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Philadelphia PA | IRS ruling year: 1988 | EIN: 23-2515768
Children's Literacy Initiative works with educators to transform instruction so that children can become powerful readers, writers and thinkers. CLI envisions a nati ... (More)
Children's Literacy Initiative works with educators to transform instruction so that children can become powerful readers, writers and thinkers. CLI envisions a nation where every child has the power of literacy and the opportunity for a lifetime of success. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 92%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores: 85% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 5% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
| Date Published | Form 990 FYE | Overall Score | Overall Rating |
| Rating Version: 2.1 | |||
| 12/23/2021 | 2020 | 89.39 |  |
| 2/1/2022 | 2019 | 91.16 | |
| 10/1/2020 | 2019 | 91.16 | |
This organization received multiple star ratings within this fiscal year, due to an update to its Accountability and Transparency data and/or the receipt of an amended Form 990. | |||
| 3/1/2019 | 2018 | 91.16 | |
| 5/1/2018 | 2017 | 92.92 | |
| 8/1/2017 | 2016 | 89.86 | |
| 6/1/2016 | 2015 | 95.45 | |
| Rating Version: 2.0 | |||
| 10/1/2015 | 2014 | 94.63 | |
| 8/1/2014 | 2013 | 95.46 | |
| 6/1/2013 | 2012 | 92.73 | |
| 5/1/2012 | 2011 | 90.83 | |
| 9/20/2011 | 2010 | 89.76 | |
| Rating Version: 1.0 | |||
| 5/1/2011 | 2010 | 85.01 | |
| 7/1/2010 | 2009 | 87.00 | |
| 7/1/2009 | 2008 | 87.81 | |
| 5/1/2008 | 2007 | 91.64 | |
| 3/1/2007 | 2006 | 92.30 | |
| 4/1/2006 | 2005 | 83.31 | |
| 7/1/2005 | 2004 | 78.48 |  |
| 10/1/2004 | 2003 | 85.57 | |
| 10/1/2003 | 2002 | 93.40 | |
| 2/5/2003 | 2001 | 96.33 | |
The IRS is significantly delayed in processing nonprofits' annual tax filings (Forms 990). As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Children's Literacy Initiative is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations. Please check with the charity directly for any questions you may have.
Children's Literacy Initiative has earned a 91% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
This Accountability & Finance score represents IRS Form 990 data up until FY 2019. More recent filing data is available, but it has not been factored into this score, due to COVID-19's effect on this organization.
Rating update postponed due to COVID-19's impact on this organization. View Children's Literacy Initiative's response.
Learn more
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Not Applicable
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has these governance practices in place.
Sources Include: IRS Form 990
| Independent Voting Board Members ... (More) The presence of an independent governing body is strongly recommended by many industry professionals to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. Our analysts check the Form 990 to determine if the independent Board members are a voting majority and also at least five in number. (Less) | |
| No Material Diversion of Assets ... (More) A diversion of assets – any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft – can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We check the charity's last two Forms 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets. If the charity does report a diversion, then we check to see if it complied with the Form 990 instructions by describing what happened and its corrective action. This metric will be assigned to one of the following categories:
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| Audited Financials Prepared by Independent Accountant ... (More) Audited financial statements provide important information about financial accountability and accuracy. They should be prepared by an independent accountant with oversight from an audit committee. (It is not necessary that the audit committee be a separate committee. Often at smaller charities, it falls within the responsibilities of the finance committee or the executive committee.) The committee provides an important oversight layer between the management of the organization, which is responsible for the financial information reported, and the independent accountant, who reviews the financials and issues an opinion based on its findings. We check the charity's Form 990 reporting to see if it meets this criteria.
