THE BREW & FORGE BOOK FAIR
BUY A BOOK, BUILD A MOVEMENT.
The Brew & Forge Book Fair brings together readers and writers to support the people at the forefronts of movements for liberation, justice, and survival. Since our founding in 2016, the Book Fair has mobilized over hundreds of authors and raised over $36,000 for grassroots movement organizations.
Image description: a collage of brightly colored book covers
HOW IT WORKS
1. AUTHORS SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE
They commit a few signed copies of their own books—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, YA, and more. We also work with some of our favorite independent presses to donate books.
2. DONATING AUTHORS VOTE ON WHO TO SUPPORT
We put together a list of 5 great grassroots organizations that are building power and working toward liberation, and all participating authors vote for their favorites.
3. THE BOOK FAIR GOES LIVE!
Books are posted online at brewandforge.com for 1-2 weeks for the public to purchase.
4. BOOKS GO IN THE MAIL
Authors and presses send their books directly to the people who purchased them (sometimes with a cute note attached).
5. WE SEND THE PROCEEDS DIRECTLY TO THE CHOSEN ORGANIZATION
After processing fees and 5% to help cover our operating costs, this usually comes out to a $4000-$7000 grant, with no need to fill out an application—all raised from mailing great books around the country!
THE 2024 BOOK FAIR
The 2024 Book Fair ran from November 20 to December 3! This year's BFBF is coordinated by Luther Hughes and Jess Yuan.
GET INVOLVED
Email hello [at] brewandforge [dot] com to get involved as a(n)...
AUTHOR
We're always looking for new books, especially fiction, nonfiction, YA, and children's books! Email us, and we'll send you a form to fill out your info. November 12 is the deadline to donate if you want to participate in the voting process! We are asking everyone to sign and mail their books by Saturday, December 16.
PUBLISHER
We also work with a number of wonderful independent presses who donate a number of (unsigned) books every year. Past presses have included AK Press, Graywolf Press, Haymarket Books, Milkweed Editions, Kaya Press, The New Press, Small Beer Press, and Catapult Book Group. We're lucky to be part of such a rich literary ecosystem!
VOLUNTEER
A crew of dedicated volunteers runs the Book Fair every year, led by our coordinators. Email us if you'd like the participate in making this thing happen!
GRANTEES
Each year, our coordinators and volunteers put together a list of 4-5 organizations to nominate for funding, based on recommendations from our community, our own knowledge of the field, and our funding principles. As part of our mission to build, not drain, organizational capacity, we do not require applications. If you would like to recommend a movement group to be considered for funding, please first read our mission page, and then get in touch at hello [at] brewandforge [dot] com.
#TINYBOOKFAIR
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we put together a free resource guide for authors to lead small-scale fundraisers for organizations and mutual aid funds in their local communities. In the spirit of the Brew & Forge Book Fair, six participating authors collectively raised a little over $4000 in a few weeks by offering signed copies of their books.