Childrens Literacy Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CLIF'S MISSION IS TO NURTURE A LOVE OF READING AND WRITING AMONG UNDER RESOURCED CHILDREN UP TO AGE 12 THROUGHOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT. SINCE 1998 CLIF'S INSPIRING LITERACY PROGRAMS AND OUR 60+ PROFESSIONAL PRESENTERS (AUTHORS, ILLUSTRATORS, POETS, AND STORYTELLERS) HAVE SERVED MORE THAN 350,000 CHILDREN IN 430 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE TWIN STATES, AND CLIF HAS DONATED MORE THAN 10 MILLION IN NEW BOOKS TO THOSE CHILDREN WHO NEED THEM THE MOST: CHILDREN IN SHELTERS AND LOW-INCOME HOUSING; REFUGEE AND FOSTER CHILDREN; CHILDREN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED RESOURCES; CHILDREN OF PRISON INMATES; AND MANY OTHERS.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 20.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $97,470, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $845,091 spent. THE CHILDREN'S LITERACY FOUNDATION (CLIF) OPERATES SEVEN LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR UNDER-RESOURCED CHILDREN UP TO AGE TWELVE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT TO SUPPORT SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND LIFE. SERVING 20,000 CHILDREN EACH YEAR, THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH OVER 150 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, EACH OF CLIF'S PROGRAMS PROVIDES LITERACY EXPERIENCES AND NEW BOOKS TO CHILDREN WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH OPPORTUNITIES. OVER 50,000 BOOKS WERE GIVEN AWAY TO CHILDREN THIS PAST YEAR. CLIF PROVIDES NEW BOOKS TO CLASSROOMS, COMMUNITY- BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, AND NEW LIBRARY BOOKS TO SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY LIBRARIES. CLIF PROVIDES SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR CREATIVE LITERACY PROJECTS WITH THE STUDENTS AND CHILDREN THEY SERVE. CLIF ALSO PROVIDES INFORMATION, RESOURCES, AND SEMINARS TO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS SO THAT THEY MAY ENCOURAGE READING AND WRITING FOR CHILDREN. ADDITIONALLY, CLIF OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, AND OTHERS THROUGH CONFERENCES AND AN ARRAY OF ONLINE RESOURCES. CLIF PROGRAMS ARE AS FOLLOWS: YEAR OF THE BOOK: THIS COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM PROVIDES TEN SELECTED SCHOOLS WITH 25,000 IN LITERACY PROGRAMS WITH AUTHORS/ILLUSTRATORS, EDUCATOR SUPPORT AND NEW BOOKS FOR STUDENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. ONLY SCHOOLS WITH MORE THAN 35% OF THEIR STUDENTS ON FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH ARE ELIGIBLE. ALL YEAR OF THE BOOK PARTNERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR 1000 IN FREE PROGRAMMING IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM IN LITERACY ENGAGEMENT. RURAL LIBRARIES: THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS LIBRARIES THAT SERVICE TOWNS OF LESS THAN 5,000 PEOPLE. SELECTED LIBRARIES RECEIVE 2,000 IN NEW BOOKS AS WELL TWO LITERACY EVENTS, INCLUDING ONE AT THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALONG WITH BOOKS FOR THE SCHOOL'S LIBRARY AND A BOOK GIVEAWAY FOR THE STUDENTS. CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED ADULTS: THIS PROGRAM WORKS WITH FIVE PRISONS IN NH AND VT, PROVIDING SEMINARS TO THE INMATES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILDREN'S LITERACY, BOOK DONATIONS TO THE FAMILY VISITING ROOM, AND FREE BOOKS CHOSEN BY THE INMATES AND SENT HOME TO THEIR CHILDREN. COMMUNITY LITERACY (FORMERLY KNOWN AS "AT-RISK YOUTH"): THIS PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH 20 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS SERVING CHILDREN, INCLUDING: LOW-INCOME HOUSING, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, CHILDCARE CENTERS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND ELL CLASSROOMS. THE CHILDREN ATTEND AN AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR PRESENTATION AND RECEIVE NEW BOOKS, CAREGIVERS ARE OFFERED INFORMATION OF CHILDREN'S LITERACY, AND THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES NEW BOOKS TO KEEP ON-SITE. SUMMER READERS: THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED TO ANY ELIGIBLE SUMMER PROGRAM IN NH OR VT WHICH SERVES CHILDREN