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| Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From Related Parties ... (More) Making loans to related parties such as key officers, staff, or Board members, is not standard practice in the sector as it may divert the charity's funds away from its charitable mission and can lead to real and perceived conflict-of-interest problems. This practice is discouraged by sector trade groups which point to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act when they call for charities to refrain from making loans to directors and executives. And the IRS is concerned enough with the practice that it requires charities to disclose on their Form 990 any loans to or from current and former officers, directors, trustees, key employees, and other "disqualified persons." Furthermore, some state laws go so far as to prohibit loans to board members and officers. And although employees and trustees are permitted to make loans to charities, this practice can also result in real and/or perceived conflict of interest problems for the charity. Furthermore, it is problematic because it is an indicator that the organization is not financially secure. (Less) | |
| Documents Board Meeting Minutes ... (More) An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference. Charities are not required to make their Board meeting minutes available to the public. As such, we are not able to review and critique their minutes. For this performance metric, we are checking to see if the charity reports on its Form 990 that it does keep those minutes. In the future, we will also track and rate whether or not a charity keeps minutes for its committee meetings. (Less) | |
| Distributes 990 to Board Before Filing ... (More) Providing copies of the Form to the governing body in advance of filing is considered a best practice, as it allows for thorough review by the individuals charged with overseeing the organization. The Form 990 asks the charity to disclose whether or not it has followed this best practice. If the charity has not distributed its Form 990 to the board before filing, then we deduct 4 points from its Accountability and Transparency score. (Less) | |
| Does not Compensate Board Members ... (More) The IRS requires that any compensation paid to members of the charity's governing body be listed on the Form 990. Furthermore, all members of the governing body need to be listed whether or not they are compensated. It is not unusual for some members of the board to have compensation listed. The executive director of the organization frequently has a seat on the board, for instance, and is compensated for being a full time staff member. However, it is rare for a charity to compensate individuals only for serving on its Board of Directors. Although this sort of board compensation is not illegal, it is not considered a best practice. (Less) | |
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990, or for some metrics on the charity's website, that the organization has these policies in place.
Sources Include: IRS Form 990 and organization's website
| Conflict of Interest ... (More) Such a policy protects the organization, and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer or director of the organization. Charities are not required to share their conflict of interest policies with the public. Although we can not evaluate the substance of its policy, we can tell you if the charity has one in place based on the information it reports on its Form 990. If the charity does not have a Conflict of Interest policy, then we deduct 4 points from its Accountability and Transparency score. (Less) | |
| Whistleblower ... (More) This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report any financial mismanagement. Here we are reporting on the existence of a policy as reported by the charity on its Form 990. (Less) | |
| Records Retention and Destruction ... (More) Such a policy establishes guidelines for handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promotes data integrity. Here we are reporting on the existence of a policy as reported by the charity on its Form 990. If the charity does not have a Records Retention and Destruction Policy, then we deduct 4 points from its Accountability and Transparency score. (Less) | |
| CEO Compensation Process ... (More) This process indicates that the organization has a documented policy that it follows year after year. The policy should indicate that an objective and independent review process of the CEO's compensation has been conducted which includes benchmarking against comparable organizations. We check to be sure that the charity has reported on its Form 990 its process for determining its CEO pay. (Less) | |
| Donor Privacy ... (More) Donors can be reluctant to contribute to a charity when their name, address, or other basic information may become part of donor lists that are exchanged or sold, resulting in an influx of charitable solicitations from other organizations. Our analysts check the charity's website to see if the organization has a donor privacy policy in place and what it does and does not cover. Privacy policies are assigned to one of the following categories:
The privacy policy must be specific to donor information. A general website policy which references "visitor" or "user" personal information will not suffice. A policy that refers to donor information collected on the website is also not sufficient as the policy must be comprehensive and applicable to both online and offline donors. The existence of a privacy policy of any type does not prohibit the charity itself from contacting the donor for informational, educational, or solicitation purposes. (Less) | |
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990, or for some metrics on the charity's website, that the organization makes this information easily accessible.
Sources Include: IRS Form 990 and organization's website
| CEO Salary Listed on 990 ... (More) Charities are required to list their CEO's name and compensation on the Form 990. Our analysts check to be sure that the charities complied with the Form 990 instructions and included this information in their filing. (Less) | |
| Board of Directors Listed on Website ... (More) Our analysts check to see if the charity lists Board members on its website. Publishing this information enables donors and other stakeholders to ascertain the make up of the charity's governing body. This enables stakeholders to report concerns to the Board. Charity Navigator does not cross-check the Board members listed on the website with that reported on the Form 990, because the latter often isn't available until more than a year after the charity's fiscal year ends. In that time, the charity's Board members may have changed, and the charity typically reflects those more recent changes on the website. (Less) | |
| Key Staff Listed on Website ... (More) It is important for donors and other stakeholders to know who runs the organization day-to-day. Charity Navigator does not cross-check the leadership listed on the website with that reported on the Form 990 because the latter often isn't available until more than a year after the charity's fiscal year ends. In that time, the charity's leadership may have changed and the charity typically reflects those more recent changes on the website. In other words, since the Form 990 isn't especially timely, it can not be used to verify the leadership information published on the charity's site. (Less) | |
| Audited Financial Statements Listed on Website ... (More) We check the charity's website to see if it has published its audited financial statements for the fiscal year represented by the most recently filed IRS Form 990. It is important for donors to have easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well. We currently rate charities on whether or not they publish their audit on their website. (Less) | |
| Form 990 Available on Website ... (More) We check the charity's website to see if it has published its most recently filed IRS Form 990 (a direct link to the charity's 990 on an external site is sufficient). It is important for donors to have easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well. (Less) | |
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 24.80% - 5/10 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 24.80% - 5/10 pts
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent 990).
