ANN ARBOR, MI—The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation is accepting applications for the Carla Gray Memorial Scholarship for Emerging Bookseller-Activists Sept. 1-20, 2025. The winning bookseller will be awarded a year-long scholarship for professional development, which includes travel and hotel to attend Winter Institute 2026, travel and hotel to attend their 2026 regional fall tradeshow and a $1,000 stipend to fund a community outreach project. Eligibility requirements and the application can be found here.
The goal of the community outreach project is to find new readers and ensure access to books that improve readers’ lives while integrating bookstores even more fully into their communities. Meet past winners and learn about their projects.
This year’s scholarship will be the seventh awarded by the Friends of Carla Gray Committee and the Binc Foundation. It is intended to help a bookseller with at least one, but fewer than 10 years of experience connect with other booksellers, publishers and authors, and establish the long-term relationships needed to keep the book industry thriving.
“Binc is honored to support booksellers through this scholarship and professional development opportunity that celebrates Carla’s legacy and her enthusiasm for books, bookstores, and their communities,” said Binc CEO Pam French. “We look forward to meeting the winner at Winter Institute and learning more about their outreach project.”