Read to Grow Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE LANGUAGE SKILLS AND LITERACY FOR CHILDREN, BEGINNING AT BIRTH, AND TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AS THEIR BABIES' FIRST TEACHERS. OUR VISION IS THAT EVERY FAMILY WILL APPRECIATE THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY AND WILL ENGAGE IN THEIR CHILD'S READING DEVELOPMENT. ALL CHILDREN IN CONNECTICUT WILL HAVE BOOKS OF THEIR OWN.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 86
- Highest pay
- $109,641, executive director
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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (3)
- $533,527 spent. BOOKS FOR BABIES THIS PROGRAM OPERATES THREE DISTINCT PROJECTS: THE PRENATAL PROJECT, THE NEWBORN PROJECT AND THE NICU PROJECT. THE PRENATAL PROJECT FOCUSES ON DISTRIBUTING FREE CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND INFORMATION ON BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND LITERACY TO EXPECTING FAMILIES RECEIVING PRENATAL CARE AT NINE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS. THE NEWBORN PROJECT OPERATES IN 19 PARTNER HOSPITALS, GIVING ALL FAMILIES WITH NEWBORNS LITERACY PACKETS THAT INCLUDE BABY BOARD BOOKS AND LITERACY GUIDES WHICH DESCRIBE HOW TO SUPPORT INFANTS' LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. FAMILIES WHO REGISTER FOR THE FIRST YEAR PROGRAM ARE MAILED MORE BOOKS AND INFORMATION AT THEIR CHILD'S 3 MONTH AND 1-YEAR MILESTONES. THE NICU PROJECT OPERATES IN FIVE LOCATIONS AND PROVIDES LITERACY INFORMATION AND BOOKS TO PARENTS OF BABIES WHO ARE ADMITTED TO NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.
- $385,826 spent. BOOKS FOR KIDS BOOKS FOR KIDS GIVES MORE THAN 50,000 BOOKS ANNUALLY TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACROSS CONNECTICUT AND TO HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS, DOCTORS' OFFICES, HEALTHCARE AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, AND OTHER NONPROFITS, INCLUDING OTHER LITERACY-FOCUSED AGENCIES AND MAILS BOOKS TO FAMILIES WHO REQUEST BOOKS ONLINE. WHILE THE MAJORITY OF BOOKS IN OUR INVENTORY ARE IN ENGLISH, WE ALSO OFFER A VARIETY OF BOOKS IN BILINGUAL ENGLISH / SPANISH AND HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF BOOKS AVAILABLE IN 11 OTHER LANGUAGES TO SERVE THE VAST IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN CONNECTICUT.
- $244,862 spent. THE BOOKMOBILE TRAVELS ACROSS THE STATE AND PROVIDES AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WHO MAY CHOOSE BOOKS TO KEEP FROM THE BOOKMOBILE.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.