Financial Assistance for Booksellers

Financial help is available for your store and your booksellers! For a wide range of financial needs, visit the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc). The American Booksellers Association (ABA) is compiling Federal, local, and, other non-governmental financial resources here.

Digital Bookselling Technology Grant Program

A program to encourage and support on-line bookselling and digital promotions and marketing efforts.

• Grants are intended to reimburse stores for expenses incurred in the service of digital bookselling and marketing, including but not limited to:
  • Creating a new website, or improving a current website
  • Acquisition of virtual meeting/webinar service (Zoom, Crowdcast, Be.Live, etc.)
  • Digital advertising (Facebook ads, Instagram ads, etc.)
• Grants cannot be used for payroll, rent, or other business expenses.
• Maximum of $300 per store, funds are limited and will be distributed upon approval of grants.
• Applications Process
  • Applications open Monday, April 20, and must be submitted by May 31, 2020
  • One grant available per applicant/store between April 20 – May 31
  • Proof of expenditure will be required to receive grant funds.

The Book Industry Charitable Foundation is an essential resource in times of crisis. They can help find relief for bookstores and booksellers. Many resources and opportunities for assistance can be found here.

Emergency Financial Assistance for Booksellers:

SaveIndieBookstores Grants for Bookstores:

Higher Education & Professional Development Scholarships:

Give a Bookseller a Lift Travel Grants

GABAL Grants are awarded to booksellers across our region to help with travel expenses attending MPIBA Programs. Coming up next: SpringCon 2020 in Texas and in Colorado.

To qualify for a GABAL Travel Grant you must currently work for an MPIBA member bookstore in good standing that is located more than 50 miles from the event location. Please only apply if you are able to travel to the event, and if applicable, have permission from your store owner or manager to attend the program. Travel Grant winners will be drawn randomly from all qualified applicants and will be contacted in advance of the program. Recipients will not be eligible to receive another Travel Grant for five years.

Congratulations to our 2020 GABAL Texas SpringCon Grant Recipient:

Stefani Kelly – The Book Nook, Brenham, TX

Callie Metler – Noteworthy, Stamford, TX

We want to thank our good friends at Binc for funding GABAL travel grants for SpringCon and FallCon each year.

Blue Willow – Vener Barnes Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship to attend the fall trade show and conference is offered by Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, Texas, in honor of her father and bookselling inspiration, Vener Barnes.

The $500 grant is open to any owner or bookseller from an MPIBA member store in good standing, who has never attended the MPIBA fall trade show and conference. Please only apply if you are able to travel to the event, and if applicable, have permission from your store owner or manager to attend FallCon. The grant winner will be drawn randomly from all qualified applicants and will be announced in early September – approximately six weeks before FallCon.

Congratulations to our 2019 Grant Recipient:

Evan Schertz – Maria’s Bookshop, Durango, CO