Woman Philanthropists: Andi Drileck of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Illinois On How To Leave A Lasting Legacy With A Successful Nonprofit Organization
The experience has shown me how much can be accomplished when passionate community members come together around a shared goal.
As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Andi Drileck.
Andi Drileck is the Illinois State Director at Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a book-gifting program for children from birth to age five that works to increase early childhood literacy and inspire a lifelong love of reading. She is passionate about helping people grow in their education and careers and encouraging them to reach their fullest potential. Andi has more than twenty years of experience leading nonprofits and finds her work with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library especially meaningful because of the lasting impact early literacy can have on a child’s education, career, and future success.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would like to get to know you a bit better. Can you please tell us about one or two life experiences that most shaped who you are today?
I began my career as a remedial reading teacher working with elementary students. Since then, my professional life has remained rooted in education-related roles, including positions with educational publishing companies, teaching adult education and GED preparation, and serving in various nonprofit leadership roles, from entry-level positions to vice president to state director. I have had the opportunity to work for several outstanding organizations with strong leaders, and I learned a great deal by observing their example. My first nonprofit position was with an organization that provided workforce and career development services to people working to improve their lives. There, I met many remarkable individuals whose life experiences were very different from my own. Many had overcome hardships I had never faced, yet they demonstrated tremendous perseverance and determination to build better futures for themselves and their families. Those experiences taught me not to judge people based on their backgrounds, but instead to appreciate them for who they are and what they have overcome. They shaped the way I interact with others, and I strive to approach people with openness, respect, and empathy.
You are a successful leader. Which three-character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? We would love to hear a few stories or examples.
Hard work has been essential throughout my career. Leadership often requires persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to respond to changing circumstances. Another important trait is the willingness to take risks, learn from failure, and apply those lessons moving forward. Earlier in my career, I worked with an executive director who was a risk-taker and encouraged our organization to dream big. Together, we launched an ambitious initiative that required significant effort but ultimately was not successful. Once we determined that the program needed to end, we carefully evaluated what had worked, what had not, and which lessons could be applied to other programs. Our executive director created an environment where it felt safe to take calculated risks and learn from mistakes. That experience taught us a great deal and ultimately helped us develop larger, more successful projects. Honesty has also been critical to my success, particularly in the nonprofit sector, where programs often rely on grants and donations. I have overseen large projects and government grants that required careful attention to detail. In most cases, we exceeded funder expectations, but there were also instances when we fell short. When that happened, I was honest and transparent with our program officers about the challenges we faced. Together, we explored possible solutions and determined how best to move forward. Building strong partnerships and maintaining open, honest relationships can make a significant difference when implementing programs and working toward a common goal.
What’s the most interesting discovery you’ve made since you started leading your organization?
I’m not leading an organization, but working with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has been a fabulous experience. The most interesting discovery I’ve made is how passionate and creative our local program partners are when it comes to promoting early childhood literacy and getting books into children’s hands. They find innovative ways to raise funds so more children can participate, spread the word through social media and websites, and host creative Dolly-themed events that build awareness and enthusiasm in their communities. The Imagination Library’s community-based model is different from that of other nonprofits where I’ve worked, and it has been exciting to see how deeply our partners embrace the mission. They are truly special, and I’m continually impressed by their determination, creativity, and commitment to making the program successful. The experience has shown me how much can be accomplished when passionate community members come together around a shared goal.
Can you please tell our readers more about how you or your organization intends to make a significant social impact?
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library supports early learning during the most critical years of a child’s brain development from birth to age five, when more than 90% of brain growth occurs. By providing every enrolled child with a high-quality, age-appropriate book each month, the program gives children consistent exposure to print, language, and storytelling, regardless of their family’s income. We recently conducted the world’s largest study of shared book reading, collecting data from more than 86,000 families across five countries. The findings confirmed that participation in the Imagination Library helps close the literacy gap, strengthens home literacy environments, inspires a love of reading, and encourages positive family reading habits. After receiving just 10 books, children enrolled in the program were at least four times more likely to demonstrate stronger emerging literacy skills, including vocabulary and phonological awareness, than children who were not enrolled. They were also nine times more likely to be read to at least four days a week. These findings, and many others, demonstrate the powerful impact of providing children with books and families with opportunities to read together. One librarian shared that children who participate in the Imagination Library arrive at storytimes and kindergarten-readiness programs with greater familiarity with books, stronger vocabularies, and more confidence engaging with adults and peers around reading. Families also frequently report that receiving a new book each month helps establish regular reading routines at home, which is an important foundation for later academic success. The Imagination Library is a cost-effective, evidence-based investment in Illinois children. By building literacy skills before formal schooling begins, the program helps reduce educational gaps, strengthens families, and supports stronger long-term outcomes for children and communities.
What makes you feel passionate about this cause more than any other?
