FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL:
THE BAY AREA BOOK FESTIVAL’S PREMIER GIVING CIRCLE

It’s a new giving program for a new era. The Festival has always been low-cost, but we want to do even more for the community we love. That’s why we’re making the Festival free!

Making the festival free to all is the right thing to do. But as a grassroots nonprofit with no endowment or institutional backing, we can’t do it alone. We need the generosity of those who also believe that the more book-lovers a community has, the stronger, more secure, and more beautiful it is. We need a little help from our Friends.

What does it mean to be a Friend of the Festival?

The Friends is a very special circle of people who make it possible for every book-lover in the Bay to experience the joy and inspiration of live literary events, without barriers. We show appreciation by offering thank-you gifts at each level of giving (see below).

Become a Friend today. You’ll help bring literary magic to everyone and will enjoy an extra-special Festival experience: no lines, guaranteed seating at our most popular events, and the opportunity to celebrate with fest authors. Everyone also will be listed in our print Festival Program Guide and on our online First Edition donor page!*

I want to be Friends

$150: Manuscript Level

  • Festival-wide priority seating for one (to make sure you can see your favorite authors!)
  • A top headliner ticket (a few special events will be ticketed, and you’d be in for your choice)

$250: Chapbook Level

  • Festival-wide priority seating for you and a guest (to make sure you both can see your favorite authors!)
  • Two tickets to a top headliner event (a few special events will be ticketed outside the regular line-up)

$500: Book Party Level

  • Festival-wide priority seating for you and a guest
  • Two tickets to a top headliner event (a few special events will be ticketed outside the regular line-up)
  • Invitations for you and a guest to the festival Kickoff Authors Party on Friday night!

$1,000: Besties Book Party Level

  • Festival-wide priority seating for you and a guest
  • Two tickets to a top headliner event (a few special events will be ticketed outside the regular line-up)
  • Invitations for you and three guests to the festival Kickoff Authors Party!

$2,500: Epic Level (VIP)

  • Two VIP passes (same as the Authors get) to bypass the line for regular events
  • A mug and tote set (same as the Authors get)
  • Four top headliner tickets
  • Invitations for you and three guests to the festival Kickoff Authors Party!

$5,000: Magnum Opus level (VIP)

  • Three VIP passes (same as the Authors get) to bypass the line for regular events
  • Three sets of mugs and totes (same as the Authors get)
  • Six top headliner tickets
  • Invitations for you and five guests to the Kickoff Authors Party
I want to be Friends

Above this amount, friends simply have to talk. Email us at [email protected], and together we can make your literary weekend just what you hope it can be!

Hey friend! You’re also a Friend if you donate stock, give via IRA defined contribution, or make a grant through a Donor Advised Fund at any of the levels above, or higher! We’ll just add you into our thank-you system, and you’ll hear about the perks in the spring.

If you prefer to write a check instead of give online, no worries. Just write “Friends” on the check and include your email address (essential), and we’ll reach out to confirm your thank-you gifts.

*Our many previous donors may be familiar with our “First Edition Club,” our online listing of all donors, at different levels. The Friends levels $150-$500 will be listed under the $100-$999 level, and the Epic and Magnum Opus levels at their corresponding levels.