The Binc Foundation awards small-business hardship grants to bookstore owners, booksellers and comic store owners who have unforeseen emergency financial needs. To qualify, you must be located in the U.S. or one of its territories and have experienced a qualifying event, such as a natural disaster, man-made disaster, serious medical expense or domestic violence, among others.
Do I Qualify?
Binc helps bookstore owners, booksellers, and comic store employees and owners with unforeseen emergency financial needs. The Foundation assesses each request to determine how best to provide relief. If approved, grants are typically paid to third-party vendors.
Example Qualifying Events
- Domestic violence
- Funeral
- Natural disaster (fire, flood, earthquake, etc.)
- Man-made disaster (blackout, brownout)
- Mental health
- Housing stability
- Loss of household income due to caregiving
- Loss of household income due to death in the family
- Loss of household income due to disability
- Loss of household income due to disruption of business
- Loss of household income due to partner/spouse/
household wage earner job loss - Serious medical expense
- Utility shut-off and utility shut-off prevention
- Other (not sure if your situation qualifies? Please get in touch.)
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a regular full- or part-time bookseller or
comic employee/owner at a brick-and-mortar, mobile, or pop-up, bookstore or comic shop in the United States, Puerto Rico, The U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam - Must have been employed for a minimum of 90 days
- OR an employee of a bookstore or comic store closed within the past 6 months (employee must have a minimum of 12 months tenure)
- OR were employed by Borders Group in the year 2011
- OR are the immediate family member of a
deceased bookseller - AND are experiencing an unforeseen financial
hardship resulting from a specific, qualifying life event.
Email us if you have any questions
The Binc Foundation strives to be fair, consistent, objective and professional when reviewing requests and making decisions. The employee is asked to complete a financial assistance application and to provide documentation related to their situation, including proof of their current monthly household income, expenses, and the specific qualifying event. This information is used to verify the financial emergency, and details are kept confidential.
Assistance is meant to help ameliorate a problem and move the individual back to financial equilibrium.