donations

Your gift helps Big Shoulders Books foster continuing discussion around issues of injustice and inequality in Chicago.

Donations of any amount are humbly accepted with our sincerest thanks and provide for the production and distribution of our dynamic books and the continued vibrancy of our mission.

How far your money goes

$5 sponsors materials and postage for distributing five copies of our titles for readers who need them.

$10 sponsors the printing costs for those same five copies.

$20 sponsors production, postage and shipping materials for the average order of The Garcia Boy. Aline R., a student who attended Cristo Rey, where Rafael Torch was Dean, writes, “I really want to get my hands on this book to learn about Rafael as a Chicano and what he went through during his amazing short life. I feel like I will be able to relate to him as a fellow Hispanic with parents who immigrated to this country.”

$40 sponsors production, postage and shipping materials for the average order of Write Your Heart Out, which recent reader and psychologist Stephen T. champions as “as a tool to further encourage learning and reading, as well as to connect [local] youth…with relatable experiences from other cultures.”

$50 sponsors production, postage and shipping materials for the average order of How Long Will I Cry. Charlene W. writes, “I work in an inner city school and sometimes have very in depth conversations with students who detail violence that has happened to them or someone close in their community. This book can be used to draw out or share with these students. It is a way to let them know they are not alone and powerless. Their feelings are real.”

$100 sponsors production, postage and shipping materials of I REMEMBER for 30 students. Speaking of the collective power of the poem’s stories, veteran Billie M. writes, “I have found that unless you have experienced military life and/or war, as much as you try you will never truly understand them. I suffer from PTSD among other injuries and have found solace in talking to and reading other veteran stories.”

$500 sponsors Big Shoulders Books’ yearly promotional budget.

$1,000 sponsors copy-editing reprints of two of our titles.

$10,000 sponsors an entire year of shipping our books free of charge to readers in more than a dozen countries, across five continents.

$20,000 sponsors a future title, including all editing, design and production costs as well as distribution for the first year.