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Read Ahead Inc

EIN 13-3636559 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

READ AHEAD IS DEDICATED TO HELPING NEW YORK CITY YOUTH STRENGTHEN THE LITERACY AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND.SINCE 1991, READ AHEAD HAS CONNECTED PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTSWITH CARING MENTORS FROM LEADING CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.DURING WEEKLY VIRTUAL SESSIONS, MENTORS AND MENTEES READ TOGETHER,DISCUSS BOOKS AND THEIR LIVES, AND ENGAGE IN FUN AND EDUCATIONAL GAMESAND ACTIVITIES. READ AHEAD SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP CHILDREN GROWTHEIR CONFIDENCE, LOVE OF READING, LITERACY SKILLS, AND OTHER SKILLSESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
22
Volunteers
997
Highest pay
$148,533, managing director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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 September 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)
  1. $1.5 million spent. READ AHEAD IS PROUD TO PROVIDE NEW YORK CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH A READING-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM AND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO STRENGTHEN THEIR LITERACY SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE. EXTENDING FROM OUR CORE PROGRAMMING OF WEEKLY MENTOR/MENTEE ENGAGEMENTS, READ AHEAD ALSO ROLLED OUT THE RAISING READERS AT HOME PILOT PROGRAM (MORE INFORMATION BELOW) AND SERVED AS A PASS-THROUGH ORGANIZATION FOR CORPORATE DONATIONS TO STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. DURING OUR CORE PROGRAM, FROM OCTOBER 2024 THROUGH MAY 2025, 627 1ST THROUGH 5TH GRADE STUDENTS ACROSS EIGHT PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN NYC WERE MENTORED BY 997 VOLUNTEER MENTORS. THESE STUDENTS, MOST OF WHOM (64%) HAVE PARTICIPATED FOR TWO OR MORE YEARS, SELF-IDENTIFY AS BIPOC (90%) AND OFTEN COME FROM HOUSEHOLDS WHERE ENGLISH IS NOT THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME (41%). TOGETHER, THESE PAIRS READ MORE THAN 2,000 BOOKS TOTAL DURING THE 1,388 WEEKLY PROGRAM SESSIONS DURING THE PROGRAM YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, DURING THE 2024-2025 PROGRAM YEAR, READ AHEAD ROLLED OUT LEXIA CORE5, AN ADAPTIVE, DIGITAL LITERACY TOOL, ACROSS ALL SITES. STUDENTS COMPLETED A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 31,000 LEXIA CORE5 LEARNING UNITS AS THEY BUILT THE LITERACY SKILLS THEY NEED FOR SUCCESS. 92% OF EDUCATORS AND CAREGIVERS FELT THEIR STUDENT(S) BENEFITTED FROM THIS PROGRAM, WITH THE TOP BENEFITS BEING SELF-CONFIDENCE IN READING, READING ABILITY, ENJOYMENT OF READING AND POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH ADULTS.THIS YEAR, READ AHEAD ALSO PILOTED THE RAISING READERS AT HOME PROGRAM AT P.S. 92 IN QUEENS, NY. THIS PILOT PROGRAM OFFERED THREE 1-HOUR WORKSHOPS TO FAMILIES TO SUPPORT DEVELOPING READERS AT HOME, AND HELP BUILD HOME LIBRARIES. THE PROGRAM WAS OFFERED IN A DUAL-LANGUAGE SETTING, INCLUDING SPANISH AND ENGLISH, WITH BOTH SLIDES, CONVERSATION AND PRESENTATIONS OFFERED IN BOTH. 100% OF SURVEYED PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT THEY FEEL BETTER PREPARED TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILD'S READING AT HOME AND HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF HOW TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEIR STUDENT(S) WILL SPEND READING AT HOME. IN APRIL, 2025, READ AHEAD HELD IT'S ANNUAL BOOKS & BEYOND GALA, WITH MORE THAN 300 GUESTS. THE EVENT HONORED CORPORATE PARTNER PAUL HASTINGS AND THE STAFF AT SCHOOL PARTNER P.S. 33 IN MANHATTAN. THE GALA SERVES AS THE PRIMARY FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR READ AHEAD, AND TO HONOR THE WORK TAKING PLACE THAT YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1991.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.