Part of our goal in rating the financial performance of charities is to help donors assess the financial capacity and sustainability of a charity. As do organizations in other sectors, charities must be mindful of their management of total liabilites in relation to their total assets. This ratio is an indicator of an organization’s solvency and or long term sustainability. Dividing a charity's total liabilities by its total assets yields this percentage.
Source: IRS Form 990
Working Capital Ratio - 0.36 years - 5/10 ptsWorking Capital Ratio - 0.36 years - 5/10 pts
Determines how long a charity could sustain its level of spending using its net available assets, or working capital, as reported on its most recently filed Form 990. We include in a charity's working capital unrestricted and temporarily restricted net assets, and exclude permanently restricted net assets. Dividing these net available assets in the most recent year by a charity's average total expenses, yields the working capital ratio. We calculate the charity's average total expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Fundraising Efficiency - $0.15 - 7.5/10 ptsFundraising Efficiency - $0.15 - 7.5/10 pts
The amount spent to raise $1 in charitable contributions. To calculate a charity's fundraising efficiency, we divide its average fundraising expenses by the average total contributions it receives. We calculate the charity's average expenses and average contributions over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Administrative Expense Ratio - 7.90% - 10/10 ptsAdministrative Expense Ratio - 7.90% - 10/10 pts
As reported by charities on their IRS Form 990, this measure reflects what percent of its total budget a charity spends on overhead, administrative staff and associated costs, and organizational meetings. Dividing a charity's average administrative expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Fundraising Expense Ratio - 5.30% - 10/10 ptsFundraising Expense Ratio - 5.30% - 10/10 pts
This measure reflects what a charity spends to raise money. Fundraising expenses can include campaign printing, publicity, mailing, and staffing and costs incurred in soliciting donations, memberships, and grants. Dividing a charity's average fundraising expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense Ratio - 86.70% - 10/10 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 86.70% - 10/10 pts
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s).
This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver. Dividing a charity's average program expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense Growth - 35.83% - 10/10 ptsProgram Expense Growth - 35.83% - 10/10 pts
Organizations that demonstrate consistent annual growth in program expenses are able to outpace inflation and thus sustain their programs year to year. These organizations also supply givers with greater confidence by maintaining broad public support for their programs. We compute the average annual growth of program expenses using the following formula: [(Yn/Y0)(1/n)]-1, where Y0 is a charity's program expenses in the first year of the interval analyzed, Yn is the charity's program expenses in the most recent year, and n is the interval of years passed between Y0 and Yn.
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Presented here are this organizations key compensated staff members as identified by our analysts. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Joel Zarrow, Chief Executive Officer
$276,735 (0.88% of Total Expenses)
Current CEO and Board Chair can be found in the Leadership & Adaptability report below.
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2020
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Activities:
Giving information or opinion (see also Advocacy) (BMF activity code: 125)
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Children's Literacy Initiative) or EIN (232515768) in the 'Search Term' field.
This organization was impacted by COVID-19 in a way that effected their financial health in 2020. This normally would have reduced their star rating. Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them, and doing this pauses our revision of their rating. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal.
