If you’re looking for a handy list of nonprofit book publishers, you’ve come to the right place. Below we’ve featured 19 top book publishers that are nonprofit. Continue reading to learn about them.
1. The Feminist Press
Headquartered in New York, NY, The Feminist Press is a nonprofit publisher that aims to further the women’s studies field and to make the voices of talented women heard. This press was established in 1970 by Florence Howe.
They feature dozens of book genres on their website, such as pop culture, sexuality, education, law, memoir/biography, and art/film/performance. To get an idea of their preferences, check out “An Estate of Memory”, by Ilona Karmel, and “Music and Women”, by Sophie Drinker.
The Feminist Press does not publish doctoral dissertations, poetry, drama, and literary criticism. Submissions should include 3 sample chapters of your completed manuscript, a synopsis, a short marketing plan, and a brief author bio. More details can be found here.
2. Heyday
Founded in 1974 by Malcolm Margolin, Heyday is a Berkeley-based nonprofit publisher that produces around 20 new titles every year. Two of their core values are justice and equity, so their backlist is a growing source of information on important matters.
Nature, art & photography, African American studies, politics, and history are only a few of their favorite genres. If you want to know whether your book would be of interest to them or not, look up “Full Ecology”, by Mary M. Clare and Gary Ferguson, and “Patriotic Dissent”, by Daniel A. Sjursen, which are two of their latest releases.
Before sending a query or a proposal, make sure it includes your cover letter, a sample chapter, the intended audience, and a few other details listed here.
3. Island Press
A nonprofit press that promotes sustainable ideas and practices for a better future, Island Press specializes in food systems, biodiversity, health, and conservation, to give some examples. With headquarters in Washington D.C., this publisher was established in 1984.
They produce approximately 40 new books on a yearly basis, and their backlist of over 800 titles includes “Building Community Food Webs”, by Ken Meter, and “The Monsanto Papers”, by Carey Gillam.
If you’d like to collaborate with them, keep in mind that your submission should include your intended audience, a table of contents, writing samples, production details, and a general overview of your manuscript. To learn more, access this page.
4. Kaya Press
Based in Los Angeles, California, Kaya Press was established in 1994. As a nonprofit publisher, they promote thought-provoking literature written by authors in the Asian and Pacific Island Diasporas.
Their genres of choice are fiction, nonfiction, film, performance, and poetry. To learn more about their backlist, you should definitely look up “East Goes West”, by Younghill Kang, and “On the Origin of Species and Other Stories”, by Bo-Young Kim.
If you decide to submit your work to Kaya Press, make sure to also send a list of your previous publications, your contact details, a short project description, and a few other details listed here.
5. New Village Press
New Village Press is a New York-based nonprofit publisher that aims to raise awareness about relevant contemporary issues and to generate positive change within communities.
Some of the categories featured on their website are women’s lives, arts & culture, social justice, and placemaking & environment. If you’d like to see some of their most recent publications, check out “My Life in 100 Objects”, by Margaret Randall, and “Visitors: An American Feminist in East Central Europe”, by Ann Snitow.
Before submitting a manuscript, New Village Press advises writers to send a query that contains their contact details, the main topic of their book, similar books which are already on the market, and other information that can be found here.
6. Graywolf Press
An inclusive nonprofit press that takes interest in both American and international writings, Graywolf Press is the creation of Scott Walker. The company was established in 1974 and is presently based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry are the three main genres you will find in their backlist. If you’re curious about the kind of books Graywolf Press publishes, you should take a look at “The Wild Fox of Yemen”, by Threa Almontaser, and “The Twilight Zone”, by Nona Fernández.
If you feel like one of their editors would be appropriate for your work, keep in mind that they accept agented submissions all year round. However, if you want to send an unsolicited manuscript, you will have to wait for their next open period.
7. EP Books
Located in Darlington, England, EP Books is a not-for-profit press which came to life in 1967. The publisher’s activity centers on Reformed Christianity, and their main goal is that of serving the church by providing religious books.
Curious about their preferences? If so, you should look up “The First and the Last”, by Melvin Tinker, and “The Big Picture For Small Churches”, by John Benton, which are two of their most popular titles.
They are open to submissions, but only those sent via email will be taken into consideration.
8. The New Press
A New York-based nonprofit press founded by André Schiffrin and Diane Wachtell, The New Press focuses on diversity and progressivism. In the hope that social reform will be achieved, they publish works on topics such as racial justice, representation, and civic engagement.
In terms of genres, their range of interests includes ecology/health, labor studies, political science, sociology, US history, current affairs, and immigration. “How We Win the Civil War”, by Steve Phillips, and “A Descending Spiral”, by Marc Bookman are two titles that could help you get an idea of their backlist.
Luckily, The New Press accepts unsolicited submissions. Send them a proposal containing a table of contents and the first two chapters of your manuscript (at most), and they will let you know whether you should submit your complete work or not.
9. Open Book Publishers
Established in 2008 in Cambridge, UK, Open Book Publishers is a nonprofit social enterprise that allows their readers to access the books on their backlist in several digital formats.
As they specialize in academic titles, some of their genres of choice are international relations, philosophy, law, cinema & photography, health, and theatre. To get an idea of their publications, check out “Human and Machine Consciousness”, by David Gamez, and “Essays on Paula Rego: Smile When You Think about Hell”, by Maria Manuel Lisboa.
If you want to submit your manuscript at Open Book Publishers, make sure to read the complete guidelines first.
10. University of California Press
Founded in 1893, the University of California Press is a nonprofit scholarly publisher that aims to make stimulating ideas accessible for their audience.
