Since 2004, the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation has been dedicated to putting books in the hands of Canadian children at high-needs elementary schools. This is part of our commitment to transforming the lives of children across the country by inspiring in them a love of reading. Together with Indigo, its customers, and its employees, we have committed $35 million to over 3,500 high-needs schools, impacting more than 1 million children.<\/p>\n
We know that the quality and quantity of books available to children can vary greatly based on a variety of factors, including a family\u2019s socio-economic background and location. Every child needs access to new and engaging books to develop the literacy skills that are critical for educational success and to inspire a love of reading. Due to insufficient funding for elementary school libraries, many children cannot access these new and engaging books.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Foundation works to provide books to these schools with the goal that all Canadian children have access to the resources they need to develop strong literacy skills. By providing support to high-needs elementary schools, we are equipping teachers, librarians, and principals with the resources that are critical for promoting educational success and inspiring a love of reading for years to come.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Foundation defines a high-needs school as a Canadian publicly funded elementary school that receives at least 80% of its funding from the provincial or federal government, that has a library budget of less than $30 per year per student, and where the school\u2019s leadership identifies themselves as needing additional support for their school library and books more generally.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Foundation provides support <\/span>in<\/span> three forms: <\/span>direct funding<\/span>, <\/span>educational <\/span>resources, and creating public awareness of the <\/span>challenges<\/span> that persist<\/span>. Through <\/span>two signature programs: the Indigo Love of Reading Literacy Fund <\/span>Grant<\/span> and the Indigo Adopt a School <\/span>Grant<\/span>,<\/span> the Foundation distributes <\/span>roughly <\/span>$1<\/span>.5M annually to elementary schools and community organizations. In addition, the Foundation pro<\/span>vides educators and families with tools and resources to help support young readers on their literacy journey<\/span> in the form of reading guides, <\/span>lesson plans, and more<\/span>. Finally, <\/span>we<\/span> lever<\/span>age<\/span> our <\/span>national platform to spar<\/span>k<\/span> dialogue around and support for Canada\u2019s literacy crisis. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Through the generosity of Indigo, its customers, and its employees, the Foundation grants over $1 million in library support to high-needs <\/span>elementary <\/span>schools across the country each year. Since 2004, <\/span>hundreds of<\/span> high-needs elementary schools have <\/span>transformed their libraries <\/span>with the receipt of a <\/span>Literacy Fund grant. These Literacy Fund grant recipient schools receive funding over a multi-year period. For each program year, the grant recipient school receives 10% of the grant in the form of cash to spend on special projects that they believe will further promote literacy at their school, such as visits by special guest speakers and other literacy-related events. The grant recipient school receives the remaining 90% of the grant in the form of <\/span>credit <\/span>for the purchase of new books at Indigo, Chapters, and Coles, which are provided at a 30% discount. Providing grants in this way allows the Foundation to efficiently track and manage grant spending, ensuring all funds are being <\/span>utilized<\/span> for their intended charitable purpose. This also allows schools to avoid incurring any shipping costs, <\/span>including to<\/span> rural and remote schools, which helps stretch grant dollars even further. In instances where this approach does not meet the specific needs of a grantee, <\/span>accommodations<\/span> can always be <\/span>made<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Each year, the Adopt a School <\/span>Fundraiser and Granting <\/span>program unites Indigo, its employees, its customers, and their communities in raising money to rejuvenate local high-needs elementary school libraries across Canada. Each Indigo, Chapters or Coles store <\/span>partners with<\/span> a local high-needs elementary school to support through in-store<\/span> and online<\/span> fundraising<\/span>. 100% of the funds raised throughout the fundraising period are then granted to the school<\/span>s<\/span> for the purchase of new books.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Staff members of high-needs Canadian elementary schools are invited to apply for our <\/span>programs\u00a0<\/span> during<\/span> the application period which runs from January to March every year. <\/span>For more information on eligibility, key dates, and application resour<\/span>ces, <\/span>indigoloveofreading.org\/grants<\/span>.<\/span> Please note that your school board will need to be made aware of your application before <\/span>submitting<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>2023-2024 <\/span>Ontario EQAO study<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> and the <\/span><\/span>20<\/span>22<\/span> PISA study<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> read in aggregate <\/span>indicate<\/span> that <\/span>roughly 70%<\/span> of students are meeting provincial reading standards in Grade 3 and the remaining approximately 30% of students <\/span>fail to<\/span> meet such standards.<\/span><\/span> Unfortunately, there is no Canadian national reading standard for which children are tested nationally, so we rely on aggregated sources.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Indigo Love of Reading\u202fFoundation supports\u202fapproximately <\/span>300<\/span> high-needs Canadian elementary schools each year.