Children's Literacy Initiative reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Fundraising Capacity
Revenue
Staffing
Administrative Capacity
Grants Received
Balance Sheet
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
Children’s Literacy Initiative fully pivoted its educator coaching, training and instructional leadership services to virtual formats in support of distance and hybrid learning. However, the logistical and financial uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic caused select school district partners to reduce or end their contracts with CLI, resulting in a reduction in client services revenue. In response, CLI lowered its revenue forecast, reduced staff and applied for loans from the Federal Paycheck Protection Program: $4.5MM in First Draw (since forgiven) and $2MM in the Second Draw. To support future growth with impact, CLI hired a Chief Development Officer who is leading the organization to double operational philanthropic revenues within a 24-month period. Additionally, CLI appointed executive directors for its Broward County, FL; Chicago, Philadelphia/New Jersey service areas to be responsible for increased business development and fundraising in addition to implementation and impact.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
CLI successfully pivoted all educator professional development and student-facing reading intervention to virtual formats. District partners’ varied availability for formal training during the school year required CLI to innovate and diversify its training content delivery. As a result, CLI not only delivered multi-session synchronous virtual trainings to hundreds of teachers on a single day, but also provided asynchronous trainings and delivered training content during virtual grade-level teacher meetings. CLI’s Early Literacy Interventionists partnered with classroom teachers to continue to virtually deliver 30-minute sessions of reading intervention to small groups of students every school day. Teachers appreciated the flexibility of attending trainings virtually and attendance increased. Going forward, CLI is leveraging virtual formats for training and instructional leadership meetings to provide educators ease of access and mitigate ongoing COVID-19 health safety concerns.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
The backbone of Children’s Literacy Initiative’s (CLI) work lies in teacher-centered coaching and a research-based approach to providing the best literacy instruction for children. CLI innovated to provide online coaching sessions to help teachers adjust to hybrid and online learning, created 42,000 hours of online coaching and teaching materials with its online learning platform, learn.cli.org, created 1,300 literacy lesson plans for distance learning, and curated 350 virtual read aloud lessons for students and teachers. CLI flexibly supported district partners as they moved from full-virtual to hybrid learning formats at different times throughout the school year.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
Children’s Literacy Initiative’s (CLI) work on hybrid and distance learning will continue to develop, with new additions to learn.cli.org, its online resource platform, still being posted. Beyond this, CLI has created a 5-year strategic plan focused on directly addressing the systemic inequities in public education that effect Black and Latinx children disproportionately. COVID-19 amplified these inequities and as a result CLI shifted to a more intentional and explicit anti-racist stance. While still centered on teacher coaching and providing high-quality books to children, CLI has furthered its anti-racist stance by centering culturally-sustaining pedagogy as a main part of its curriculum and coaching apparatus. This change focuses on the diversity of the children in the classroom, and lifts them up by teaching literacy through the lens of their communities, languages, and cultures, creating stronger, more empathetic readers and a literacy practices that is diverse and equitable.
Not Currently Scored
Children's Literacy Initiative cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Learn More
Children's Literacy Initiative reported its largest program on its FY 2019 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
Partnership with Schools
Children's Literacy Initiative has earned a 100% for the Culture & Community beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableConstituent Feedback - Data Available - 100/100 ptsConstituent Feedback - Data Available - 100/100 pts
100% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations that engage in inclusive practices, such as collecting feedback from the people and communities they serve, may be more effective.
Who are the people you serve with your mission? Describe briefly.
Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) seeks to dismantle structural racism by providing Black and Latinx children with the anti-racist early literacy instruction, support, and advocacy needed to create equity in education. CLI serves over 3,000 teachers and 80,000 students in classrooms across the country by providing teacher coaching, professional development, and classroom resources that reflect its anti-racist mission and culturally-sustaining pedagogy practices.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Community meetings or town halls
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
With whom does your organization share the feedback you got from the people you serve?
Our staff, Our board
How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship with them or shifted power - over decisions, resources, rules or in other ways - to them?
Children's Literacy Initiative (CLI) uses teacher and coach feedback as a way to ensure that teachers and coaches are getting the support they need to ensure that Black and Latinx children in their classrooms are able to read on grade-level. Teachers and coaches are partners in our mission - their feedback on professional development, classroom practice, and curriculum is vital to ensuring that we succeed in ensuring educational equity for all. As a result, CLI pivots policy (including organizational restructuring, increased project transparency, and curriculum changes) to reflect the needs of their classroom and their community.
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
In response to feedback as a result of COVID-19's, Children's Literacy Initiative (CLI) pivoted its 30 years of experience in classroom instruction to providing online learning resources, seminars, and lesson plans to teachers through its online learning platform, learn.cli.org. CLI responded to expressed anxiety from teachers about their capacity to teach in online environments, and held thousands of hours of coaching seminars on anti-racist distance learning so that teacher could feel prepared. Teachers responded with high attendance and praise, saying that the online sessions helped both their practice in and out of the traditional classroom environment.
