named programs · 1 · from sources
What they call their work
Science + Literature
Identifies three books annually that deepen public understanding of science and technology, with a focus on diverse voices. Selected authors receive a $10,000 prize and are featured in national programming.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
-
Psychoanalytic and Therapeutic Training Support 1 activity
- Award monetary prizes to special honoreesProvides a $10,000 prize to recipients of the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters and the Literarian Award in recognition of their lifetime contributions to American letters and literacy.
-
-
General Operating Support Grants 1 activity
- Fund capacity-building for literary nonprofitsProvides grants to nonprofit literary arts organizations to support organizational sustainability and effectiveness through capacity-building initiatives such as fundraising, financial management, marketing, strategic planning, diversity and equity efforts, leadership development, staff and board training, sabbaticals, and succession planning; awarded $365,000 in grants to 47 organizations in 2024, with individual grants of $5,000 or $10,000.
-
-
Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Honor distinguished literary contributorsPresents the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters and the Literarian Award annually to individuals who have enriched American literary heritage or expanded audiences for books and reading through a lifetime of achievement.
-
-
Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Host livestreamed awards ceremonies and eventsHosts and livestreams major events including the National Book Awards Ceremony and other honorific events (e.g., 5 Under 35) on its website and YouTube channel to expand public access and audience engagement.
-
-
Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Host public author programs nationwideOrganizes an annual calendar of public literary programs featuring National Book Award–honored authors and other renowned writers at book festivals, libraries, colleges, and cultural centers across the U.S., including panel discussions, readings, and live conversations.
-
-
Prison and Jail Literacy Support 1 activity
- Organize prison literary engagement initiativesRuns a six-state prison tour featuring the Inside Literary Prize, which involves incarcerated individuals as judges in a literary award process to promote reading and literary engagement within correctional facilities.
-
-
Literary Publishing and Support Programs 1 activity
- Present Science + Literature ProgramIdentifies three books annually that bridge science and literature, grounded in real scientific research, with a focus on diverse voices; supports authors through a $10,000 prize, a public ceremony in New York, and national programming, informed by recommendations from science and literary professionals across the U.S.
-
-
Uncategorized 3 activities
- Administer National Book AwardsAdministers the annual National Book Awards, recognizing excellence in American writing across five literary categories by selecting longlists, finalists, and winners. The program includes public events such as finalist readings, a ceremony and benefit dinner, and awards each winner $10,000 and a bronze sculpture.
- Provide medallions and digital rights for honored booksMakes medallion stickers and digital image licenses available for books honored by the National Book Awards—including Longlisted titles, Finalists, Winners, 5 Under 35 honorees, and recipients of special awards—and offers medallions for over 2,000 backlist titles.
- Recognize promising debut fiction writersSelects and honors five debut fiction writers under the age of 35 annually for their literary promise, hosting a public ceremony in New York featuring readings by honorees, introductions by prior NBF honorees, and awarding each with a $1,250 prize.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.89M
Contributions & grants$2.19M76%
Program service revenue$566K20%
Investment income$130K4%
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$3.27M
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$1.42M
Grants paid out$470K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$5.49M
Cash$1.21M
Investments$3.71M
Liabilities$319K
Net assets$5.17M
Liquid reserves18.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -7.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUTH DICKEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $291K |
| MARGARET TANSEY | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $150K |
board members · 23
- AMANDEEP KOCHAR — BOARD MEMBER
- ANTHONY W MARX — BOARD MEMBER
- CALVIN SIMS — SECRETARY
- CHARLES YU — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID STEINBERGER — BOARD CHAIR
- DEBORAH NEEDLEMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- ELPIDIO VILLARREAL — BOARD TREASURER
- FIONA MCCRAE — BOARD VICE CHAIR
- JAHM NAJAFI — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMES DAUNT — BOARD MEMBER
- JONATHAN KARP — BOARD MEMBER
- JONATHAN YAGED — BOARD MEMBER
- JULIA A REIDHEAD — BOARD MEMBER
- KENNETH L WALLACH — BOARD MEMBER
- KIMBALL HASTINGS — BOARD MEMBER
- LISA LUCAS — BOARD MEMBER
- LUCIA FERREIRA — BOARD MEMBER
- MARKUS DOHLE — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHELLE WEINER — BOARD MEMBER
- MORGAN ENTREKIN — BOARD MEMBER
- PEGGY KOENIG — BOARD MEMBER
- QUANG BAO — BOARD MEMBER
- SAMIRA NASR — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- 5 Under 35 Network — Program associated with the National Book Foundation that highlights emerging writers.
