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Education : Early Childhood Programs and Services

Make Way for Books

Sharing stories changes lives, especially young lives

four stars

91.91

700 North Stone Avenue Tucson, AZ 85705
tel: (520) 398-6451   Web Site
EIN: 31-1583036

Board Leadership
Patricia Clay
President

CEO
Jenny Volpe
Executive Director

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 91.91 four stars
  Financial 96.87 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 89.00 three stars
This rating was published 06/01/2018 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

The mission of Make Way for Books is to give all children the chance to read and succeed. In 1998, Make Way for Books' founder Dr. Mary Jan Bancroft answered a newspaper listing to read to four-year-olds at a preschool in Tucson. Mary Jan found that this center did not have age-appropriate, quality picture books. Deciding to explore this need further, Mary Jan found that most of the childcare centers serving economically-disadvantaged children had few to zero quality books for young children. That same year, Mary Jan founded Make Way for Books (MWFB) to meet this incredible need and began providing books to under-resourced sites and offering early literacy workshops for educators and parents. Today, MWFB has provided services to nearly 300 preschools and childcare centers. Each year, MWFB serves more than 30,000 children and families and 700 educators.

The mission of Make Way for Books is to give all children the chance to read and succeed. In 1998, Make Way for Books' founder Dr. Mary Jan Bancroft answered a newspaper listing to read to four-year-olds at a preschool in Tucson. Mary Jan found that this center did not have age-appropriate, quality picture books. Deciding to explore this need further, Mary Jan found that most of the childcare centers serving economically-disadvantaged children had few to zero quality books for young children. That same year, Mary Jan founded Make Way for Books (MWFB) to meet this incredible need and began providing books to under-resourced sites and offering early literacy workshops for educators and parents. Today, MWFB has provided services to nearly 300 preschools and childcare centers. Each year, MWFB serves more than 30,000 children and families and 700 educators.

Impact Information

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Financial

four stars

96.87

Accountability & Transparency

three stars

89.00

This rating was published 06/01/2018 and includes data from FY2017, 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)		 82.8%
  Administrative Expenses 11.0%
  Fundraising Expenses 6.0%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.04
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.58
  Program Expenses Growth 30.9%
  Liabilities to Assets 7.9%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Make Way for Books on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Make Way for Books 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
Make Way for Books (AZ) 91.91 four stars
Developments in Literacy (CA) 89.02 three stars
Reading Partners (CA) 90.29 four stars
Better Basics (AL) 91.36 four stars
First Book (DC) 88.93 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $904,040
   Federated Campaigns $14,500
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $476,949
Total Contributions $1,395,489
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $1,395,489
   Other Revenue $6,412
TOTAL REVENUE $1,401,901
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $1,038,309
   Administrative Expenses $123,592
   Fundraising Expenses $64,556
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $1,226,457
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $175,444
   
Net Assets $1,726,693

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.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Make Way for Books Story Project $565,144 54.4%
Make Way for Books Family Literacy $473,165 45.6%

Ratings History
Make Way for Books has received 2 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2017-06 06/01/2018 91.91 four stars
2016-06 07/01/2017 91.81 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 31-1583036
Name in IRS Master File MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS
NTEE Code B92
NTEE Classification Remedial Reading, Reading Encouragement
NTEE Type Educational Institutions and Related Activities
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (994) Described in section 170(b)1)(a)(vi) of the Code
(61) Library
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 March, 1998
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
  • June, 2013
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$79,844 6.51% Jenny Volpe Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Make Way for Books (AZ) 91.91 four stars
Readworks (NY) 93.91 four stars
National Center for Families Learning (KY) 90.52 four stars
Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program (WA) 95.97 four stars
SMART (OR) 89.07 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Make Way for Books
700 North Stone Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85705
tel: (520) 398-6451
fax: (520) 398-5932
EIN: 31-1583036

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Patricia Clay
President

CEO

Jenny Volpe
Executive Director

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