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Education : Early Childhood Programs and Services

Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy

Early learning success begins with books at home.

four stars

91.36

P.O. Box 1327 Madison, GA 30650
tel: (888) 565-0177   Web Site
EIN: 58-2489181

Board Leadership
Michelle Wells
Chair

CEO
Betsy Wagenhauser
President

 
 
  Score
(out of 100)		 Rating
Overall Score & Rating 91.36 four stars
  Financial 90.00 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 93.00 four stars
This rating was published 04/01/2017 and includes data from FY2015, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

four stars

90.00

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

93.00

This rating was published 04/01/2017 and includes data from FY2015, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity’s total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 91.9%
  Administrative Expenses 5.6%
  Fundraising Expenses 2.4%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.02
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.01
  Program Expenses Growth -1.4%
  Liabilities to Assets 1.6%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy (GA) 91.36 four stars
Read Alliance (NY) 85.46 three stars
'Aha Pūnana Leo (HI) 85.95 three stars
Better Basics (AL) 95.05 four stars
Open Books (IL) 90.71 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy makes a difference in the lives of children through the gift of literacy, with the mission to "provide books for local communities to prepare preschool children for reading and learning success." The Foundation addresses the growing problem of children from low-income families entering school unprepared to learn with a simple recipe for early literacy development. Ensure that children have age-appropriate books in the home and provide parents with supportive material that reinforces the importance of early learning and encourages them to read frequently with their children. By mailing a new book every month to enrolled children, birth to five, the Foundation is committed to providing early learning opportunities with the hope of breaking the cycle of poverty and illiteracy. Our vision is to afford the best chance to every child to succeed in school, and in life, and to help create an educated, productive and competitive work force

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $953,917
   Federated Campaigns $3,750
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $957,667
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $957,667
   Other Revenue $84,436
TOTAL REVENUE $1,042,103
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $949,333
   Administrative Expenses $51,043
   Fundraising Expenses $23,114
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $1,023,490
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $18,613
   
Net Assets $1,002,694

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Due to an error on this organization's Form 990, we are unable to display program information.

Ratings History
Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy has received 2 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2015-12 04/01/2017 91.36 four stars
2014-12 06/01/2016 90.71 four stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-12 02/01/2016 83.02 three stars
2013-12 07/01/2015 84.17 three stars
2012-12 04/01/2014 82.85 three stars
2011-12 05/01/2013 95.60 four stars
2011-12 04/01/2013 94.77 four stars
2010-12 12/23/2011 95.73 four stars
2009-12 09/20/2011 93.39 four stars
 
CN 1.0
2009-12 12/01/2010 93.81 four stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 58-2489181
Name in IRS Master File FERST FOUNDATION FOR CHILDHOOD LITERACY INC
NTEE Code P58
NTEE Classification Gift Distribution
NTEE Type Human Services - Multipurpose and Other
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
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).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date July, 1999
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End December
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • December, 2015
  • December, 2014
  • December, 2013
  • December, 2012
  • December, 2011

The data displayed in this profile is provided by the IRS for free in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

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Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$60,000 5.86% Betsy Wagenhauser President

Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy makes a difference in the lives of children through the gift of literacy, with the mission to "provide books for local communities to prepare preschool children for reading and learning success." The Foundation addresses the growing problem of children from low-income families entering school unprepared to learn with a simple recipe for early literacy development. Ensure that children have age-appropriate books in the home and provide parents with supportive material that reinforces the importance of early learning and encourages them to read frequently with their children. By mailing a new book every month to enrolled children, birth to five, the Foundation is committed to providing early learning opportunities with the hope of breaking the cycle of poverty and illiteracy. Our vision is to afford the best chance to every child to succeed in school, and in life, and to help create an educated, productive and competitive work force

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy (GA) 91.36 four stars
Developments in Literacy (CA) 98.23 four stars
SMART (OR) 85.06 three stars
Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program (WA) 89.90 three stars
Reach Out and Read of Greater New York (NY) 89.43 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy
P.O. Box 1327
Madison, GA 30650
tel: (888) 565-0177
EIN: 58-2489181

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Michelle Wells
Chair

CEO

Betsy Wagenhauser
President

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