Prison Book Program
Prison Book Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 that sends free books and self-help materials to incarcerated people at over 1,000 prisons and jails across all 50 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico, supported entirely by donations and 1,500+ volunteers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersQuincy, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Prison Book Program does
Prison Book Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 and based in the basement of United First Parish Church in Quincy, Massachusetts, that sends free books and self-help materials to incarcerated people in the United States. The organization is an approved book vendor at more than 1,000 prisons and jails across all 50 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico (it does not serve local or state facilities in Texas, Michigan, or California as of 2026). In 2025 it mailed nearly 65,000 books to over 18,500 people, supported by 1,566 volunteers and five paid staff. Requests are submitted by postal mail or via a Microsoft Forms online form completed by family and friends, then fulfilled from donated inventory curated across 60+ nonfiction categories and nearly 30 fiction genres, with dictionaries (3,000+ per year), GED study guides, legal references, and Spanish-language materials as priority items. Each package carries a handwritten volunteer note and address labels with three security features for facility authentication.
The organization's core product is a volunteer-driven mail-fulfillment operation managed via Microsoft Forms (intake), Salesforce/Force.com (volunteer scheduling), and a proprietary facility restrictions database maintained by the Director of Institutional Relations. Self-published content products include the National Prisoner Resource List (a directory of 150+ support organizations, in continuous publication for over 40 years) and the Insider's Guide to Jailhouse Law (a legal reference for pro se filings, launched in 2024 in English and Spanish). A fiscally sponsored project, the Albert Woodfox Memorial Mini-Freedom Libraries, extends the reading mission through physical library installations inside facilities.
Prison Book Program is funded entirely by donations with no charge to recipients. Revenue streams include online donations via ActBlue, donor-advised funds, planned-giving vehicles (bequests, stock, Charitable IRA rollovers, beneficiary designations), book inventory from publishers and wholesalers (notably a 20+ year partnership with Better World Books via its Literacy Fund), and a Spreadshop-powered merchandise store. Distribution is via U.S. Postal Service media mail at an average cost of $6.18 per three-pound package, with no pricing tiers.
Prison Book Program firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Prison Book Program
- Legal name
- Prison Book Program
- Website
- https://prisonbookprogram.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Prison Book Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 that sends free books and self-help materials to incarcerated people at over 1,000 prisons and jails across all 50 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico, supported entirely by donations and 1,500+ volunteers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Prison Book Program industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Prison Literacy Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corrections & Reentry Adult Literacy (Justice-Involved Learners) (EDAAAAAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Adult Corrections (Prisons & Jails) (BPAIAFAD)
Keywords
Where Prison Book Program is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Quincy
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Prison Book Program business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Members of the public donate money to support PBP's operations. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with EIN 20-3235673. Donations can be made online via ActBlue, from donor-advised funds, or by check.
- Planned Giving: PBP accepts bequests (through wills), stock/securities donations, retirement plan asset designations, Charitable IRA rollovers (for donors over 72), and bank/investment account beneficiary designations.
- Book Donations from Publishers and Wholesalers: Publishers and authors donate extra copies and review copies; Better World Books provides sustained support through their Literacy Fund. The Director of Publisher Relations solicits free book donations and negotiates discounts from publishers and book wholesalers.
- Merchandise Sales: PBP operates an official merchandise store (powered by Spreadshop) selling t-shirts, hoodies, hats, mugs, stickers, and other items branded with the Prison Book Program logo. Proceeds support the mission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free books to incarcerated readers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Prison Book Program product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Prison Book Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that sends free books and reading materials to individuals incarcerated in prisons and jails across the United States. Incarcerated readers submit book requests by postal mail or through family/friends using online forms, and trained volunteers fulfill those requests from donated inventory at sessions in Quincy, Massachusetts. The organization also publishes self-help and legal reference guides, including the National Prisoner Resource List and the Insider's Guide to Jailhouse Law, and supports the Albert Woodfox Memorial Mini-Freedom Libraries program.
Product overview
Prison Book Program operates as a single-service nonprofit organization focused on sending free books to incarcerated people. The core offering is the Free Book Distribution Program, which serves as an approved vendor at over 1,000 prisons and jails nationwide. Supporting products include two self-published resource publications: the National Prisoner Resource List (NPRL) and the Insider's Guide to Jailhouse Law, both available in English and Spanish. The Albert Woodfox Memorial Mini-Freedom Libraries extends the reading mission through physical library installations. The organization also runs a volunteer-powered fulfillment operation with sessions at its Quincy, MA location, accepts book donations, and operates a Spreadshop-powered merchandise store. Monetary donations are processed through ActBlue and planned giving vehicles. In 2025, PBP sent nearly 65,000 books to over 18,500 people.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Free Book Distribution Program Core service that mails free books and reading materials to incarcerated individuals at over 1,000 approved prisons and jails in all 50 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Readers submit requests by genre (rather than specific title) and volunteers select matching books from the donated inventory, including dictionaries (the most requested item), GED study guides, fiction, nonfiction, and language materials.
- National Prisoner Resource List (NPRL) Self-published directory listing more than 150 organizations that provide services to incarcerated people, covering family support, legal help, health information, research assistance, and educational services. Distributed free to incarcerated readers and available in English and Spanish.
- Insider's Guide to Jailhouse Law Comprehensive legal reference publication covering the U.S. legal system, rights of incarcerated people, instructions for filing legal documents pro se, a legal dictionary, parole hearing templates, and lists of legal assistance organizations. Available free in English and Spanish.
- Albert Woodfox Memorial Mini-Freedom Libraries (AWMMFL) Fiscally sponsored project of Prison Book Program, led by Calvin Arey, that establishes and maintains mini-freedom libraries inside correctional facilities to expand access to reading materials for incarcerated individuals.
