CLiF has served over 350,000 children since 1998.
Our Story
The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) was founded by Duncan McDougall in 1998, with a mission to inspire a love of literacy among under-resourced children in New Hampshire and Vermont. CLiF’s first program launched in March of that year, providing books and presentations to rural libraries.
The successful debut led to expanded programming, which ultimately became the seven unique grants CLiF offers today: Year of the Book, Rural Library, Children of Incarcerated Adults, Summer Readers, Community Literacy, Literacy Enrichment and Spark.
Initially funded by Duncan’s side venture as a freelance consultant for firms in New York, Boston and Chicago, CLiF became self-sustaining through fundraising within its first year of operations. CLiF is proud to be an entirely community-supported organization, and receives no state or federal funds.
Today, CLiF’s community partners include public elementary schools, libraries, social service providers, preschools, after-school programs, community centers, low-income housing sites, and correctional facilities, among others. Programming is offered year-round with a focus on offering equitable access to high-quality literacy resources and materials.
Each year, CLiF hosts upwards of 500 literacy events, providing in-person author presentations, writing workshops, diverse book giveaways and much more to children across New Hampshire and Vermont. To date, CLiF has visited an estimated 90 percent of all towns in both states, many on multiple occasions.
CLiF has seven staff members, whose daily operations are supported by a rotation of dedicated volunteers. Dozens of professional authors, illustrators, storytellers and poets give in-person presentations on the organization’s behalf. Throughout its existence, CLiF is fortunate to have benefitted from the guidance and leadership of a deeply engaged Board of Directors.
Upon Duncan’s retirement in 2023, Laura Rice became CLiF’s second executive director, and the organization relocated to new, purpose-built headquarters in Waterbury Center, VT.