Equity Practices - No Data Available - UnscoredEquity Practices - No Data Available - Unscored
This organization has not provided information regarding the Equity Practices it is presently implementing. As such, the organization has not earned a score on this metric. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations implementing effective equity policies and practices can enhance a nonprofit's decision-making, staff motivation, innovation, and effectiveness.
Children's Literacy Initiative has earned a 100% for the Leadership & Adaptability beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
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Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableMission - 10/10 ptsMission - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
Children’s Literacy Initiative seeks to dismantle structural racism by providing Black and Latinx children with the anti-racist early literacy instruction, support, and advocacy needed to create equity in education.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Children’s Literacy Initiative seeks to dismantle structural racism by providing Black and Latinx children with the anti-racist early literacy instruction, support, and advocacy needed to create equity in education. CLI is working towards creating a more equitable education system, one that promotes diverse learning, cultural competency, and equitable outcomes for all students, particularly Black and Latinx students who have long been isolated from the resources to obtain the education they deserve. CLI believes that literacy is a vital avenue for creating lasting social change, promoting equity in education, and fostering a just and equitable society. In its current state, literacy education and the education system at large do not center the intelligence, culture, and voice of Black and Latinx students. CLI wants to contribute to an education system that not only teaches literacy excellence, but also lifts up those students disproportionately affected by systemic inequities.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals - 20/20 ptsGoals - 20/20 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: CLI seeks to provide Black and Latinx children with the instruction, support and advocacy needed for educational equity through teacher coaching and culturally-sustaining classroom practices.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Two: CLI seeks to provide high-quality learning materials—children’s books, learning materials, and lesson plans—that amplify the diversity of classrooms that traditionally center white students.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Three: CLI seeks to expand its online learning capabilities so that teachers have on-demand access to professional development and resources they need to achieve equitable early literacy results.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Leadership Development - 15/15 ptsLeadership Development - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) has implemented a number of leadership development programs related to professional development and its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion protocols. CLI staff meet monthly with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) speakers, previously through Lion’s Story, to work on a variety of DEI organizational and educational initiatives. Furthermore, CLI leadership is undergoing personal training to strengthen DEI initiatives organization-wise. In a similar capacity, CLI has implemented anti-racist and culturally-sustaining sessions to train coaches and teachers so that classroom practices reflect anti-racist pedagogy and DEI initiatives at CLI, resulting in stronger, more inclusive classroom outcomes.
Mobilizing for Mission - 15/15 ptsMobilizing for Mission - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) has placed itself at the forefront of literacy education through its research-based teaching and coaching methods, as well as its continued rigor in pursuing community partnerships in its service markets. CLI is currently working within communities to foster valuable partnerships where Black and Latinx families have historically been disenfranchised by an inequitable education system. These community partnerships, bolstered by recent structural changes at CLI that include creating community-focused district representatives, will help CLI respond more directly to the needs of specific districts and their community histories. This, alongside a more robust major giving plan that focuses on providing organizational longevity and increased scope of services, is vital to pursuing CLI’s mission.
Adaptability Story - 30/30 ptsAdaptability Story - 30/30 pts
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
With the onset of COVID-19 and a national racial awakening, Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) utilized its 30 years of social justice-focused literacy education to become a leading advocate for creating change in public education. CLI has always been a social justice organization focused on eliminating inequities in education that disproportionately hurt Black and Latinx students, but this past year CLI shifted its strategic plan and developed a new, more impactful instructional model that will help teachers and coaches become more anti-racist and amplify the voices, intelligence, and greatness of our diverse classrooms. With heightened attention to racial inequities alongside COVID-19, CLI pivoted its 30 years of experience to providing classrooms with what they needed to succeed. By leveraging its online learning modules at leran.cli.org, CLI provided thousands of hours of online coaching to teachers, and helped Black and Latinx children across the country, children whose education was disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, get the support they needed. Education in this country has traditionally centered whiteness, both in content and curriculum, but CLI is actively working against that. With new community partnerships, a new curriculum plan developed from research on culturally-sustaining pedagogy, and services to support teachers no matter how or where the classroom is, CLI is helping create an education system that eliminates inequity and promotes anti-racism, empathy, and diversity.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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