Reading Is Fundamental meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Year, State Incorporated
1973, DC
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Stated Purpose
"to achieve a literate America by inspiring a passion for reading among all children, providing quality content to make an impact, and engaging communities in the solution to give every child the fundamental building blocks for success."
Reading is Fundamental (RIF) works to prepare and motivate children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to children and families who need them most. Through the organization?s Books for Ownership program, RIF kids choose new books and participate in reading activities with teachers, parents, volunteers, and community members multiple times a year. The organization?s Read for Success program is centered around motivating children to read by providing access to high-quality classroom book collections, summer books for students to choose and own, enriching STEAM-themed classroom activities, professional development for teachers and parent engagement. RIF?s digital programs include the Skybrary program which is an interactive library of high-quality digital books and video explorations designed to engage young readers and foster a lifelong love of learning. In 2019 RIF reports that it reached 22.4 million children, distributed 3.6 million books and resources, worked in 16,814 communities in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and engaged 179,538 literacy advocates.
For the year ended September 30, 2019, Reading Is Fundamental's program expenses were:
| Community literacy awareness |
$6,877,106 |
| Print programs |
$2,697,839 |
| Digital programs |
$1,794,792 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$11,369,737 |
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Chief Executive
Alicia Levi, President and Chief Executive Officer
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Compensation*
$302,758
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Chair of the Board
Jack Remondi
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Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
President and Chief Executive Officer, Navient
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Board Size
11
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Paid Staff Size
26
*2018 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)
Reading Is Fundamental incurred joint costs of $410,187 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $231,031 was allocated to program expenses and $179,156 was allocated to fund raising expenses.
Fundraising costs were 11% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $15,153,025, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Reading Is Fundamental's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2019.
| Source of Funds |
| Contributions |
$9,083,104 |
| Donated goods and services |
$6,069,921 |
| Contract revenue |
$1,323,914 |
| Investment income, net |
$221,118 |
| Other revenue |
$91,890 |
| Total Income |
$16,789,346 |
- Programs: 81%
- Fundraising: 11%
- Administrative: 8%
| Total Income |
$16,789,346 |
| Program expenses |
$11,369,737 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$1,643,735 |
| Administrative expenses |
$1,173,041 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$14,186,513 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$2,602,833 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$11,670,737 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$0 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$14,273,570 |
| Total Liabilities |
$2,562,432 |
| Total Assets |
$16,836,002 |
As reported in the organization’s audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2019, RIF received in-kind donations totaling aproximately $6,069,000 in the form of media and advertising ($5,273,000), donated software ($602,000), books ($158,000) and donated legal and consulting services ($36,000).