- Prison Book Program Merchandise Store Online store selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, mugs, stickers, bags, and accessories. Powered by Spreadshop/Spreadshirt with proceeds supporting the organization's free book mission.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 65,000 books sent to 18,500+ people in over 1,000 facilities in 2025
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Prison Book Program
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Prison Book Program technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature3 records
Prison Book Program partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Better World BookscoreBetter World Books has been a vital and trusted partner to PBP for more than two decades. As a certified B corporation, BWB shares PBP's belief that everyone should have access to books. Through their Literacy Fund, BWB has provided generous and sustained support to PBP and hundreds of other nonprofits. PBP maintains a wish list on the BWB platform.
- Brookline BooksmithminorBrookline Booksmith maintains a wish list for Prison Book Program on Bookshop.org, enabling customers to purchase books that are directly donated to PBP.
- All She WroteminorAll She Wrote maintains a wish list on Bookshop.org for PBP, enabling book purchases that support the organization's mission.
- Frugal BookstoreminorFrugal Bookstore maintains a wish list on Bookshop.org for Prison Book Program.
- Harvard Book StoreminorHarvard Book Store maintains a wish list on its platform for Prison Book Program.
- Porter Square BooksminorPorter Square Books maintains a wish list on Bookshop.org for PBP.
- Read My LipsminorRead My Lips maintains a wish list on Bookshop.org for Prison Book Program.
- Side Quest BooksminorSide Quest Books maintains a wish list on Bookshop.org for Prison Book Program.
- Wellesley BooksminorWellesley Books maintains a wish list for Prison Book Program.
- Million Year PicnicminorMillion Year Picnic (in-store purchases only) supports Prison Book Program through wish list sales.
- United First Parish Church (Quincy, MA)corePBP operates from the basement of United First Parish Church (the 'Church of the Presidents') in Quincy Center. The church provides the physical space for volunteer sessions, book storage, and operations. This is a long-term arrangement that enables PBP's operations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Prison Book Program competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Books Through Bars: Books Through Bars is a network of volunteer-powered chapters that send free books to incarcerated people across the U.S. It is one of the closest direct peers to Prison Book Program in mission, volunteer-driven model, and book-mail fulfillment process.
- Midwest Books for Prisoners: Midwest Books for Prisoners is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit that distributes free books and reading materials to incarcerated individuals. Its direct-mail, donor-supported model and reliance on volunteers closely mirror PBP's operating approach.
- Inside Books Project: Inside Books Project is an Austin-based nonprofit that sends free books to people in Texas prisons. While Texas is excluded from PBP's reach, Inside Books fills the same role for incarcerated readers in that state, making it a directly comparable book-to-prisoners peer.
- Books to Prisoners: Books to Prisoners is a Seattle-based volunteer program that sends free books to incarcerated people nationwide. Its volunteer-staffed sessions and direct-mail fulfillment are operationally equivalent to PBP.
- Appalachian Prison Book Project: Appalachian Prison Book Project sends free books to people incarcerated in Appalachian-region prisons. Its volunteer-powered, donation-funded book-mail model directly parallels Prison Book Program's operations.
- Prison Books Collective: Prison Books Collective is a Radical-rooted volunteer group based in the Bay Area that sends free books to prisoners. It shares PBP's mailed-book fulfillment and political-solidarity framing.
- Liberation Library: Liberation Library is a Chicago-based nonprofit that sends free books to youth in detention. Its volunteer-driven, donation-funded book-mail model directly mirrors PBP's adult-prisoner equivalent.
Emerging players
- Black & Pink: Black & Pink is a nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ incarcerated people with pen-pal correspondence, resource guides, and advocacy. It overlaps PBP's incarcerated-services focus with a narrower audience and an added advocacy mission.
Others
- American Prison Data Systems: American Prison Data Systems provides free educational tablets to incarcerated people. It is an adjacent, enabling technology provider to the same end-users PBP serves, and a PBP board member works there.
- The Sentencing Project: The Sentencing Project is a national criminal-justice research and advocacy nonprofit. While not a book-distribution peer, it operates in the same broader criminal-justice reform ecosystem and shares the donor/constituency base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Prison Book Program social profiles
Digital presencePrison Book Program financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Prison Book Program leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Prison Book Program subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Prison Book Program funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Prison Book Program 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 Prison Book Program
What does Prison Book Program do?
Prison Book Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that sends free books and reading materials to individuals incarcerated in prisons and jails across the United States. Incarcerated readers submit book requests by postal mail or through family/friends using online forms, and trained volunteers fulfill those requests from donated inventory at sessions in Quincy, Massachusetts. The organization also publishes self-help and legal reference guides, including the National Prisoner Resource List and the Insider's Guide to Jailhouse Law, and supports the Albert Woodfox Memorial Mini-Freedom Libraries program.
Is Prison Book Program a public or private company?
Prison Book Program is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Prison Book Program founded?
Prison Book Program was founded in 1972. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Prison Book Program based?
Prison Book Program is headquartered in Quincy, United States, in the North America region.
How does Prison Book Program make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are planned Giving, book Donations from Publishers and Wholesalers and merchandise Sales.
Who are Prison Book Program's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Books Through Bars, Midwest Books for Prisoners, Inside Books Project, Books to Prisoners, Appalachian Prison Book Project, Prison Books Collective and Liberation Library. Black & Pink is listed as an emerging player. Others are American Prison Data Systems and The Sentencing Project.
Does Prison Book Program have an API?
No public API is recorded for Prison Book Program.
What industry is Prison Book Program in?
Prison Book Program's product category is Prison Literacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAAAL, Corrections & Reentry Adult Literacy (Justice-Involved Learners), with a secondary code of BPAIAFAD, Adult Corrections (Prisons & Jails). Its NAICS code is 611710.