FROM UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR PRESENTATION AND A BOOK GIVEAWAY. LITERACY ENRICHMENT (NEW IN 2024): THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES UP TO 1,000 IN FUNDING TO ANY ELIGIBLE COMMUNITY PARTNER FOR EXPERIENTIAL AND/OR CREATIVE PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO BRING "LITERACY TO LIFE" FOR CHILDREN. SPARK (FORMERLY KNOWN AS "REVIVE"): THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED TO ANY CLIF COMMUNITY PARTNER WHO HAS WORKED WITH CLIF WITHIN THE PAST THREE YEARS, PROVIDING 500 FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO USE IN LITERACY PROGRAMMING AS THEY CHOOSE. THE CHILDREN'S LITERACY FOUNDATION (CLIF) OPERATES SEVEN LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR UNDER-RESOURCED CHILDREN UP TO AGE TWELVE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT TO SUPPORT SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND LIFE. SERVING 20,000 CHILDREN EACH YEAR, THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH OVER 150 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, EACH OF CLIF'S PROGRAMS PROVIDES LITERACY EXPERIENCES AND NEW BOOKS TO CHILDREN WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH OPPORTUNITIES. OVER 50,000 BOOKS WERE GIVEN AWAY TO CHILDREN THIS PAST YEAR. CLIF PROVIDES NEW BOOKS TO CLASSROOMS, COMMUNITY- BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, AND NEW LIBRARY BOOKS TO SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY LIBRARIES. CLIF PROVIDES SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR CREATIVE LITERACY PROJECTS WITH THE STUDENTS AND CHILDREN THEY SERVE. CLIF ALSO PROVIDES INFORMATION, RESOURCES, AND SEMINARS TO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS SO THAT THEY MAY ENCOURAGE READING AND WRITING FOR CHILDREN. ADDITIONALLY, CLIF OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, AND OTHERS THROUGH CONFERENCES AND AN ARRAY OF ONLINE RESOURCES. CLIF PROGRAMS ARE AS FOLLOWS: YEAR OF THE BOOK: THIS COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM PROVIDES TEN SELECTED SCHOOLS WITH 25,000 IN LITERACY PROGRAMS WITH AUTHORS/ILLUSTRATORS, EDUCATOR SUPPORT AND NEW BOOKS FOR STUDENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. ONLY SCHOOLS WITH MORE THAN 35% OF THEIR STUDENTS ON FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH ARE ELIGIBLE. ALL YEAR OF THE BOOK PARTNERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR 1000 IN FREE PROGRAMMING IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM IN LITERACY ENGAGEMENT. RURAL LIBRARIES: THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS LIBRARIES THAT SERVICE TOWNS OF LESS THAN 5,000 PEOPLE. SELECTED LIBRARIES RECEIVE 2,000 IN NEW BOOKS AS WELL TWO LITERACY EVENTS, INCLUDING ONE AT THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALONG WITH BOOKS FOR THE SCHOOL'S LIBRARY AND A BOOK GIVEAWAY FOR THE STUDENTS. CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED ADULTS: THIS PROGRAM WORKS WITH FIVE PRISONS IN NH AND VT, PROVIDING SEMINARS TO THE INMATES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILDREN'S LITERACY, BOOK DONATIONS TO THE FAMILY VISITING ROOM, AND FREE BOOKS CHOSEN BY THE INMATES AND SENT HOME TO THEIR CHILDREN. COMMUNITY LITERACY (FORMERLY KNOWN AS "AT-RISK YOUTH"): THIS PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH 20 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS SERVING CHILDREN, INCLUDING: LOW-INCOME HOUSING, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, CHILDCARE CENTERS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND ELL CLASSROOMS. THE CHILDREN ATTEND AN AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR PRESENTATION AND RECEIVE NEW BOOKS, CAREGIVERS ARE OFFERED INFORMATION OF CHILDREN'S LITERACY, AND THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES NEW BOOKS TO KEEP ON-SITE. SUMMER READERS: THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED TO ANY ELIGIBLE SUMMER PROGRAM IN NH OR VT WHICH SERVES CHILDREN FROM UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR PRESENTATION AND A BOOK GIVEAWAY. LITERACY ENRICHMENT (NEW IN 2024): THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES UP TO 1,000 IN FUNDING TO ANY ELIGIBLE COMMUNITY PA
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.