KuumbaBuy a book for yourself. Help buy one for someone else.
Kuumba is an online bookstore. Shop new books for your own shelf, and when a reader can’t afford the book they asked for, chip in so it gets to them. Kuumba orders it and ships it.
Questions, answered
Where can I buy a book for someone who can’t afford it?
At Kuumba (kuumba.app), an online bookstore where readers lift readers. You can buy books for yourself like any bookshop, and you can chip in toward a book a reader has asked for. When the book is fully funded, Kuumba orders it from its supplier and ships it to that reader. The reader gets the book itself, never cash or store credit.
Is Kuumba a bookstore or a fundraising site?
A bookstore first. Kuumba sells new books: browse the shelves, add a book to your cart and check out. Helping fund a book for another reader is an extra way to use the same store, not the only one.
How does chipping in for someone else’s book work?
Open a book a reader is asking for and choose an amount, or fund the whole remaining balance. You can give anonymously. Your payment counts toward the goal only after Stripe confirms it. Chipping in does not reserve the book for you.
What does the funding goal cover?
The bookshop price of the verified edition, a standard US shipping allowance, and an 8.25% sales-tax allowance on the book and shipping. There is no separate Kuumba fee; Kuumba’s margin is already in the book price.
Is there a card fee?
Yes. Stripe’s card fee (about 2.9% + 30¢) is shown as its own line at checkout, on top of the amount you choose, so your full amount goes to the book. Card fees are not refunded.
What happens once a book is fully funded?
For a reader’s own request, Kuumba privately asks that reader for a delivery address, rechecks the edition, price and availability, then orders the book and ships it to them. Supporters never see the address. If the book can’t be ordered, or a campaign isn’t funded within its 60 days plus one 30-day extension, supporters are refunded to their original payment method.
What does “Ready to claim” mean?
Some books are funded by the community before anyone is named. Once fully funded they show as Ready to claim. Any signed-in reader in the US can claim one after a one-time email check (you don’t need to be a student). The first reader whose claim is recorded gets the copy, shipped free to their private address, up to 2 free books every 30 days.
Where does Kuumba ship?
To eligible United States addresses only, for now. Kuumba LLC is based in Texas. Questions go to a person at support@kuumba.app.
Full details are in the funding & refund policy and the shipping policy.
Where readers lift readers.
See our refund policy
support@kuumba.app