Books For Africa

Books For Africa. A simple name for an organization with a simple mission. We collect, sort, ship, and distribute books to children in Africa. Our goal: to end the book famine in Africa.

Books For Africa is the world’s largest shipper of donated books to the African continent. Since 1988, Books For Africa has shipped over 24 million high-quality text and library books to children and adults in 46 African countries. Millions more are needed.

It costs $9,800 to send a sea container to most major sea ports of books and computers to Africa. Your donation will enable Books For Africa to send even more books to children in Africa who are hungry to read, hungry to learn.

To learn more about groups currently fundraising to ship books to specific African countries, view the Projects page>>

Success Stories & News

Hover over a headline to view a photo and read more.

BFA Doubles Warehouse Capacity in Atlanta

Books For Africa is pleased to announce that we have doubled our book-processing capacity at our Atlanta warehouse. With our new and improved warehouse space, BFA will be more ready than ever to ship even more books, computers and other educational materials to students in Africa. Patrick Plonski, executive director of BFA, and BFA founder, Tom Warth, traveled to Atlanta to celebrate the warehouse expansion from January 31 and February 1. The two were all smiles as they observed just how many more books will be ready to ship from the new space.

The Course Hero Knowledge Drive passes 35,000 books donated to Books for Africa. Plans to send representative to Gambia in February!

The Course Hero Knowledge Drive has recently reached a new milestone – 35,000+ books donated to children abroad since its creation in November of 2010. Established in partnership with Books for Africa, the Course Hero Knowledge Drive is founded upon a simple premise: for every 10 academic documents a student contributes to Course Hero, 1 book will be donated to Books for Africa. This movement allows Course Hero to add to the powerful social learning community and resources they provide to students around the world, while simultaneously giving children in Africa the gift of education and the ability to attain a better quality of life.

New York Giants Player Prince Amukamara Offers Chance To Win Tickets and More in a Super Bowl Raffle to Benefit Books For Africa and IFESH

Prince Amukamara, the rookie cornerback of the Super Bowl-bound New York Giants, is giving sports fans everywhere a chance to win Super Bowl tickets while supporting St. Paul-based Books For Africa and Arizona-based IFESH (International Foundation for Education and Self-Help).

BFA Founder, Tom Warth, Will Make a Walk to Remember Across the Gambia

Ending the book famine in Africa will take more than just baby steps. That is why Tom Warth, founder of Books For Africa, will be making a trek across the Gambia. Of 1.8 million people in the Gambia, a country hardly the size of Delaware, only 40% of people over the age of 15 can read. Warth is making the hike to raise awareness and funds to bring them books. Click on the link above for more info

Books For Africa Team Meets with U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria

Books For Africa Executive Director Pat Plonski, board member Mike Essien, and members of the IFESH team (International Foundation for Education & Self-Help) met with U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Terence McCulley at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, on October 22, 2010, to discuss collaboration on advancing education in Nigeria.

Success Story Archive> >

Books For Africa is a simple idea, but its impact is transformative. For us, literacy is quite simply the bridge from misery to hope.
— Kofi Annan, former U.N. Secretary-General

Books For Africa has earned its 5th consecutive 4-star rating for its ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances. Only 4% of the charities we rate have received at least 5 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Books For Africa consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way and outperforms most other charities in America.
— Charity Navigator, 2011