Here’s all the information you need on how to donate books to Africa, through some nonprofits in America doing amazing work to grow a love of reading in several countries across the African continent.
Cover image credit: African Library Project
Books for Africa
Locations: Atlanta, Minneapolis
Mail In Address: 1491 Cobb Industrial Drive, Bldg B, Marietta, GA 30066
Website: Books for Africa
Books for Africa accept mail in donations to their Atlanta warehouse. Please just make sure you keep packages below 50lbs.
The organization also accepts book drop offs at the above address, and in Minneapolis.
How They Help
They are the GOAT; the largest supplier of donated books to Africa, with over 60 million books shipped to schools, universities and libraries across the continent to date.
Their long time connections to Africa mean you know your books will be going to a good home, and the fact they accept mail in donations is excellent, too.
Books for Africa is featured in our guides on where to donate books in Minneapolis and Atlanta.
Pages 2 Progress/African Library Project
Location: Virginia
Mail In Address: Contact founder Havannah via their Instagram below
Instagram: Pages 2 Progress
How They Help
Pages for Progress is an international project focused on increasing education in underdeveloped countries. P2P’s goal is to donate thousands of books overseas to build libraries in third-world countries. P2P’s current projects are building libraries in Lesotho and Botswana.
I’m really impressed with founder Havannah’s vision and what she’s trying to build for others. She partners with the African Library Project who are heavily experienced in building libraries overseas.
Please contact Havannah as she is after thousands of books to help build the libraries, and any donation can help.
If you’d also like to arrange your own book drive, get in touch with the African Library Project.
Books 4 Cause
Location: Chicago, IL
Book Bin Drop Off: 3415 Madison St., Skokie, IL 60076
Books 4 Cause are a mostly localized charity operating in the Chicago/Skokie area, but they also host book drives across the country periodically.
You can drop your books off to the address above, or arrange for your books to be picked up through their website. They do require a $25 donation for a pick up service, but if you have hundreds of books, it’s definitely worth it!
How They Help
Books 4 Cause works directly with the African Library Project. Together, the organizations have set up 18 libraries throughout Africa in countries like Botswana, Kenya and Malawi.
Founder Yosef Lifchitz had a simple idea: instead of discarding textbooks that contained a wealth of knowledge, he could send these to children living in terrible poverty and help them get the resources to learn. The organization has since blossomed into accepting all sorts of books for children, as well as creating free libraries from book donations in Chicago.
Darien Book Aid
Location: Darien, Connecticut
Donation Types: Drop off in book bin, Drop off
24/7 Transfer Station Location: 1926 Post Rd., Darien, CT 06820
Pequot Library Location: 720 Pequot Avenue, Southport, 203-259-0346
Westport Library Location: 20 Jesup Road, Westport, 203-291-4840
Website: Darien Book Aid
Darien Book Aid collects donated books in Connecticut, and works with many developing countries, including those in Africa, to fund libraries both in schools, colleges, and communities.
Darien Book Aid was actually founded way back in 1949 by Mrs. Gordon Lamont to send books to a post-war Europe. It proudly stands as one of, if not the longest standing literacy charity in America.
Christian Literature for Africa
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Mail In Address: Christian Literature for Africa, PO Box 5524, Fort Wayne, IN 46895
Book Bin Drop Off: Fort Wayne Ministry Center: 4152 Stellhorn Road, Fort Wayne
Website: Christian Lit for Africa
This is another organization that accepts books by mail. They request you send via media mail through the U.S Post Office.
Drop off hours for the book bin are 9am-4pm Monday to Friday.
How They Help
As expected, Christian Lit for Africa has a religious focus, and frequently sends shipments of Bibles and general Christian literature to Nigeria, making this a great religious cause to support.
That’s our current list of organizations that send donated books to Africa. I hope this has provided you with all the information you need to make your donation!