Book Aid International
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Book Aid International's stated priority is Africa, and its grants go to partners for community reading spaces, nationally published books, library refurbishment and reading promotion, so a project of that kind is the clearest fit.
- Its annual report shows about £251,411 paid out, but no grant range is given, so keep any request proportionate and do not assume a particular size.
- Its website describes no published grant process, only a book request form for donated books, which is open to listed types of organisation in listed countries and requires a secure space, a designated person and a small collection fee; a small organisation that needs books rather than money should use that route, and contacting the charity before writing a full application is sensible.
- Organisations seeking money for building or running a library, and individuals wanting books for their own use, are outside what it funds.
Overview
Book Aid International is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 313869).
Book Aid International is the UK's leading international book donation and library development charity. Its mission is to give people around the world who lack access to books the opportunity to read for pleasure, study and lifelong learning. Its Community Reading Awards programme makes grants to partners for community reading spaces, alongside book donations, grants to refurbish spaces, purchases of nationally published books and training for teachers and librarians. It paid out £251,411 in its most recent annual report.
What they fund
Priority Areas
Book Aid International works through partners to extend access to books and strengthen reading and education. It makes grants to partners for community reading spaces, purchases of nationally published books, library-space refurbishment and reading-promotion activities. Its projects aim to increase children’s use of books and their enjoyment of reading, combining donated books with locally published books, improved spaces and training for teachers and librarians. Most partners work in Africa; a smaller number in other regions receive books when their collections are lost during crises. The books it provides reach libraries, schools, universities, hospitals, refugee camps and prisons around the world.
Themes
- Community reading spaces
- Children’s reading
- Nationally published books
- Library refurbishment
- Reading promotion
- Teacher and librarian training
Geographic Focus
Priority: Africa.
What they don't fund
- Book requests only: financial support for the construction or running of libraries; individuals in need of books for their own purposes
How to apply
The website describes an application route for donated books, not grants: NGOs, community organisations, educators, health providers and higher or further education institutions submit the book request form. Requests are limited to the countries listed on the page.
Who can apply:
- Be a not-for-profit or state/publicly-funded organisation in one of the following sectors: public and community libraries; services for refugees, people at risk of displacement or marginalised groups; schools; training colleges; prisons; NGOs; higher education or medical institutions
- Have a secure and accessible area for the books and a designated person who will be responsible for them
- Be able to collect the books from a national distribution partner and pay a small fee towards their costs
- Be able to provide detailed feedback reports to the distribution partner
- Be able to demonstrate that you have a genuine need for books in English
- Be registered organisation in your country
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- Africa
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Book Aid International.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2021 | £12,567,896 | £15,587,726 | £410,118 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £17,700,588 | £17,420,968 | £323,497 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £22,561,637 | £19,991,642 | £213,554 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £22,104,261 | £20,875,744 | £306,120 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
| year to 31 December 2025 | £11,585,915 | £13,640,415 | £251,411 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023; year to 31 December 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: grants paid out in the year.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- bookaid.org
- bookaid.org/about-us/where-we-work · read on 23 October 2026
- bookaid.org/contact/how-to-request-books · read on 23 October 2026
- bookaid.org/contact · read on 23 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 23 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Book Aid International?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 020 7733 3577source
- 1B Blake Mews, London, TW9 3GA, United Kingdomsource
- bookaid.org
- Contact form
- Apply online
Applying to Book Aid International?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 020 7733 3577source
- 1B Blake Mews, London, TW9 3GA, United Kingdomsource
- bookaid.org
- Contact form
- Apply online