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Education : Early Childhood Programs and Services

Reading Is Fundamental

One Book Can Make a Difference

two stars

77.97

750 First Street NE Suite 920
Washington, DC 20002
tel: (877) 743-7323   Web Site
EIN: 52-0976257

Board Leadership
Jack Remondi
Chair

CEO
Alicia Levi
President & CEO

 
 

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  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 77.97 two stars
  Financial 69.00 one star
  Accountability & Transparency 97.00 four stars
This rating was published 09/03/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Founded in 1966, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. RIF's highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age eight. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides millions of children with approximately 4 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. All RIF programs combine three essential elements to foster children's literacy: reading motivation, family and community involvement, and the excitement of choosing free books to keep.

Founded in 1966, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. RIF's highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age eight. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides millions of children with approximately 4 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. All RIF programs combine three essential elements to foster children's literacy: reading motivation, family and community involvement, and the excitement of choosing free books to keep.

Impact Information

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GlobalGiving Status
Partner Status
This organization holds GlobalGiving Partner Status. GG Rewards is the system GlobalGiving uses to reward nonprofits that demonstrate listening to the people they serve, learning, and improving their impact. Organizations receive points which translate into their Status: 52% of organizations are Partner, 22% are Leader, and the top 26% of organizations are Superstar. GlobalGiving is a trusted Impact Information partner of Charity Navigator.
Additional Badges from GlobalGiving
Vetted
This organization has been vetted by GlobalGiving.
GlobalGiving is the largest global crowdfunding community connecting nonprofits, donors, and companies in nearly every country. For donors, GlobalGiving provides an additional layer of vetting and due diligence for each of its nonprofit partners every two years, which may include site visit verification. For nonprofits, GlobalGiving works to provide nonprofits access to the tools, training, and support they need to be more effective. GlobalGiving's aim is to drive more donations to more effective, community-led organizations. GG Rewards is the system that GlobalGiving uses to recognize and reward its nonprofit partners for their efforts to learn, improve, and grow their impact. Within the GG Rewards system, organizations receive points for their Effectiveness (commitment to learning) and Engagement (participation on the GlobalGiving community). These points will translate into the GG Rewards Status (Partner, Leader, or Superstar). GlobalGiving's nonprofit partners also receive badges (visible on their Charity Navigator profile) when they are verified by a GlobalGiving site visit, when they have demonstrated exceptional efforts to learn from feedback, improve, and grow their impact, or when they have been named as an exceptional nonprofit through GlobalGiving's Project of the Month program.
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This impact information is current as of March 2019, when it was provided to us by GlobalGiving. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology. Further, the availability of GG Rewards information for charities on our site has no effect on Charity Navigator's evaluation of GlobalGiving.

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

Financial

one star

69.00

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

97.00

This rating was published 09/03/2019 and includes data from FY2018, 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)		 64.0%
  Administrative Expenses 15.9%
  Fundraising Expenses 19.9%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.20
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.54
  Program Expenses Growth -4.4%
  Liabilities to Assets 12.8%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Reading Is Fundamental on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Joint Cost Allocation Adjustment applied. Learn more.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Reading Is Fundamental 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
Reading Is Fundamental (DC) 77.97 two stars
'Aha Pūnana Leo (HI) 85.83 three stars
Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County (FL) 91.88 four stars
Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA (TX) 87.74 three stars
Spread the Word Nevada (NV) 98.23 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $6,265,882
   Federated Campaigns $67,513
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $3,654,956
Total Contributions $9,988,351
   Program Service Revenue $721,089
Total Primary Revenue $10,709,440
   Other Revenue $443,040
TOTAL REVENUE $11,152,480
   
EXPENSES (Adjusted)  
   Program Expenses $5,054,257
   Administrative Expenses $1,068,708
   Fundraising Expenses $1,630,063
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $7,753,028
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $3,399,452
   
Net Assets $11,670,737

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
Literacy Services $2,013,664 39.1%
Books for Ownership $1,443,354 28.0%
Digital Programs $991,267 19.3%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2018-09 09/03/2019 77.97 two stars
2017-09 12/01/2018 78.31 two stars
2017-09 09/01/2018 78.23 two stars
2016-09 11/01/2017 81.20 three stars
2015-09 11/01/2016 84.05 three stars
2014-09 07/01/2016 88.10 three stars
2014-09 06/01/2016 86.32 three stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-09 11/01/2015 77.95 two stars
2013-09 12/01/2014 78.95 two stars
2012-09 12/01/2013 80.28 three stars
2011-09 12/01/2012 90.67 four stars
2010-09 09/20/2011 85.01 three stars
 
CN 1.0
2009-09 09/01/2010 79.05 two stars
2008-09 10/01/2009 76.46 two stars
2007-09 06/01/2009 79.01 two stars
2006-09 07/01/2007 76.98 two stars
2005-09 07/01/2006 72.82 two stars
2004-09 09/01/2005 85.40 three stars
2003-09 11/01/2004 91.61 four stars
2002-09 11/01/2003 91.62 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 52-0976257
Name in IRS Master File READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC
NTEE Code B92
NTEE Classification Remedial Reading, Reading Encouragement
NTEE Type Educational Institutions and Related Activities
Classification Educational Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (59) Other school related activities
(119) Other cultural or historical activities
(349) Other youth organization or 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 May, 1973
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End September
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • September, 2018
  • September, 2017
  • September, 2016
  • September, 2015
  • September, 2014
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$287,500 3.70% Alicia Levi President, CEO

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Reading Is Fundamental (DC) 77.97 two stars
Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County (FL) 91.88 four stars
Better Basics (AL) 91.36 four stars
Read Alliance (NY) 88.11 three stars
Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program (WA) 97.98 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Reading Is Fundamental
750 First Street NE
Suite 920
Washington, DC 20002
tel: (877) 743-7323
EIN: 52-0976257

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Jack Remondi
Chair

CEO

Alicia Levi
President & CEO

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