named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
100+ Book Homes Initiative
Core program aimed at helping families build home libraries containing at least 100 books to promote childhood literacy and combat book deserts
Big Book Party
Annual event offering free books to children living in shelters, with a focus on joy and community engagement during school breaks such as spring break
Community Book Giveaways
Regular free book distributions at farmers markets, public libraries, health fairs, and community events across NYC for children and youth of all ages
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Library Book Donation Management 2 activities
- Collect and process donated books through a network of drop locations and drivesAccepts donations of new and gently used children's books through multiple public book drop locations across Brooklyn, appointment-based donation services at the Book Hub, and organized book drives—including at Brooklyn Public Library branches. Collects titles in various languages and formats, including foreign language, dual language, and nonfiction books for children and youth aged 0–18.
- Operate a central Book Hub for inventory management and distributionMaintains a Book Hub in Brooklyn where donated books are sorted, stamped, inventoried, and prepared for distribution. Processes book giveaway requests from community members and organizations, arranges pickups, and distributes books either through self-selection or presorted collections based on availability and staffing capacity.
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Children's Book Distribution Programs 2 activities
- Distribute free books to children and families in New York CityOperates book giveaway programs that distribute new, like-new, and gently used children's books to families, educators, and community organizations across NYC, with a focus on building home libraries for children aged 0–18. Distributed over 201,000 free books in 2025 and more than 500,000 books since 2019, including through recurring events such as Community Days and partnerships with Brooklyn Public Library branches.
- Participate in public and charity events to promote literacy and distribute booksServes as an official charity partner in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon and hosts book giveaways at public events such as the East New York Farmers Market and the Trust for Governors Island’s City of Water Day to expand access to books and promote literacy engagement.
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Library Volunteer Coordination & Community Engagement 1 activity
- Engage volunteers and groups in service activities at the Book HubHosts volunteer opportunities for families (ages 10–17 with guardians), students, and group participants from corporate, nonprofit, and school organizations. Offers family volunteer days, group volunteering sessions, and service learning opportunities focused on book sorting and preparation at the Book Hub.
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Early Literacy Promotion 1 activity
- Host family literacy workshops and educational programsRuns structured literacy programs for caregivers and young children, including the I ❤️ MY B😽D📚GA workshop series for families with children ages 0–5, which combines story read-alouds, puppet shows, and caregiver education to support early literacy development. Hosts monthly and cohort-based workshops, with Cohort 2 distributing 1,622 books to 30 families and Cohort 3 enrolling 31 families from February to June 2025.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Collect and use impact data from book distribution partnersRequires community partners who receive books for giveaways to complete a post-event impact form to collect data on distribution outcomes and inform program improvement.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$935K
Contributions & grants$845K90%
Program service revenue$86K9%
Investment income$4K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$668K
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$301K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$582K
Cash$543K
Investments$0
Liabilities$801
Net assets$581K
Liquid reserves9.8 mo
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +48.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| REBECCA COHEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $101K |
| SEEMA AGHERA | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $101K |
board members · 7
- ANALISA BARRETT — BOARD PRESIDENT
- APRIL SOMBOUN — SECRETARY
- KATIE H KNIGHT — BOARD TREASURER
- LOVEENA RAJANAYAKAM — BOARD MEMBER
- MARCIA CLARKE — BOARD MEMBER
- TAMARA JACHIMOWICZ — BOARD MEMBER
- TANYA DIAZ-GOLDSMITH — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 39
Who they work with
- A and J Serenity Fund Funder — Foundation supporter providing grant funding.
- Alan and Vicki Levine Family Foundation Funder — Foundation supporter providing grant funding.
- Apex for Youth Partner — Collaborates with Brooklyn Book Bodega to distribute free books at the 5th Annual Field Day in Sunset Park.
- Apple Hill Fund Funder — Foundation supporter providing grant funding.
- Barbara & Bill Heil Funder — Individual donor providing financial support.
- Bloomerang Partner — Platform used for volunteer registration forms.
- Brooklyn Board of Realtors Partner — Hosts a book drop location for Brooklyn Book Bodega at its office on Village Road N.
- Brooklyn Book Bodega Network — Referred to as a resource for young writers to access reading materials.
- Brooklyn Book Bodega Partner — Hosts public events in partnership with community organizations.
- Brooklyn Navy Yard Partner — Hosts Brooklyn Book Bodega's Book Hub where partners pick up books for distribution.
- Brooklyn Navy Yard Partner — Hosts a book drop location for Brooklyn Book Bodega in Building 77.
- Brooklyn Public Library Partner — Partners with Brooklyn Book Bodega to host book giveaways at multiple branch locations.
- Carl Lesnor Family Foundation Funder — Foundation supporter providing grant funding.
- Children’s Book Council Partner — Collaborates with the Children’s Book Council for recommended book lists to guide home library development.
- Dana Hughes and Melissa Prober Funder — Individual donors providing financial support.
- Disney Partner — Receives book donations through Disney's Magic of Storytelling program.
- East New York Farms! Partner — Collaborates with Brooklyn Book Bodega to distribute free children's books and host activities at the East New York Farmers Market.
- George R.R. Martin Literary Foundation Funder — Foundation supporter providing grant funding.
- Guru Kripa Foundation Partner — Provided funding and support for Brooklyn Book Bodega's Community Day events and I ❤️ MY B😽D📚GA family workshop program.
- Hope Center Development Corporation (HCDC) Partner — Partners with Brooklyn Book Bodega to provide free books at the Brownsville Community Health Expo.
- Mary S. Mulligan Charitable Trust Funder — Trust providing grant funding.
- MetLife Foundation Partner — Partners with MetLife Foundation on initiatives to promote literacy and community engagement.
- Michael and Ellen Jalkut Funder — Individual donors providing financial support.
- Musher Fund Funder — Foundation supporter providing grant funding.
- National Center for Education Statistics Network — Cited as a source for early literacy data and research on poverty and reading access.
- Office of NYC Council Member Shahana Hanif Partner — Hosts a temporary book drop location for Brooklyn Book Bodega through August 27, 2026.
- Old Stone House Partner — Hosts a book drop location for Brooklyn Book Bodega during weekend hours.
- Patrick and Alice Rogers Foundation Funder — Foundation supporter providing grant funding.
- Reading Partners Partner — Collaborates with Reading Partners to increase literacy through joint programming and events.
- South Wind Foundation Funder — Foundation supporter providing grant funding.
+ 9 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Book Access as Public Health Interventionmethodology: book-access-as-public-healthBy treating access to books as a public health intervention, the organization improves long-term outcomes in education, health, and economic mobility because early reading shapes developmental trajectories across multiple domains.
- Client-Choice Book Distributionmethodology: client_choice_modelBy allowing families to choose their own books, the organization increases engagement and reading frequency because autonomy and ownership foster a personal connection to reading materials.
- Family-Based Literacy Engagementmethodology: family-literacy-engagementBy engaging caregivers and children together through interactive activities and home-based strategies, the organization builds sustainable literacy habits because family involvement reinforces reading as a shared, routine practice.
- Windows and Mirrors Literacy Frameworkmethodology: windows-and-mirrors-literacyBy curating book selections that reflect diverse identities and experiences (mirrors) and expose children to others' lives (windows), the organization improves engagement and identity development because representation increases relevance and emotional connection to reading.