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Funder — Primary funder of the Science + Literature program.
- Amazon Literary Partnership Funder — Supports the 5 Under 35 program financially.
- Art Spiegelman Network — Recipient of the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
- Barbara Kingsolver Network — Recipient of the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
- Beowulf Sheehan Partner — Photographer credited for the 2025 National Book Awards Winners photo.
- Books Are Magic Partner — Provides on-site book sales at the 5 Under 35 Ceremony.
- Carolyn Reidy Network — Recipient of the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community
- Community of Literary Magazines and Presses Partner — Co-hosted an information session about the Capacity-Building Grant Program
- Dick Robinson Network — Recipient of the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community
- Edmund White Network — Recipient of the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
- Erika Hattori Partner — Contact person for medallion orders and pricing inquiries at the National Book Foundation.
- George Saunders Partner — Recognized as the 2025 Distinguished Contribution to American Letters honoree.
- Hawthornden Foundation Funder — Primary funder of the Capacity-Building Grant Program
- Jefferson Market Library Partner — Hosted the Notes from the Reading Life event featuring Tim Gunn and Min Jin Lee
- Karen Tei Yamashita Network — Recipient of the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
- Nancy Pearl Network — Recipient of the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community
- Oren Teicher Network — Recipient of the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community
- Past National Book Award Finalists Network — Nominates judges for the National Book Awards.
- Past National Book Award Judges Network — Nominates judges for the National Book Awards.
- Past National Book Award Winners Network — Nominates judges for the National Book Awards.
- Paul Yamazaki Network — Recipient of the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community
- Reading Rhythms Partner — Co-presents the Summer Reading Adventures event with the National Book Foundation.
- Rita Dove Network — Recipient of the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
- Scientific and literary experts Partner — Committee members who guide the selection of books for the Science + Literature program.
- Tracie D. Hall Network — Recipient of the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community
- W. Paul Coates Network — Recipient of the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community
- Walter Mosley Network — Recipient of the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
- YouTube Partner — Partners with YouTube to livestream the National Book Awards ceremony.
strategies · 5
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.
- Capacity Building in the Literary Ecosystemmethodology: organizational capacity-buildingBy funding nonprofit literary organizations to strengthen their operational and programmatic capabilities, the Foundation increases equity and sustainability across the sector, because resilient organizations can better serve readers and writers.
- Cultural Recognition and Audience Expansionmethodology: culture-promotion-through-literary-celebrationBy celebrating the best American literature through prestigious awards and public recognition, the organization expands audience engagement and strengthens the cultural value of writing, because visibility and honor激励 broader public participation in literary culture.
- Dialogic Engagement Between Authors and Communitiesmethodology: author-audience_dialogueBy creating structured spaces for dialogue between authors and diverse audiences, the organization deepens public engagement with literature, because direct interaction fosters connection, accessibility, and relevance across communities.
- Independent Literary Judgment as Credibility Mechanismmethodology: independent-judgmentBy empowering independent expert panels to select award winners without institutional interference, the Foundation ensures the integrity and legitimacy of its recognitions, because perceived autonomy enhances trust and prestige in the literary community.
- Literature as a Bridge to Science Engagementmethodology: literature-as-science-engagementBy curating and promoting literary works grounded in science, especially those amplifying underrepresented voices, the organization fosters public discourse on scientific ideas, because narrative makes complex knowledge accessible and culturally resonant.