Awards & Recognition

In the two years that the European publication The Global Journal has been naming its list of the world's Top 100 NGOs, Room to Read has consistently been selected out of the thousands of organizations operating globally. Most recently in 2013, Room to Read was ranked #26 in the world, and third in the education category.The rankings, released annually, take into consideration a wide variety of factors, including innovation, impact, transparency, and strategic and financial management. Read the full feature on Room to Read.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) awarded Room to Read one of their two recipients of the 2011 Confucius Prize for Literacy in recognition of excellence and inspiring experiences in the field of literacy throughout the world. Room to Read was chosen for its efforts to improve literacy utilizing the talents of local writers and illustrators to create culturally-relevant reading materials in local languages through its Local Language Publishing program. Read the full press release.

The Academy for Educational Development (AED), one of the world's foremost educational and social development organizations, awarded Room to Read's Local Language Publishing program one of six "Breakthrough Ideas in Education" prizes. A pioneer of high quality children's literature accessible to youth in Asia and Africa, Room to Read hires local authors and illustrators to publish bilingual, imaginative and culturally-relevant children's books. AED applauded Room to Read for this unique program that supports the free exchange of information and knowledge in education.

Room to Read was awarded the Presidential Citation during the American Library Association 2008 Annual Conference in Anaheim, California for its international innovation. The award was presented by Loriene Roy, ALA-Past President, 2007-2008.

The Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship support social entrepreneurs whose work has the potential for large-scale influence on critical challenges of our time. Award recipients are innovators who have achieved proof of concept, are poised to replicate or scale up toward systemic social change, and have a message that will resonate with those whose resources are crucial to advancing large-scale, long-term solutions. Room to Read won the Skoll award in 2004, 2006 and 2010; the most recent award included a three-year US$1.2 million grant for capacity building.

The Fast Company/Monitor Social Capitalist Award is the only award program that quantitatively measures a non-profit group's innovation and social impact, as well as the viability and sustainability of its business model. Room to Read is one of only a few organizations that has won the award every year since the award's inception.

In 2004, the TIME Asia's Heroes Award spotlighted Room to Read founder John Wood as one of 20 individuals who have done something brave, bold, or remarkable before they've reached the age of 40. John was the only non-Asian recipient of the award.

The Draper Richards Foundation provides awards and early stage funding to social entrepreneurs, with a vision of changing the world. Draper Richards Foundations rely on the same due-diligence process and business acumen that brought them success in the financial world. John Wood and Room to Read won the Draper Richards Fellowship Award in 2002.

The Sand Hill Group Foundation awards grants annually, to U.S.-based non-profit organizations helping to improve the lives of low-income women and children. In 2006, The Foundation recognized Room to Read with its first annual Social Entrepreneurship Award to "recognize forward thinking companies."