Better World Books

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Dun and Bradstreet, records show that the corporation registered as QUMPUS, INC. is traded as Better World Books a for-profit corporation.[1] Qumpus Inc. also does business as Campus Community Outreach (93255) 3702 W. Sample St., South Bend, IN 46619.[2] The Indiana Secretary of State database lists QUMPUS, INC. as a For-Profit Foreign (Off-Shore to the United States) Corporation that owns Better World Books a for-profit corporation as well as other for profit corporations. Better World Books issues advertisements that claim they measure success through a “triple bottom line”, considering economic, environmental & social factors. The Better World Books mission statement is “to capitalize on the value of the book to fund and support literacy initiatives locally, nationally, and around the world.”[3] They raise funding for over 80 non-profit literacy programs.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] History

In May of 2002, three University of Notre Dame graduates led a book drive to help the Robinson Community Learning Center in South Bend, IN. The founders won the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza School of Business top prize for social entrepreneurship - the McCloskey Social Venture Business Plan competition. They used the momentum to expand book drives beyond the Midwest. As of June 2007, the Campus Division of Better World Books works with students & bookstore managers to lead book drives at over 1,000 college and university campuses across North America; the Library Division works with over 500 libraries take care of their discards and unwanted donations.[citation needed]


[edit] Partners

Better World Books raises money for non-profit organizations such as those listed in their advertisements. Better World Books sells the books they collect on Amazon and other venues. The main charities Better World books donates to (according to Better World Books advertisements) are:

  • Books for Africa– the largest shipper of donated books to the African continent – since 1988, shipped over 18 million books to 37 countries.
  • Room to Read– supports the construction of schools, libraries & language labs, publishes local-language children’s books and funds long-term scholarships for young girls in South Asia & Africa
  • National Center for Family Literacy– provides literacy materials and training to over 6,000 family literacy programs across the United States
  • Worldfund in Latin America - supports high-quality education for impoverished children in Latin America.
  • Robinson Community Learning Center in South Bend, IN
  • Prison Book Program in Quincy, MA

Better World Books also gives funding back to college student organizations, libraries, and other sources. Organizations and individuals are compensated according to the level of their collections.

Better World Books is a member of National Association of College Stores (NACS). Some NACS members have questioned the collection of donated textbooks by a for-profit social venture, while many partner with Better World Books to manage extra books left over after buybacks.

[edit] Impact

Better World Books either sells collected books to raise funding for its literacy partners, sends the books directly to partner programs, or recycles books unsuitable for sale or direct donation. As a for-profit social enterprise, the company has not released the percentage of profits donated to non-profit partners, financial figures or salary figures of employees and executives, although NPR reported that its top executives make $100,000 or more. Through November 2007 they have claimed the following:

Social impact: Collected over 10 million books, raised over $2.3 million for non-profit literacy programs, $1.2 million for libraries and $850,000 for student groups.[citation needed]

Environmental impact: Saved over 5,350 tons of books from landfills. Reclaimed over 680,000 pounds of metal shelving from U.S. libraries and offset over 775 tons of carbon dioxide through Carbonfund.org.

Economic impact: Created 130 full-time jobs with full benefits and revitalized a dormant packaging plant in an industrial center in Mishawaka, IN.[citation needed]

[edit] Online Sales

Better World Books sells collected books through 17 online marketplaces, including Amazon.com, Abebooks & their own online e-commerce site, Betterworld.com.

Better World Books currently has over 1.8 million used books physically at their Mishawaka, IN warehouse and employs two full-time, in-house Antique, Rare & Collectible book experts to grade & care for rare books.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ www.dnb.com They buy and collect used books and sell them for profit. The Indiana Secretary of State database lists QUMPUS, INC. as a For-Profit Foreign Corporation.<ref>[https://secure.in.gov/sos/bus_service/online_corps/name_search.aspx Secretary of State - Business Services Division<!-- Bot generated title -->]</li> <li id="cite_note-1">'''[[#cite_ref-1|^]]''' [http://www.nacs.org/newsroom/news/042304-MN.asp Member News, 4/23/04<!-- Bot generated title -->]</li> <li id="cite_note-2">'''[[#cite_ref-2|^]]''' Better World Books promotional literature</li></ol></ref>

[edit] External links

[edit] Literacy Partners