Our funders

The Booker Prize Foundation and the Booker Prize have been funded since 2019 by Crankstart, the charitable foundation of Sir Michael Moritz KBE and Harriet Heyman. 

Crankstart was established in 2000 and has supported scholarships for students from low-income households at the University of Oxford, the University of Chicago and the Julliard School; support for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); and initiatives for the homeless in the San Francisco Bay Area. Crankstart also supports arts organisations, including a £150 million donation to The National Gallery in London, one of the largest-ever gifts to a cultural institution. 

Michael Moritz, former Chairman of Sequoia Capital, and Harriet Heyman, a former journalist, and sculptor, are dedicated readers and authors. Moritz has recently published Ausländer, described by The Times as ‘a powerful family memoir’. He said of the couple’s support for the Booker Prize Foundation: 

‘Neither of us can imagine a day where we don’t spend time reading a book. The Booker Prizes are ways of spreading the word about the insights, discoveries, pleasures and joy that spring from great fiction. These days I’m a global traveller but, just like the Booker, I was born in Britain and before coming to America was reared on English literature. Harriet and I feel fortunate to be able to support prizes that together celebrate the best fiction in the world.’ 

The International Booker Prize is supported by Bukhman Philanthropies, founded by Dmitri and Daria Bukhman. 

Bukhman Philanthropies is committed to creating meaningful change across neonatal and maternal health, children’s mental health and wellbeing and literature. Their commitment to supporting writers and translators helps sustain creativity, critical thinking and cultural exchange. Through their support of the International Booker Prize, they hope to ensure future generations can engage with a rich diversity of ideas, experiences, and perspectives from across the globe. 

Daria Bukhman said of this partnership:  

‘Growing up, I read a lot of translated fiction, which became a gateway to understanding lives, cultures, and inner worlds far beyond my own. At a time when societies feel increasingly fragmented, translated literature plays a vital role in fostering empathy and widening perspective. Supporting the International Booker Prize in its tenth anniversary year feels especially meaningful: it honours both literary excellence and the power of stories to cross borders and languages, and it celebrates both the author and the translator behind the work in the era of AI. Through Bukhman Philanthropies, I am proud to support a prize that champions diverse voices, ensuring literature continues to challenge, inspire, and connect us. I look forward to deepening this collaboration in the years ahead.’ 

The Children’s Booker Prize is supported by AKO Foundation. 

Founded by Nicolai Tangen, AKO Foundation makes grants to charitable projects that improve education and the wellbeing of young people, promote the arts, and combat the climate emergency. Its support for the prize reflects a shared commitment to nurturing a love of reading among children aged eight–12 and recognising outstanding contemporary fiction for young readers. The Foundation’s proactive, long-term approach to philanthropy helps bring ambitious new initiatives to life, and we are proud to partner with them on this exciting new chapter. 

Philip Lawford, CEO of AKO Foundation, said: 

‘We are very pleased to support the Booker Prize Foundation in launching the Children’s Booker Prize. At AKO Foundation we believe strongly in the importance of nurturing a love of reading from an early age. The evidence linking reading for pleasure to improved educational outcomes and greater social mobility is compelling, and this initiative aligns closely with our priorities as a funder. We are proud to contribute to a project that will inspire and empower young readers.’ 

In addition to these philanthropic organisations, the Booker Prize Foundation is supported by individuals and other partners who believe in the transformative power of fiction. These contributions help us run all three prizes, deliver outreach programmes, improve accessibility, and ensure our work reaches readers everywhere. We welcome new partnerships and supporters that will enable the Booker Prize Foundation to continue to celebrate literary excellence and foster a lifelong love of reading.