826 National: FAQ

What is 826 National?

Almost immediately after we opened our doors at 826 Valencia, groups and individuals in other cities across the country began to contact us, asking how we did it. They wanted to know how to open their own youth writing centers, how to inspire students to write, how to work effectively with teachers, how to encourage young people to produce professional-quality work, how to raise money, how to create a board of directors, and most importantly, how to rally volunteers to make it all happen. The answers to these questions and more are provided by 826 National, which is an umbrella organization that offers support to current and forthcoming 826 chapters, helping them to duplicate the success of the original 826 Valencia program.

What are the current 826 chapters?

826 Valencia in San Francisco opened in April 2002. 826NYC (Brooklyn, NY) opened in September 2004, and 826LA (Venice Beach, CA) opened in March 2005, followed by 826Michigan in June. 826Seattle just opened its doors on October 12th and 826Chicago will start its programs October 24th! Each 826 chapter offers the same caliber of free student services first developed at 826 Valencia.

What does it mean to be an 826 chapter?

Chapters of 826 National are bound by a chapter affiliation agreement that defines the relationship between the chapter and National, outlines 826 National’s standards, and also lists specifically which programs an 826 chapter must offer. Only official chapters are allowed to use the 826 name.

Can we use the 826 name either during our planning process or as a part of the name for our potential organization?

Unfortunately, the 826 name can only be used by official chapters, such as 826 NYC and 826 Chicago. It cannot be used as a “place holder” name for individuals meeting to discuss a particular community’s needs. You cannot leave the impression that you are a chapter of 826 until the application and selection process is officially completed. This includes printed material and online forums. For example, please avoid group names such as 826 San Francisco and substitute San Francisco Writing Center or something unique and creative instead. However, feel free to refer to your exploration and plans as inspired by 826 Valencia or other nonprofits that move you to make a difference in your community.

Can I visit an 826 chapter to learn more about the work you do?

We held our first informational seminar at the end of September, and we are proud to announce that it was a great success! We met with 826 enthusiasts from around the country to show them around and tell them all about what we do. After meeting such a great group of community leaders, we are excited to meet the next group this spring!

We will offer a two-day seminar on April 20 and 21, 2006, which will include a tour of our space in San Francisco as well as a great deal of additional information about the 826 program. The first day will be dedicated to programming, and the second day focuses on administration. We created a particular emphasis for each day in order to accommodate those who would prefer to concentrate on a particular area. We will post the exact dates as soon as possible, so keep posted!

Each day of the seminar is $100 per person, however, if you come both days, the total cost is $170 per person. Each day, we will be providing a light breakfast and a great lunch from a local (and delicious) deli. Email 826 National if you are interested in attending, and we will be sure to keep you informed.

The 826 National Project is awesome. How can I support your work?

Thanks! We are proud of the work we do. If you live in the same town as an existing 826 chapter, please consider volunteering. We also encourage those that can to donate money or supplies. (It's tax deductible!)

I know that 826 Valencia makes its greatest impact in the classroom. What can I do to support my community schools?

Many cities (large and small) have language-arts nonprofits in need of volunteers. Contact your local library or school to find out about opportunities to help your community!

I know of an organization that would like to partner with an 826 chapter. How can we do this?

Our 826 chapters would love to collaborate with other nonprofits to discover new ways to work effectively with students. If you are interested in partnering with a particular chapter, you can contact it directly through its website.

Is anyone else in my town interested in non-profit literacy work?

It is wonderful that you feel inspired to give back to your community. Before you explore an affiliation with 826 National, find out if a similar program is already up and running in your community. There are many outstanding nonprofits already in existence that emphasize the language arts. Contact your local library or school to discover what's available!

Do I have to open an 826 chapter to work with students in my community?

We encourage everyone to become involved in large and small ways with their community schools. Talk to local teachers and see how you can best support their work!

I have a great idea about a way to support my community. How do I start my own non-profit?

Starting a nonprofit is exciting, but it is also a huge undertaking. We suggest you read How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation by Nolo Press to learn more about the legal aspects of starting a nonprofit. We encourage everyone to check out the outstanding resources for emerging nonprofits at Idealist.org. They offer extensive tools for all steps in the process, a thoroughly researched FAQ, and a forum for exchanging ideas.

As a nonprofit ourselves, we are not in a position to provide financial support or grants for potential chapters or projects underway in your community, although we certainly wish we could.

I have investigated my community and talked to many teachers, and I think my town is a possible match for an 826 chapter. How do I apply to become an 826 chapter?

We opened up our application process in December of 2005. Unfortunately, our open call for applications is currently closed to new applicants for the 2005-2006 year. For the time being, we are dedicating our time and energy to nurturing and supporting the existing six 826 chapters, and reviewing the applications for 826 chapterhood that we have already received. We have not yet set a date for when we will be reopening the application process, but please check back at the end of this year for updates.

Even though we are not planning on opening any new chapters until early 2007, it’s never too early to beginning researching and scheming! We’ve provided some questions on our application page that we feel are essential considerations for anyone who would like to start a writing organization in their community.

Why are you waiting until 2007 to open more 826 chapters?

We are currently dedicating our time and energies to nurturing the six 826 chapters already in progress. We hope to provide the same dedication to future chapters, and to do this we cannot begin pursuing the possibility of a small number of partnerships until 2006, and we will not be opening any new chapters until early 2007.

What if I still have questions?

Please email any questions to and we will try our best to help. Please remember that our staff is tiny, and rest assured that we will get back to you just as quickly as we can manage. Thanks for your patience!

"Then the tutors and students pair up and work together for between thirty minutes to an hour on the student's draft. Thus begins a one-on-one relationship (mediated through 826) between student writer and tutor, working through multiple drafts before arriving at the completed essay. My students are very grateful for this essentially professional service, which would privately be very expensive and beyond the means of many. And their writing improved remarkably from the expert one-on-one attention that my workload does not allow for."

Heather Woodward
School of the Arts

"And, just wanted to say what a good time I had on Monday at the tutoring session. I can't get over what a very cool organization 826 is -- every community should have such a resource!"

Madeleine Clare
826 volunteer tutor

"All of the students completed the playwriting project, even those students that have difficulty finishing any project. The product of most of the students showed improvement over past writing projects. It was very easy and wonderful to work with your staff and your volunteers. Everyone was very reliable and professional. It was a very enjoyable experience."

Katie Eller
4th and 5th grade teacher
John Swett Elementary School