I have always been passionate about education, which is why this program is so meaningful to me. Early childhood literacy is closely connected to many aspects of my career, and I believe that setting children up for success begins in their earliest years. This program supports children during a critical period of development, when a baby’s brain develops rapidly. Approximately 90% of brain development occurs by age five, making the early introduction of books and reading especially important. When children enter kindergarten without the foundational skills they need, they can face greater challenges throughout their education. These readiness gaps can persist and widen over time, creating an increasingly difficult path for students. Research shows that children who participate in the program experience a 29% increase in kindergarten readiness, an important milestone. Children who enter school prepared to learn are better positioned for long-term academic success and for future career and life opportunities. This program helps address readiness gaps by giving children access to books, strengthening early literacy skills, and helping them begin school ready to learn. By investing in children during these formative years, we are equipping them with the confidence, skills, and foundation they need to succeed, not only in school, but throughout their lives.
Without naming names, could you share a story about an individual who benefited from your initiatives?
We regularly hear from parents, grandparents, teachers, and community leaders about the profound impact Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has on the children in their lives. The Illinois 50/50 match program plays a crucial role in making this initiative accessible by covering half the cost and significantly reducing the financial burden on local communities, allowing them to fundraise the remaining 50%, an amount that might otherwise be out of reach. The state’s matching funds halve the cost per child, bringing it down to about $16 per year, or just $80 to cover a child from birth through age five. This affordability enables more communities to launch and sustain local programs, ensuring that children across Illinois receive a free, age-appropriate book in the mail every month. Here are a few testimonials from families and educators participating in the program: “This program helps local families in so many ways. Whether it’s a family struggling to budget for books, a family in a rural area with no direct access to a library, or a new family wanting to introduce a diverse reading experience to the next generation. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a great literary start for countless families. We are so thankful for this program!” “DPIL is very important to the children of our county, as 21% of them live in poverty and cannot afford to purchase books or visit a library. While teachers have been very positive about DPIL, they also report that many parents are hesitant to borrow library books from school out of fear they might be damaged or not returned on time.” “This is such a bright spot for our whole family when we get a new DPIL book in the mail! Times are tough, and our family is on a very lean budget. We cannot thank you enough. It makes us stop, slow down, and read together as a family.”
We all want to help and to live a life of purpose. What are three actions anyone could take to help address the root cause of the problem you’re trying to solve?
We all want to help and live lives of purpose. Here are three simple actions anyone can take to address the root cause of the problem we’re working to solve: Donate to support early childhood literacy. Due to the 50/50 Illinois state match, a child can receive 12 books mailed to their home for only $16 annually or $80 over five years. https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com/ Sign children up to receive free books at www.ImaginationLibrary.com/check-availability. Read with children regularly to help build a lifelong love of reading.
Based on your experience, what are the “5 Things You Need To Create A Successful & Effective Nonprofit That Leaves A Lasting Legacy?” Please share a story or example for each.
1. A clear mission
A successful nonprofit needs a mission that is easy to understand and compelling enough to inspire action. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has a clear purpose: inspiring a love of reading by mailing free books to children from birth to age five. A focused mission helps staff, partners, and donors understand the goal and make decisions that support it.
2. Strong leadership
Strong leaders establish a clear vision while empowering others to share ideas and make thoughtful, informed decisions. Early in my career, an executive director championed an ambitious initiative that did not achieve its intended outcome. Rather than focusing on blame, she guided our team in reflecting on what we could learn from the experience. That approach built trust, strengthened our capacity as a team, and informed more successful projects in the future.
3. Diversified funding
Relying too heavily on one funding source can leave a nonprofit vulnerable. Sustainable organizations combine government funding, grants, donations, corporate support, and community fundraising. In Illinois, the state covers half the cost of the Imagination Library while local partners raise the remainder. This shared model makes the program more affordable and gives communities an active role in sustaining it.
4. Measurable impact
Nonprofits must be able to demonstrate that their work is producing meaningful results. The Imagination Library’s research study of more than 86,000 families found that participation strengthens home literacy environments, encourages family reading, and supports emerging literacy skills.
5. Strong partnerships
No nonprofit creates lasting change alone. The Imagination Library depends on local partners who understand their communities and know how to reach families, raise funds, and build support. The statewide program provides matching funds and infrastructure, while local partners contribute relationships, creativity, and community knowledge. When partners share ownership of a mission, the impact can continue well beyond any one person or organization.
How do you get inspired after an inevitable setback?
Like most people, I’ve experienced both highs and lows throughout my life and career. During challenging times, I remind myself how fortunate I’ve been to work with so many amazing people. I’ve stayed in touch with many former colleagues and often turn to them for advice and encouragement. I’m especially inspired by colleagues who enjoy brainstorming and building on ideas. My initial thoughts may not always be fully developed or even good ideas, but when others contribute their suggestions and feedback, those ideas often grow into something much stronger, sometimes something completely different from where we started. These experiences have taught me that setbacks are not the end of the story. They can be opportunities to listen, learn, and create something better together. We are so much stronger as a team than we are alone.
Thank you for sharing these insights!
Woman Philanthropists: Andi Drileck of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Illinois On How To Leave… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.