who runs it
Organizations running this strategy · 5
what it looks like in practice
Activities of orgs running this strategy
A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above — what the strategy looks like on the ground.
- Organizing author readings The New York Quarterly Foundationdirect serviceHosts or organizes public readings featuring authors published by NYQ Books, fostering literary engagement and community around its publications.
- Publishing poetry and literary books The New York Quarterly Foundationdirect serviceProduces and publishes poetry collections and literary books through NYQ Books, including titles such as "Informed" by Alison Stone, "Homemade Egyptian Gods" by Marc Tretiin, and "Dark Souvenirs" by John Amen. The foundation regularly releases new works, indicating an ongoing publishing program.
- Administer National Book Awards NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION INCdirect serviceAdministers 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.
- Award monetary prizes to special honorees NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION INCgrantmakingProvides 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.
- Fund capacity-building for literary nonprofits NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION INCgrantmakingProvides 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.
- Honor distinguished literary contributors NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION INCdirect servicePresents 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.
- Host livestreamed awards ceremonies and events NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION INCdirect serviceHosts 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.
- Host public author programs nationwide NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION INCdirect serviceOrganizes 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.
- Organize prison literary engagement initiatives NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION INCdirect serviceRuns 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.
- Present Science + Literature Program NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION INCdirect serviceIdentifies 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.
- Provide medallions and digital rights for honored books NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION INCdirect serviceMakes 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 writers NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION INCdirect serviceSelects 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.
- Funding literary arts organizations HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATIONgrantmakingProvides grants to nonprofit organizations that support the literary arts, including writing, publishing, translation, and literary programming. Recipients include Cave Canem Foundation, Words Without Borders, Copper Canyon Press, Brooklyn Book Festival, and other institutions dedicated to literature and writers.
- Provides educational resources on the business of writing THE AUTHORS GUILD FOUNDATION INCdirect serviceOffers free and ticketed seminars, panel discussions, teleconference programs, and World Thinking Day events to educate American authors on the business aspects of writing.
- Funding organizations that promote Vladimir Nabokov's literary legacy THE VLADIMIR NABOKOV LITERARY FOUNDATION INCgrantmakingProvides grants to the International Vladimir Nabokov Society and similar entities to raise awareness of Vladimir Nabokov's works and support Nabokov-related charitable initiatives.
- Funding scholarly publications on Vladimir Nabokov THE VLADIMIR NABOKOV LITERARY FOUNDATION INCgrantmakingFinances the publication of scholarly works on Vladimir Nabokov, including supporting Princeton University Press to publish a biography of Nabokov in Russian.
- Funding the PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature THE VLADIMIR NABOKOV LITERARY FOUNDATION INCgrantmakingFunds the annual PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature, which recognizes a body of artistic work of unique distinction, in partnership with PEN America.