named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Contributors Program
Platform featuring profiles and works of international writers and translators
Words Without Borders Magazine
Online literary magazine publishing translated fiction, poetry, and essays from around the world
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Literary and Cultural Publishing 3 activities
- Provides curated reading recommendations in translationPublishes curated reading recommendations of newly released books in translation, including specialized lists for children’s and young adult literature from around the world.
- Publishes anthologies of international literature in English translationPublishes anthologies of international literature through partnerships with other publishers, including themed collections such as 'Literature from the “Axis of Evil,”' 'Tablet & Pen,' and anniversary volumes featuring works from over 20 countries and multiple languages.
- Translates and publishes contemporary world literatureTranslates, publishes, and promotes contemporary world literature from around the globe through a digital magazine, publishing daily content including fiction, essays, reportage, poetry, criticism, and interviews. Maintains a freely accessible online archive of over 12,000 pieces of international literature in English translation.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 2 activities
- Recognizes contributions to international literature through awardsRecognizes individuals who have advanced international literature in English translation through the annual Ottaway Award, presented at the Words Without Borders Gala in New York City.
- Recognizes literary translators through public tributesRecognizes influential literary translators through public tributes and award coverage to elevate the visibility and impact of translation in global literature.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Awards grants to early-career translatorsFunds early-career translators through Momentum Grants to support works in translation.
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Literary Publishing and Support Programs 1 activity
- Compensates and supports authors and translatorsPays authors and translators for their work, ensuring equal payments and that translators retain copyright. Pays $150 per 1,000 words for fiction and nonfiction (capped at $350), $50–75 for poems, $175 for interviews and reviews, and $300 for themed features.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Organizes public events featuring international authors and translatorsOrganizes free annual virtual and in-person events, including the Words Without Borders Gala in New York City, to celebrate global literature and facilitate engagement between readers, authors, translators, and critics. Also curates spoken word events such as Speaky Spokey in Brighton.
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Storytelling and Literacy Resource Development 1 activity
- Supports educators with global literature resources through WWB CampusConnects students and educators to global literature through WWB Campus by providing classroom-ready stories, multimedia curricular resources, and professional support for educators. Delivers global literature to hundreds of classrooms with free access to translated works and teaching materials.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$756K
Contributions & grants$733K97%
Program service revenue$21K3%
Investment income$670%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$764K
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising17%
Salaries & benefits$537K
Grants paid out$3K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$405K
Cash$300K
Investments$0
Liabilities$46K
Net assets$359K
Liquid reserves4.7 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -15.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karen M Phillips | Executive Director (Resigned - August 31, 2024) | 35 | $60K |
| Elisabeth Jaquette | Executive Director | 35 | $34K |
board members · 20
- Agnes Ahlander Turner — Director
- Alane Salierno Mason — Director
- Alessandro dAnsembourg — Secretary
- Anthony Knerr — Director
- Calvin Baker — Director (Removed - June 2, 2025)
- Chantal Restivo-Alessi — Director
- Douglas Unger — Director
- Enid Prasad — Director
- James H Ottaway Jr — Director
- Jennifer Lemmon — Director
- Jenny Staff Johnson — Director
- Joanne Leedom-Ackerman — Director
- Kalpana Raina — Vice-Chair
- Maaza Mengiste — Director
- Margo Viscusi — Director
- Rebecca Servadio — Director
- Samantha Schnee — Chair
- Sarah Salih von Maltzahn — Director (Resigned - June 2, 2025)
- Tara Parsons — Director
- Wim Vanderhoof — Treasurer
relationships · 57
Who they work with
- Anchor Books Partner — Co-published the anthology 'Words Without Borders: The World through the Eyes of Writers'
- Apple Books Partner — Supported the 2023 WWB Gala as a Publishing Champion
- CLMP Partner — Awarded Words Without Borders the 2024 Firecracker Award for General Excellence, Magazine
- Columbia Journal Partner — Provides photo essays and multimedia content on daily life in Haiti for educational and contextual use alongside published literature.
- Curtis Brown Partner — Supported the 2023 WWB Gala as a Publishing Champion
- Ecco Press Partner — Co-published 'The Ecco Anthology of International Poetry'
- Emirates Literature Foundation Partner — Collaborates on photo credits and potentially co-sponsored events or awards.
- Frankfurter Buchmesse Partner — Co-presented the 2026 Aficionado Award for which Words Without Borders was shortlisted
- Hachette Book Group Partner — Supported the 2023 WWB Gala as a Publishing Champion
- HarperCollins Publishers Partner — Supported the 2023 WWB Gala as a Publishing Champion
- Hawthornden Foundation Funder — Supports programs through institutional grants
- Human Rights Watch Partner — Provides contextual reports on human rights issues, such as police brutality in Haiti, used to support reader understanding of published works.
- Ingram Content Group Partner — Supported the 2023 WWB Gala as a Publishing Champion
- Institut Français Partner — Collaborates by providing interviews and content related to international poets, such as Jean D’Amérique.
- Irwin & Hsuan LLP Partner — Supported the 2023 WWB Gala as a Publishing Champion
- James H. Ottaway, Jr. Partner — The Ottaway Award is named in honor of James H. Ottaway, Jr., the first board chair of Words Without Borders.
- London Book Fair Partner — Awarded Words Without Borders the 2016 International Excellence Award for a Translation Initiative and shortlisted for the 2020 Learning Resources Award
- London Literary Scouting Partner — Supported the 2023 WWB Gala as a Publishing Champion
- Macmillan Publishers Partner — Supported the 2023 WWB Gala as a Publishing Champion
- Maria B. Campbell Associates Partner — Supported the 2023 WWB Gala as a Publishing Champion
- NPR Partner — Supplies essays and reports on Haitian history and current events to contextualize literary content for readers.
- National Book Foundation Partner — Granted an Honorable Mention to Words Without Borders for the 2018 Innovations in Reading Prize
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funding support in partnership with the City Council
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides state arts funding with support from the Governor and Legislature
- New York State Council on the Arts Literary Technical Assistance Program Government — Supports capital and capacity investments through the WWB Future Fund
- Open Letter Books Partner — Co-published the anthology 'The Wall in My Head'
- Open Road Integrated Media Partner — Supported the 2023 WWB Gala as a Publishing Champion
- PEN Centre Germany Partner — Recognized Words Without Borders with the 2024 Hermann Kesten Prize
- Penguin Random House Partner — Supported the 2023 WWB Gala as a Publishing Champion
- Simon & Schuster Partner — Supported the 2023 WWB Gala as a Publishing Champion
+ 27 more
strategies · 3
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.
- Centering Marginalized Languages to Promote Linguistic and Cultural Diversitymethodology: centering-marginalized-languagesBy prioritizing literature in indigenous, endangered, and marginalized languages, the organization preserves cultural specificity and counters dominant literary narratives because amplifying these voices enriches global discourse and fosters equity in cultural representation.
- Curricular Integration of World Literature to Institutionalize Global Perspectivesmethodology: curricular-integrationBy curating authoritative anthologies and supporting educational outreach, the organization embeds international literature into formal learning environments because structured access through curricula ensures sustained engagement and normalizes global literary perspectives among students and educators.
- Literary Translation as a Bridge for Cross-Cultural Understandingmethodology: literary-translation-as-bridgeBy translating and publishing international literature, especially from marginalized and underrepresented languages, the organization fosters cross-cultural empathy and global awareness because literature reveals shared human experiences and challenges cultural isolation.