Books For Africa remains the largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent, shipping over 58 million books to all 55 countries on the African continent since 1988.  In fiscal year 2023 alone, Books For Africa shipped approximately 4,029,000 books, valued at over $32.6 million, to 32 African countries, the most books ever shipped by Books For Africa in a single year. Approximately 800,000 digital books were also shipped on 116 computers and 150 tablets. Over $2.6 million was raised to ship these books to partners across Africa.

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

To learn more about the Girls Empowerment Collections, BFA Publishing, Law & Democracy Initiative, Agricultural Libraries, or French Books view the Special Initiatives page

Contact Books For Africa

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
Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating

EIN 41-1627391

The Latest

Books For Africa's story of hope

At last week's summit in India among the top 20 industrialized nations, the G-20 made the African Union a member, just as it had previously done with the European Union. The move reflects Africa's economic trajectory, which, if demography is destiny, will only grow, since it's the youngest continent. With that youth comes an ever-increasing need for education — and an ever-increasing need for…

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INTERVIEW: Books For Africa celebrates 35th anniversary

Books For Africa, a local non-profit that has shipped millions of books to Africa, is celebrating its 35th anniversary. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS anchor Ben Henry sat down with Patrick Plonski, Executive Director of Books For Africa, to discuss the anniversary.

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Malawi Partnership Delivers for Students, Communities

Late last year, Books For Africa (BFA), with the help of the Department of Defense Humanitarian Assistance Funded Transportation Program, sent 110,000 books to students in Malawi. The books, shared between Kamuzu University and the Malawi National Library Service, has positively impacted thousands of students of all ages across the country.

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Books For Africa Earns 12th Consecutive Top Rating by Charity Navigator

Books For Africa is proud to announce that its strong financial health and ongoing accountability and transparency has earned it a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator.

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Mandela Fellows Visit BFA Warehouse for Mandela Day of Service 2023

The Mandela Fellows visited Books For Africa's St. Paul warehouse to help sort books in honor of the Mandela Day of Service on July 18, 2023.

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