About the Program
RIF’s Books for Ownership initiative combines three essential elements to create the cornerstone of RIF programs. RIF programs are run locally and supported nationally—programs are started, funded, and run at the grassroots level by a variety of community volunteers, parents, educators, librarians, service club members, employee volunteers, local leaders, retirees, and others who want to encourage children to grow up reading. Books for Ownership reaches children of all ages in a variety of settings—schools, community centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, migrant communities, churches, hospitals, and health clinics. Through our efforts, we provide 15 million new, free books to 4.4 million children in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
Eligibility Requirements
Any public agency or private nonprofit group may apply to a RIF Books for Ownership program. The program is designed for youngsters of any age, from infancy through high school, and can be adapted to the needs of young people from all backgrounds. To qualify for federal funding, the following eligibility requirements must be met:
- Books for Ownership programs that receive federal matching funds are required to raise a local matching share for books (at least 25 percent of the total cost of books for the children served). If 100 percent of those served are children of seasonal farm workers, the program can be fully funded by federal dollars.
- Programs must serve 100 or more children.
Program Guidelines
- Participants must have at least 10 percent of required book funds on hand at the start of the service period.
- Three or more people are required to serve on the book selection committee for RIF book events.
- Parents and key community members should be involved in planning and implementing the program.
- Volunteers must organize motivational activities to get children excited about reading prior to the book distributions.
- Each child can choose a book to take home at each book distribution. Standard yearlong programs should hold at least three book distributions scheduled one month apart.
- Participants must complete a performance report on RIF activities and submit a new proposal to RIF at the end of the service year.
National Headquarters Support
Our staff offers wide-ranging assistance in conducting effective programs:
- Technical help. We offer guidance on such tasks as fundraising, book ordering, invoice processing, motivational activities, and volunteer recruitment.
- Book discounts. We negotiate discounts and other services from more than 150 book suppliers and make the full list of these suppliers available to local RIF program volunteers.
- National programs and events. To build excitement for reading, we invite all local programs to participate in RIF's reading celebrations. Keep posted with our monthly enewsletter and on on our website.
Costs
The full cost of running a RIF program depends on the number of children served. Standard yearlong programs provide three books per child at a typical cost of $2 per book. The cost may be higher if a program serves children with special needs, such as younger children who need board books or visually impaired children who need books in braille. In addition to budgeting for books, organizations should consider such operating expenses as postage, photocopying, decorations, refreshments, and motivational materials.
Interested in Starting a Program?
If your organization meets the eligibility requirements for federal funding, you can initiate the process of becoming a participating RIF program by completing a service request. Given limited resources and the high demand for federal grant funds, we cannot predict how long your program will remain on our waiting list. We estimate that it could be a year or more before federal funds can be allocated to start new programs.
Organizations not eligible for federal funds may be eligible to receive discounts and other assistance from RIF by running a locally funded program. If you are interested in starting a locally funded program, contact RIF at 1-877-RIF-READ or contactus@rif.org.
Need Help? Call us now at 1-877-RIF-READ (743-7323).