They publish works in a wide range of disciplines, such as Asian studies, criminology & social justice, psychology, religion, technology studies, art, and economics. To learn more about their backlist, take a look at “Reproductive Justice”, by Loretta Ross and Rickie Solinger, and “Avicenna’s Theory of Science”, by Riccardo Strobino.
If you find an appropriate editor for your manuscript at the University of California Press, send them a query containing your intended audience and a short book description. Before doing so, though, check out the full guidelines here.
11. Blair
Located in Durham, North Carolina, Blair is a not-for-profit publisher established in 1976 by Judy Hogan. As they strive to make a valuable contribution to society, the main priority of Blair is the publication of books written by people who have been avoided by mainstream publishers.
Fiction, nonfiction, ghostly stories, and poetry are some of their favorite genres. In order to get accustomed to their preferences, you should look up “The Baddest Girl on the Planet”, by Heather Frese, and “The Cherokee Rose”, by Tiya Miles.
If you’re part of an underrepresented group, this press is ideal for you. To read the submission guidelines, access this page.
12. Nightboat Books
Kazim Ali and Jennifer Chapis established Nightboat Books in Brooklyn, New York in 2004. A non-for-profit organization, the main goal of Nightboat Books is the publication of writings that break the norm and challenge their readers.
Literature/queer studies, fiction, art, and poetry are just a few of the genres featured on their website. To learn more about what they like, make sure to look up “Outline of My Lover”, by Douglas A. Martin, and “Paraguayan Sea”, by Wilson Bueno.
Although their open reading period for prose hasn’t started yet, there will be one in 2021. Therefore, make sure to refresh their guidelines page once in a while to find out when it starts.
13. Transit Books
Transit Books was established in 2015 in Oakland, California. This not-for-profit publisher produces around 6-8 new books on a yearly basis, all of which are distributed internationally.
Although their titles are divided into just two main categories on the website, respectively into fiction and nonfiction, they have a wide range of books to pick from. Two of the most interesting books on their backlist are “The Tree and the Vine”, by Dola de Jong, and “Let’s Tell This Story Properly”, by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi.
They accept submissions during May 1st – June 15th, but only for nonfiction manuscripts and translations. To learn more about their requirements, click here.
14. Stanford University Press
Currently based in Redwood City, California, Stanford University Press was founded by David Starr Jordan in 1891. The press is now a nonprofit publisher of scholarly writings, and it has three distinct imprints.
Their main interests are literary studies, philosophy, business, economics & finance, sociology, and security studies, to give some examples. To learn a bit about their backlist, you should check out “Political Memory and the Aesthetics of Care”, by Mihaela Mihai, and “Embattled”, by Emily Katz Anhalt.
Interested in publishing with Stanford University Press? Choose an appropriate editor and send a prospectus including your CV, a table of contents, and a few more details listed here.
15. Counterpath
A source of art and culture, Counterpath is a not-for-profit publisher, bookstore, and exhibition space established in 2006 in Denver, Colorado. Although they’re passionate about any kind of works that involve creative and fresh ideas, they prefer publishing those of underrepresented authors.
Counterpath seems mostly interested in poetry, but they also feature genres such as literary nonfiction, humor, or art on the website. “How To Build a Lie”, by Jamie Allen, and “You’re On My Period”, by Sommer Browning are just two titles you will find on their backlist.
Luckily, they are open to submissions all year round, so check out the guidelines and send them a query to see if they like your book.
16. Torrey House Press
Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Torrey House Press is a nonprofit publisher that provides their audience with books which reflect the complexity of humanity and the need to protect our planet. Every year, they add around 8-10 new titles to their backlist.
In terms of genres, the press is mainly interested in fiction and nonfiction. Two of the titles that will help you get an idea of what they like are “A History of Kindness”, by Linda Hogan, and “Virga & Bone”, by Craig Childs.
To discover their full submission guidelines and all the genres they publish, access this page.
17. University of Toronto Press
A not-for-profit scholarly publisher based in Toronto, Ontario, University of Toronto Press has been producing high-quality titles since 1901.
Their backlist includes dozens of subjects, such as education, film & performance studies, Jewish studies, philosophy, psychology, social work, and semiotics. To better understand what they’re looking for, check out “For Humanity’s Sake”, by Lina Steiner, and “Heidegger on Truth”, by Graeme Nicholson.
If you decide to send them a book proposal, make sure to include the main topic, what sets it apart from other books, and a few other details listed here.
18. Fremantle Press
This press was founded in 1976 in North Fremantle. A nonprofit publisher, Fremantle Press aims to find the best Western Australian voices and to make their writings accessible to a worldwide audience.
In terms of genres, they’re passionate about food & health, YA, poetry, crime & mystery, fiction, and nonfiction, to give some examples. “Women of a Certain Rage”, by Liz Byrski, and “Shadow Lines”, by Stephen Kinnane are just two of the titles you will find on their backlist.
If you’re not a Western Australian, this press will only consider your book if it has a focus on Western Australia. To learn about the guidelines, click here.
19. Haymarket Books
Located in Chicago, Haymarket Books came to life as a Center for Economic Research and Social Change project. Established in 2001, this nonprofit publisher is looking to promote powerful works that can contribute to justice.
Their backlist includes genres such as literature & fiction, biography & memoir, art & culture, and poetry. “Doppelgangbanger”, by Cortney Lamar Charleston, and “Reproductive Rights and Wrongs”, by Betsy Hartmann are two titles that will help you understand what they’re looking for.
Interested in sending them your manuscript? If so, read the guidelines first.
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