National Home Library Foundation

Mission

The National Home Library Foundation makes grants to nonprofits to assist in the distribution of books and other forms of reading materials to libraries and community groups with limited resources or abilities to otherwise procure these materials.

NHLF grants are made to assist in the support, promotion and development of literacy- and reading-related programs with the goal of combating illiteracy and/or encouraging an interest in reading and literacy among all ages.

Our Board

President, Lynda Johnson Robb

Secretary/Treasurer, Ervin S. Duggan

Sue Bell

Vandna Wendy Bhagat

Michael R. Gardner

Ricardo M. Urbina

Kathleen McCampbell Vance

Staff: Executive Director,  Joan Sahlgren

History

The National Home Library Foundation was incorporated in 1932 under the laws of the District of Columbia. The founder, Sherman F. Mittell, declared: “The particular business and objects of this corporation are to promote and inculcate in more people the desire to read good literature; to make home libraries more easily available to great numbers of our population; to urge the reading of good literature through printed announcements, radio broadcasts and newspapers; and to these ends to provide for the delivery and holding of lectures, exhibits, public meetings, classes and conferences, calculated to advance the cause of education and promote the general culture of the nation.”

In keeping with these purposes, the Foundation over the next several years, under a Board of Trustees headed by Mr. Mittell, published and distributed books of wide interest at nominal prices.  The foundation also sponsored distinguished authors and public figures in so-called “Fireside Talks” on the NBC network, and in other lectures.

Following the untimely death of President Mittell in 1942, the Foundation’s substantive program came to a halt and its assets became the subject of protracted litigation. 

On May 9, 1963, United States District Court Judge Burnita Shelton Matthews appointed three interim trustees, with John J. Wilson serving as counsel, ordering that they take “all action which they consider necessary to permit the resumption of the regular and normal affairs of the

National Home Library Foundation.” Upon resignation of the interim trustees in due course, a newly constituted Board of Trustees met for the first time on May 24, 1963 with membership suggested by Judge Matthews as follows:  Huntington Cairns, Oscar Chapman, Charles G. Dobbins, India Edwards, William Y. Elliott, Leonard H. Marks, and John J. Wilson.

The members of this Board and their duly elected successors now administer the Foundation. Its previously existing tax status was reinstated.

In 2013, the Foundation celebrated the 50th anniversary of its renewed mission. To date, the Foundation has given away more than $3,100,000.00.

"Thank you so much  ... for the grant to order books for all our first graders and pre-kindergarteners. They loved choosing books to take home and read with their parents. Some of the students skipped down the halls with their new books. We had fun choosing the books and then watching the students eyes light up as they chose a book to keep.

Thanks for helping me spread the love of reading."

Kimberly Bibeault
Title I Reading Teacher
Marley Elementary School, Glen Burnie MD