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Education : Early Childhood Programs and Services

Reading Is Fundamental

One Book Can Make a Difference

three stars

84.05

1730 Rhode Island Ave., NW Washington, DC 20036
tel: (202) 536-3400   Web Site
EIN: 52-0976257

Board Leadership
Jack Remondi
Chair

CEO
Alicia Levi
President & CEO

 
 
  Score
(out of 100)		 Rating
Overall Score & Rating 84.05 three stars
  Financial 77.65 two stars
  Accountability & Transparency 97.00 four stars
This rating was published 11/01/2016 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

two stars

77.65

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

97.00

This rating was published 11/01/2016 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)		 76.8%
  Administrative Expenses 11.1%
  Fundraising Expenses 11.9%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.15
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.74
  Program Expenses Growth -31.9%
  Liabilities to Assets 10.2%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Reading Is Fundamental on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
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) 84.05 three stars
Better Basics (AL) 95.05 four stars
'Aha Pūnana Leo (HI) 85.95 three stars
Open Books (IL) 90.71 four stars
SMART (OR) 85.06 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

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.

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $4,262,196
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $573,309
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $946,039
Total Contributions $5,781,544
   Program Service Revenue $50,163
Total Primary Revenue $5,831,707
   Other Revenue $485,642
TOTAL REVENUE $6,317,349
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $5,779,020
   Administrative Expenses $1,181,402
   Fundraising Expenses $1,356,045
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $8,316,467
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $-1,999,118
   
Net Assets $8,939,704

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
Books for Ownership $3,162,855 54.7%
Literacy Services $1,220,290 21.1%
Literacy Research $955,595 16.5%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
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
2001-09 10/15/2002 93.92 four stars
2000-09 04/15/2002 92.74 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, 2015
  • September, 2014
  • September, 2013
  • September, 2012
  • September, 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
$225,201 2.70% Carol Hampton Rasco President, CEO

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.

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Reading Is Fundamental (DC) 84.05 three stars
Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy (FL) 90.21 four stars
Reading Partners (CA) 89.16 three stars
Open Books (IL) 90.71 four stars
Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy (GA) 91.36 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Reading Is Fundamental
1730 Rhode Island Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
tel: (202) 536-3400
EIN: 52-0976257

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Jack Remondi
Chair

CEO

Alicia Levi
President & CEO

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