\u202f Many of these <\/span>schools<\/span> report that without the Foundation\u2019s\u202fsupport,\u202ftheir library budgets are very <\/span>limited<\/span> and they <\/span>are able to<\/span>\u202f<\/span>purchase<\/span> only\u202f1 new library book a year for every 3\u202f<\/span>students<\/span>.<\/span> The information provided by these schools is supported by Dr. Ken Haycock, author of the report <\/span><\/span>The Crisis in Canada\u2019s School Libraries<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, who has studied extensively the history of <\/span>public school<\/span> library funding from the 1970s through today. His research shows that Canadian schools budgeted to buy three books per child per year in 1970, <\/span>whereas<\/span> today\u2019s school budgets allow for less than one-third of a book per child.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Foundation <\/span>is funded <\/span>through <\/span>a combination <\/span>of donations made <\/span>by <\/span>Indigo, its employees, leadership<\/span>, <\/span>vendors<\/span> and customers. <\/span>Indigo contributes 1% of the net proceeds from all children\u2019s books to the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation each year. <\/span>100% of customer donations go directly<\/span> to the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation and <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> mission<\/span> to <\/span>address the literacy crisis in Canada by <\/span>promot<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0children\u2019s literacy<\/span> in underserved communities. <\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Anytime a <\/span>high-needs <\/span>schools<\/span> or non-profit <\/span>grantees <\/span>purchase<\/span>s<\/span> books at Indigo, Chapters, and Coles, they receive a 30% discount<\/span> and free shipping on all purchases<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Foundation\u2019s relationship with Indigo employees is an essential part of what makes the Foundation impactful. Indigo employees are involved in all aspects of the Foundation\u2019s programming, including fundraising for major programs, volunteering time to support with the application intake process, and various administrative tasks.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Indigo employees share their passion for literacy and the importance of supporting high- needs elementary school libraries with Indigo customers and, more generally, their communities. They also play a key role in supporting the schools that receive funds from the Foundation, for example, providing recommendations to educators as to what books may inspire a school\u2019s students to become passionate readers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Foundation relies on the generous donations of Indigo customers, <\/span>Indigo<\/span> employees and members of the public who are committed to literacy. We welcome your donations at all Indigo, Chapters, and Cole<\/span>s<\/span> stores, <\/span>or online through our safe and secure <\/span><\/span>on<\/span>l<\/span>ine<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> fundraising page<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Donations made in Indigo, Chapters, and Coles stores are eligible for tax receipts upon request by emailing the Foundation team at\u202f<\/span><\/span>loveofreading@indigo.ca<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u202fwith a copy of the <\/span>original <\/span>receipt and the following customer contact information: donor\u2019s full name, complete Canadian mailing address, and email <\/span>address. <\/span>For<\/span> donations made online at <\/span><\/span>indigoloveofreadingfoundation.givecloud.co\/<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> , tax receipts will automatically be provided if the donation is $20<\/span> CAD<\/span> or more and will be provided upon request if the donation is less than $20<\/span> CAD<\/span>. To request a tax receipt, please email the Foundation team at\u202f<\/span><\/span>loveofreading@indigo.ca<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u202fwith a copy of the <\/span>original <\/span>receipt and the following contact information: donor\u2019s full name, complete Canadian mailing address, and email address.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n No, Indigo does not rece<\/span>i<\/span>ve any tax benefits from <\/span>\u00a0<\/h3>\n
3. How do you determine what elementary schools are high-needs?<\/h3>\n
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4. How does the Foundation support these schools?<\/h3>\n
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5. What is the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation Literacy Fund Grant?<\/h3>\n
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6. What is the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation Adopt a School Grant?<\/h3>\n
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7. How can my school apply for the Literacy Fund Grant\/Adopt a School program?<\/h3>\n
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8. What\u2019s your basis for claiming that 30% of students lack basic literacy skills?<\/h3>\n
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9. What is your basis for claiming that many elementary schools in <\/span>economically disadvantaged<\/span> communities in Canada can afford only 1 new library book a year for every 3 children?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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10. How is the Foundation funded?<\/h3>\n
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11. Do schools receive a discount on books?<\/h3>\n
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12. How do Indigo employees support the Foundation?<\/h3>\n
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13. How can I make a donation?<\/h3>\n
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14. Can I get a tax receipt for my donation?<\/h3>\n
15. Does Indigo Books & Music Inc. <\/span>r<\/span>eceive any tax benefits from customer donations made to the Foundation?<\/span><\/h3>\n