Penguin Random House Foundation

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OVERVIEW: The Penguin Random House Foundation runs awards programs for students, teachers and libraries. It also sponsors and donates books to events and organizations related to literature and reading.

IP TAKE: Penguin Random House, a multinational publisher of books with more than 300 imprints, maintains “that books, and the stories and ideas they hold, have the unique capacity to connect us, change us, and carry us toward a better future for generations to come.” It awards grants and scholarships for students, teachers and libraries, but the bulk of its philanthropic work consists of strategic partnerships and sponsorships with nonprofits that support reading and literacy. This is a large global company that mainly collaborates with well-known organizations, but Penguin Random House welcomes contact via email.

PROFILE: Penguin Random House Foundation and the Penguin Random House corporate giving program award grants for Creative Writing, Libraries and Teachers. The Penguin Random House company also engages with nonprofits through its corporate commitments to Diversity Equity & Inclusion, the Environment & Sustainability and Free Expression & Joy of Reading initiatives. In addition to grants and donations, this Penguin Random House makes in-kind donations of books to many causes and organizations.

Grants for Creative Writing, K-12 Education, Libraries, Racial Justice and Indigenous Rights

The Penguin Random House Foundation’s giving and engagement centers on creative writing, literacy and books, reflecting the foundation’s parent company’s status as one of the world’s leading publishers. However, engagement also demonstrates a strong commitment to education equity and the voices of underrepresented writers.

  • The Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards are the foundation’s best-known program and represents a collaboration between the publisher and the advocacy organization We Need Diverse Books. This annual program awards college scholarships of $10,000 each to public high school seniors in five categories:

    • The May Angelou Award for Spoken Word

    • The Amanda Gorman Award for Poetry

    • The Fiction/Drama Award

    • The Michelle Obama Award for Memoir

    • The Freedom of Expression Award

    Any student meeting the program’s eligibility criteria may submit writing to the awards competition according to the program’s guidelines, but only the first 1000 entries will be accepted. Check the program page for updated information on submission formats and due dates.

  • The U.S. Teacher Awards are a collaborative project between Penguin Random House and the National Council of Teachers of English. The awards recognize “the nation’s most dynamic and resourceful teachers who use their creativity to inspire and successfully instill a lifelong love of reading and poetry in students.” This program traditionally awarded two prizes, the National Teacher Award for Lifelong Readers and the Maya Angelou Teacher Award for Poetry, but was reimagined in 2020, when the foundation decided that the prize money would be donated to the Early Career Educator of Color Leadership Award Program, “which supports early-career teachers of color as they build accomplished teaching careers in literacy education.” It is unclear if this awards program has resumed.

  • Penguin Random House collaborates with the Association of Rural and Small Libraries to offer the U.S. Library Awards, which support “rural, small and tribal libraries that support underserved communities in the U.S. and U.S. territories to help elevate their impact and build community support.” Grants in amounts of up to $1,000 and/or book donations are awarded to libraries that demonstrate “innovative, successful programming and partnerships that support learning, reading programs, and books.” Interested grantseekers may email the program at libraryawards@penguinrandomhouse.com to request information about the application process.

  • Through its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitment area, Penguin Random House sponsors the Black Creatives Fund, which seeks to “encourage and amplify the work of Black writers who are seeking publication, to bring more Black voices and stories to the world.”

  • Through the Free Expression and Joy of Reading commitment area, Penguin Random House donates thousands of books for free distribution through numerous charitable organizations. Partners include New York’s Lower East Side Girls Club, Save the Children, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation of Australia, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, First Book Canada and Neighborly, a community platform that delivers food and books to home-bound seniors and others.

Grants for Environment, Climate Change and Clean Energy

Penguin Random House’s commitment to the Environment and Sustainability consists mainly of corporate commitments to reducing environmental impact with regard to paper, fossil fuels and electricity use, but it has sponsored and collaborated with some nonprofits in this area.

  • Penguin Random House maintains an ongoing partnership with One Tree Planted, thr0ugh which a tree is planted for every new hire at the company’s U.S. operations.

  • The company also supports the All We Can Save project, which was launched by the editors of the Penguin Random House-published book All We Can Save: Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis. The program runs “virtual and in-person programs; provide education and engagement; and direct financial support to cohorts of women climate leaders with the goal of championing a more representative, nuanced, and solution-oriented public conversation on the climate crisis.”

  • Company volunteers in Australia participate in Australia Clean Up Day.

Important Grant Details:

Penguin Random House’s scholarships and awards for students, teachers and libraries are made in amounts set by each program.

  • In addition to its awards programs, this funder sponsors and donates books to numerous organizations and events related to literature and reading around the world.

  • The Creative Writing Awards and Library Awards programs appear to accept applications, but guidelines and due dates may vary by program and may change each year. Grantseekers are advised to check program pages before submitting materials.

For additional information about Penguin Random House’s awards programs or sponsorships, contact the publisher by email at socialimpact@penguinrandomhouse.com.

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