hosting diverse interns in their publishing operations.
- Beacon PressminorAdult publishing partner for the Internship Grant program, hosting diverse interns in their publishing operations.
- InkWell Management Literary AgencyminorLiterary agency partner for the Internship Grant program, hosting diverse interns focused on adult publishing.
- HarperCollinscorePartnership through the Heartdrum imprint focused on publishing Native books by Native authors. WNDB has also worked with HarperCollins on various initiatives to distribute diverse books.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
We Need Diverse Books competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- First Book: National 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free and low-cost books to children in underserved schools and programs; directly comparable nonprofit literacy/book-access mission to WNDB's WNDB in the Classroom program.
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Global book-gifting nonprofit mailing free books monthly to children from birth to age five; broadly comparable nonprofit literacy/book distribution model and donor-funded mission.
- Reading Is Fundamental: Long-standing children's literacy nonprofit distributing books and literacy resources to schools nationwide; closely comparable nonprofit, donation-funded, K–12 book access mission similar to WNDB.
- Lee & Low Books: Independent children's book publisher specializing in multicultural and diverse titles; directly comparable diverse children's publishing mission and operates the New Voices Award for writers of color, overlapping with WNDB's Walter Dean Myers Awards.
Others
- PEN America: Literary and free expression advocacy nonprofit; comparable adjacent advocacy on book bans and freedom to read, complementing WNDB's Books Save Lives initiative with litigation and policy capabilities.
- American Library Association: Largest U.S. library association and the primary trade body for librarians administering diverse book collections; stakeholder and adjacent body that awards the Newbery Medal won by a WNDB mentee and amplifies WNDB's mission through its diversity initiatives.
Emerging players
- Diverse BookFinder: Nonprofit research/database project cataloging children's books featuring people of color and other underrepresented groups; comparable adjacent nonprofit infrastructure focused on diverse-book discoverability and cataloging.
- HarperCollins Heartdrum imprint: HarperCollins imprint focused on Native-authored children's books by Native creators; WNDB's named partner and most directly aligned commercial publishing counterpart operating in the same diverse-children's niche.
Broad incumbents
- Penguin Random House (DEI Initiatives): Largest trade publisher and WNDB's flagship creative-writing-awards and Black Creatives Fund partner; operates across the entire children's/adult publishing industry and complements WNDB as both funder and distribution channel.
- Candlewick Press: Major independent children's book publisher and WNDB Internship Grant host; operates broadly in the children's publishing space with overlapping diversity goals but as a commercial publisher rather than nonprofit.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
We Need Diverse Books social profiles
Digital presenceWe Need Diverse Books compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
We Need Diverse Books financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
We Need Diverse Books leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
We Need Diverse Books subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
We Need Diverse Books funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
We Need Diverse Books M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about We Need Diverse Books
What does We Need Diverse Books do?
We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advocates for greater diversity in the publishing industry. It runs educational programs, awards, grants, and mentorship initiatives that support underrepresented authors, illustrators, and readers—particularly in children's and young adult literature. The organization also sells branded merchandise to fund its mission.
Is We Need Diverse Books a public or private company?
We Need Diverse Books is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was We Need Diverse Books founded?
We Need Diverse Books was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is We Need Diverse Books based?
We Need Diverse Books is headquartered in Bethesda, United States, in the North America region.
How does We Need Diverse Books make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Foundation Grants and merchandise Sales.
Who are We Need Diverse Books's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are First Book, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Reading Is Fundamental and Lee & Low Books. Others are PEN America and American Library Association. Emerging players are Diverse BookFinder and HarperCollins Heartdrum imprint. Broad incumbents are Penguin Random House (DEI Initiatives) and Candlewick Press.
Does We Need Diverse Books have an API?
No public API is recorded for We Need Diverse Books.
What industry is We Need Diverse Books in?
We Need Diverse Books's product category is Literary Advocacy Nonprofit. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAJAG, Literature & Book Clubs / Guided Reading Groups, with a secondary code of MPAJAFAE, Children’s Nonfiction Publishing. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.