Canceling our 2020 Fest was the right thing to do. But a lot was lost as a result: exposure for authors and exhibitors; sales for indie booksellers; revenue for downtown Berkeley businesses; and, of course, an unforgettable experience that brings 25,000 people together to celebrate books and reading. In a reduced capacity, we’re now pivoting to present our most relevant programming virtually to help authors, bookstores, and our community. But, like so many small arts nonprofits, we run on a shoestring, and it’s close to snapping. We’re struggling to stay afloat.
There’s very little traditional philanthropic support for the literary arts. We rely on the generosity of people like you. If you’re able, please consider supporting a one-of-a-kind cultural program that brings enrichment and joy to so many people of all ages and backgrounds. Your donations really could be the deciding factor in whether or not there will be a Festival in 2021.
What we can’t quantify is the intangible and immeasurable impact the Bay Area Book Festival has on our community.
It was a wonderful, enriching, and reassuring two-day event that filled my head and heart almost to the point of dizziness.
– 2019 Attendee
The feeling described above is invaluable.
But making it happen takes work— and money.
As soon as we wrap up one Festival, we start planning the following year’s: making sure it’ll be better, more diverse, more in sync with the issues you care about. That means booking top-notch authors far in advance, covering travel and lodging for in-demand writers who aren’t local, securing coveted venues, and coordinating the most thoughtful panels, sessions, and round-tables to showcase all this brilliance.
At a time when it seems like everything—even culture—is a luxury item, we’re committed to keeping our world-class programming free or affordably priced.
We’re also passionate about empowering local kids and teens—a whole new generation of readers and writers—with year-round initiatives, like bringing writers into schools, and collaborating with amazing nonprofits serving our community’s youth.
We Can’t Do All This Without Your Generosity.
THREE EASY WAYS TO SUPPORT THE BAY AREA BOOK FESTIVAL
Contribute any amount and receive a full tax deduction. Unrestricted donations are the lifeblood of the Festival!
Become a Friend of the Festival:
You’ll be entitled to awesome extra perks and gifts, like priority seating, extra passes and tickets, and much more.
Our year-round Women Lit programming showcases women writers like Gloria Steinem, Eve Ensler, and Rachel Cusk, and builds community with gatherings that are intimate and one-of-a-kind. Make history and connections as part of the first Bay Area-wide women’s literary network.
“It was so reassuring, in these times of excess high tech, to be among a large mix of people who seek knowledge, enjoyment and new experiences in the old fashioned or traditional way: from books, and in rooms with live authors who labor to write them.”
– 2019 Attendee
About the Bay Area Book Festival
The Bay Area Book Festival is the main project of the Foundation for the Future of Literature and Literacy, a 501(c)(3) designated, California-based nonprofit corporation with Tax ID #47-3955286. Your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.