Question 1

What is a Commissary Grant?

Accepted Answer

It is support placed into an eligible incarcerated person's official institutional commissary or trust account, so they can buy approved items at the facility store.

Question 2

What is prison commissary?

Accepted Answer

A commissary is the store inside a correctional facility. It sells approved food, hygiene items, writing supplies and other permitted personal necessities, paid for from money held in a person's institutional account.

Question 3

Who can apply?

Accepted Answer

The program is intended for eligible incarcerated people in U.S. prisons. Detailed eligibility rules are still being confirmed and are clearly labelled as pending on the Who Can Apply page.

Question 4

How do I apply?

Accepted Answer

Complete the application form on this site. It asks for your name, prison number, correctional institution, state, skills or talents, your story, why you are applying and how commissary support would help. Applying is free.

Question 5

Where is the program currently available?

Accepted Answer

Coverage is not yet confirmed. The program is intended for U.S. prisons; specific states and facilities will be published once verified.

Question 6

How is the program funded?

Accepted Answer

Through book sales connected to Books4Books, with 30% of book-sale proceeds intended for the commissary initiative. Final accounting definitions and reporting will be published.

Question 7

How are applications reviewed?

Accepted Answer

Applications are reviewed against published criteria and verified before funds are committed. The full review process and timelines will be published before decisions begin.

Question 8

Can my story be shared?

Accepted Answer

Only with your written consent. The application includes an optional consent box, sharing has no effect on approval, and consent can be withdrawn at any time.

Question 9

How can supporters help?

Accepted Answer

Buy a participating book, share the program with families and facility staff, or contact us about partnering.

Question 10

Who can submit an application?

Accepted Answer

An incarcerated person may apply directly. A family member, chaplain, case manager, correctional employee or authorized advocate may also assist with an application.

Question 11

How much is a grant?

Accepted Answer

The standard Essential Needs Grant is $25. Education and communication grants may be up to $50 and special reentry awards up to $100. Default limits are one grant every 90 days and $100 per recipient per year.

Question 12

Is approval guaranteed?

Accepted Answer

No. Awards depend on available funding, successful verification, objective criteria and program limits.

Question 13

How is the 30% calculated?

Accepted Answer

Grant fund allocation equals net royalties actually received multiplied by 30%. Net royalties are what remains after retailer fees, printing costs, distribution deductions, returns and platform charges. It is never 30% of the retail purchase price.

Question 14

Where are approved funds sent?

Accepted Answer

Only to the recipient's verified institutional trust or commissary account through an institution-approved provider. Funds are never sent to a family member, personal bank account, Cash App, Venmo, Zelle or a cryptocurrency address.

Question 15

Do institutions take fees out of a deposit?

Accepted Answer

They may. Correctional systems can impose transaction fees, restrictions or legally authorized deductions on deposits.

Question 16

What information will you never ask for?

Accepted Answer

We never request Social Security numbers, prison-system login credentials, or a family member's payment account for recipient grants.

Question 17

Do I have to take part in religious programming?

Accepted Answer

No. Education and reentry resources are voluntary and separate from grant decisions, and a nonreligious pathway is always available.

Question 18

Can I appeal a decision?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Appeals may be submitted within 30 days. The original record is preserved, you may add new facts or correct an error, and the appeal is routed to a different reviewer whenever possible.

Question 19

How do I check my application status?

Accepted Answer

Use the Check Status page with your application number plus a second verification factor. Sensitive details are never exposed in links or email subject lines.

Question 20

Are donations tax deductible?

Accepted Answer

We do not describe contributions as tax deductible. That statement will only appear if and when authorized documentation confirms it.

Questions from applicants, families and partners