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Read Alliance Inc

EIN 13-4091062 · 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 ALLIANCE, INC (READ ALLIANCE) WORKS TO ACCELERATE THE EDUCATIONAL TRAJECTORY OF EARLY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS THROUGH THE POWER OF TEENS WHO PROVIDE ONE-TO-ONE LITERACY TUTORING IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. READ IMPACTS TWO POPULATIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY, AND THROUGH A HIGHLY STRUCTURED, RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM, STUDENTS AVERAGE A FULL YEAR'S GROWTH IN READING AND THEIR TEEN TUTORS DEVELOP COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE SKILLS. EARLY INTERVENTION PREVENTS READING DIFFICULTIES FROM BECOMING BARRIERS TO FUTURE SUCCESS, WHILE TEENS HAVE A POSITIVE DIRECT IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH MEANINGFUL SERVICE AND JOBS.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
955
Volunteers
142
Highest pay
$283,559, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 25

    19 of 19 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 August 31, 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 (2)
  1. $1.7 million spent. TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM- TEEN LEADERS ARE ENGAGED IN MEANINGFUL AFTER SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT FOR 90 MINUTES A DAY, FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE DAYS A WEEK, AT A NEARBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, EARNING AN AVERAGE OF BETWEEN $600-$1,000 OVER 45 SESSIONS. TEEN LEADERS ARE NOT ONLY TRAINED TO DELIVER THE RESEARCH-BASED READING CURRICULUM ONE-ON-ONE TO YOUNG CHILDREN, BUT THEY ARE ALSO TRAINED IN BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT AND DATA COLLECTION THAT IS CRUCIAL TO PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, REFLECTION AND ANALYSIS. TEEN LEADERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE TO SENIOR TEEN LEADER, A POSITION WITH ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY PROVIDING SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE FOR THE TEEN LEADERS, PEER TO PEER DEVELOPMENT, AND SUPERVISION. AS PART OF THE TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM READ ALLIANCE OFFERS COMPLEMENTARY PROGRAMMING FOR TEEN LEADERS THAT PROMOTES THEIR POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS INCLUDING FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, NETWORKING AND CAREER EXPOSURE, COLLEGE READINESS, AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING. READ ALLIANCE LAUNCHED A PATHWAYS TO EDUCATION INITIATIVE IN FY 23 TO SUPPORT TEEN LEADERS' PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TO CREATE A PIPELINE TO TEACHING CAREERS. IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT EXPANSION, READ ADDED THE ROLE OF SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM ASSISTANT DURING THE SUMMER OF FY22 SPECIFICALLY FOR EXPERIENCED TEEN LEADERS WHO WERE HOME FROM COLLEGE TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND SUPPORT TO PROGRAM SITES IF A PROGRAM MANAGER WAS UNABLE TO BE THERE IN PERSON EVERY DAY.
  2. $2.1 million spent. EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM- READ ALLIANCE'S UNIQUE EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM IS 45 SESSIONS, AND PROVIDES 90 MINUTES OF PROGRAMMING PER DAY IN TWO PARTS: 1) A 45-MINUTE SESSION OF ONE-TO-ONE, INDIVIDUALIZED LITERACY INTERVENTION USING A STRUCTURED, PHONICS-BASED CURRICULUM DELIVERED TO THE YOUNGER READ ALLIANCE STUDENTS BY PAID READ ALLIANCE TEEN LEADERS, AND 2) A 45-MINUTE GROUP WORK SESSION LED BY A READ TEACHER, EITHER HOMEWORK HELP OR COMPLEMENTARY LITERACY ACTIVITIES. DURING THE ONE-TO-ONE TUTORING SESSION, STUDENTS READ OUT LOUD TO THEIR TEEN LEADERS A BOOK THEY HAVE ALREADY MASTERED, AND THEN THE TEEN LEADER PROVIDES EXPLICIT ONE-TO-ONE READING INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE. AT THE END OF EACH SESSION, STUDENTS ARE GIVEN A BOOK FROM OUR LENDING LIBRARY FOR CONTINUED PRACTICE AT HOME. READ ALLIANCE TARGETS ITS EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM TO KINDERGARTEN, FIRST AND SECOND GRADERS WHO ARE READING AT LEAST HALF A GRADE LEVEL BEHIND. THE INDIVIDUALIZED, PHONICS- BASED INSTRUCTION USES A STRUCTURED CURRICULUM TO ADVANCE READING SKILL IMPROVEMENT OF AN AVERAGE OF AT LEAST ONE READING LEVEL IN JUST 30 SESSIONS. MORE THAN 85 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS WHO COMPLETE THE READ ALLIANCE PROGRAM ADVANCE THEIR READING SKILL IMPROVEMENT AN AVERAGE OF AT LEAST ONE READING LEVEL. IN FY24 READ ALLIANCE SERVED 1,256 UNDUPLICATED READERS IN 1,560 SEATS, AND EMPLOYED 1,046 UNDUPLICATED TEEN LEADERS IN 1,373 POSITIONS IN 3 STATES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 March 2000.

    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.

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