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Reach Out and Read Inc

EIN 04-3481253 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO GIVE YOUNG CHILDREN A FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS BY INCORPORATING BOOKS INTO PEDIATRIC CARE AND ENCOURAGING FAMILIES TO READ ALOUD TOGETHER.

Income
$25.9 million
Spending
$27.2 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
7.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
112
Volunteers
41,000
Highest pay
$311,973, ceo/president/clerk (until 3/25)

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • Approximately 8 million books were distributed to approximately 6,800 program sites.Work delivered
  • Books were distributed to approximately 6,800 program sites.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $22.1 million spent. REACH OUT AND READ IS THE ONLY NATIONAL EARLY LITERACY ORGANIZATION WORKING DIRECTLY WITH PEDIATRIC CARE PROVIDERS TO INCORPORATE THE PROMOTION OF READING ALOUD TO CHILDREN EVERY DAY. REACH OUT AND READ'S MISSION IS TO GIVE YOUNG CHILDREN A FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS BY INCORPORATING BOOKS INTO PEDIATRIC CARE AND ENCOURAGING FAMILIES TO READ ALOUD TOGETHER. READING ALOUD TO YOUNG CHILDREN IS ONE CORE STRATEGY FOR PROMOTING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND POSITIVE INTERACTIONS EARLY IN LIFE. THE PROGRAM BEGINS IN INFANCY AND CONTINUES THROUGH AGE 5, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CHILDREN GROWING UP IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES.PEDIATRICIANS AND OTHER PEDIATRIC CLINICIANS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE ORGANIZATION SHARE BRAND-NEW, AGE- AND LANGUAGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS AND LITERACY ADVICE WITH CHILDREN AND PARENTS AT EACH WELL-CHILD VISIT UP TO THE AGE OF 5. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MODEL IS RECOGNIZED BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS IN A POLICY STATEMENT THAT RECOMMENDS EARLY LITERACY PROMOTION AS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF PEDIATRIC CARE. THE PROGRAM IS BOTH COST-EFFECTIVE AND EVIDENCE-BASED: RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE PROGRAM RESULTS IN MORE FREQUENT READING AT HOME, ACCELERATED VOCABULARY AND CRITICAL BRAIN DEVELOPMENT.THROUGH GENEROUS SUPPORT AND REVENUE FROM INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS, CORPORATE FOUNDATIONS, DONATED GOODS AND SERVICES AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES BOOKS AND TRAINING TO APPROVED PROGRAM SITES IN ALL 50 STATES AND WASHINGTON, DC. APPROVED PROGRAM SITES ARE MEDICAL FACILITIES THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THE MODEL AND HAVE SIGNED A LETTER OF AGREEMENT WITH THE ORGANIZATION. FUNDING SOURCES ARE GENERATED BY PROGRAM SITES, REGIONAL AFFILIATES, AND THE NATIONAL CENTER. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, APPROXIMATELY 8 MILLION BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO APPROXIMATELY 6,800 SITES.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.