Natasha Agarwal Expands Literacy Through BelieveNBooks
The Philadelphia-based nonprofit has distributed 250,000 books to children globally since its founding in 2021.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Philanthropy
Live Poll
Do you believe student-led nonprofits effectively address educational gaps in your local community?
Founded in 2021, the 501c3 nonprofit BelieveNBooks has reached 50,000 children across the United States and Africa. The organization celebrated a milestone this summer by distributing its 250,000th book to young readers.
Why it matters
The organization aims to bridge reading gaps for low-income children by providing access to diverse literature. BelieveNBooks also offers relatable role models to young girls to help them prepare for future workforce demands.
BelieveNBooks has distributed 250,000 books and provided 10,000 copies of a self-published work across Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda. The nonprofit also serves a target initiative of 6,500 preschool students in Florida.
The players
Natasha Agarwal
She is the founder of BelieveNBooks and author of Tales of African Women Trailblazers.
BelieveNBooks
This 501c3 nonprofit organization focuses on literacy programs for children in the United States and Africa.
The details
Founder Natasha Agarwal organizes book drives at Philadelphia schools and coordinates community donations of new and used materials. The nonprofit also manages the Pageturner digital learning program, which uses YouTube read-aloud videos to build English skills.
Timeline
Natasha Agarwal founded BelieveNBooks in 2021.
The organization distributed its 250,000th book during the summer of 2026.
Market Landscape
BelieveNBooks operates within the broader 501c3 nonprofit sector, leveraging community-driven book donations to meet measurable educational goals. The initiative follows a common model of grassroots literacy organizations that fill service gaps for low-income populations.
Philadelphia residents can support local literacy efforts by donating new or gently used books to organized school drives. Parents and educators can utilize the Pageturner digital program to access free read-aloud learning materials.
The takeaway
Literacy initiatives succeed by combining physical book distributions with digital learning tools that engage children outside the classroom. Supporters can anticipate future expansion as the founder plans to launch companion literary volumes for South American regions.
Further reading
Learn more about the local impact of charitable initiatives at Philadelphia Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by PublishersWeekly.
Live Poll
Do you believe student-led nonprofits effectively address educational gaps in your local community?
