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Governors Early Literacy Foundation

EIN 20-1115704 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF GOVERNOR'S EARLY LITERACY FOUNDAION (GELF) IS TO STRENGTHEN EARLY LITERACY IN TENNESSEE. GELF EQUIPS TENNESSEE'S CHILDREN WITH BOOKS AND INNOVATIVE LITERACY TOOLS THAT ENCOURAGE LIFELONG LEARNING FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE. WE DO THIS BY SERVING AS A THOUGHT LEADER, ADVISOR, AND CATALYST TO SUSTAIN EARLY LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN ACCROSS THE STATE, INCLUSING BIRTH-3 BOOK DELIVERY, K-3 HOME LIBRARIES, CAREGIVER ENGAGEMENT, STORYBOOK TRAILS, BOOK BUSES, AND THE STATEWIDE EARLY LITERACY EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE OF TENNESSEE.

Income
$22.6 million
Spending
$15.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
17.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 74%
Employees
20
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$273,371, president

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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $7.7 million spent. BOOK DELIVERY, THROUGH DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY: THROUGH OUR BIRTH-5 BOOK DELIVERY PROGRAM, WE DELIVER BOOKS EACH MONTH TO CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE FIVE, THROUGH DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY, TO FOSTER A LOVE OF READING AT AN EARLY AGE. THIS PROGRAM IS A GIFT OF UP TO 60 HIGH-QUALITY, AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS, TO BUILD A CHILD'S HOME LIBRARY BEFORE KINDERGARTON. DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY IS AVAILABLE TO ALL AGE-ELIGIBLE TENNESSEE CHILDREN THROUGH A UNIQUE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH GELF AND AFFILIATED PROGRAMS IN EACH OF TENNESSEE'S 95 COUNTIES. WITH VITAL FINANCIAL SUPORT FROM THE TENESSEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, FOUNDATIONS, AND CORPORATE SPONSORS, GELF FUNDS HALF THE COST OF IMAGINATION LIBRARY BOOKS FOR ENROLLED CHILDREN STATEWIDE, SUPPORTING GRASSROOTS ORGANIZERS IN EACH OF TENNESSEE'S 95 COUNTIES AS THEY RAISE THE OTHER HALF OF THE COST OF BOOKS FOR ENROLLED CHILDREN IN THEIR COUNTY. SINCE 2004, WE HAVE MAILED OVER 58 MILLION BOOKS TO CHILDREN STATEWIDE
  2. $4.8 million spent. THROUGH OUR STORYBOOK TRAIL PROGRAM, GELF COLLABORATES WITH TENNESSEE STATE PARKS CONSERVANCY AND LOCAL PARKS TO CREATE OUTDOOR READING EXPERIENCE WHERE FAMILIES INTERACT THROUGH LITERACY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. THIS PROGRAM PRESENTS A CHILDREN'S STORYBOOK ON CHILD-HEIGHT PANELS ALONG A SHORT TRAIL TO PROMOTE ADULT-CHILD INTERACTION AROUND BOOKS AND NATURE. EACH PANEL FEATURES A READING TIP TO ENCOURAGE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT BY BRINGING THE BOOK TO LIFE FOR CHILDREN. GELF'S STORYBOOK TRAIL PROGRAM NOW INCLUDE 76 TRAILS IN 52 TENNESSEE COUNTIES.
  3. $1.1 million spent. SUMMER: THROUGH OUR GROWING K-3 HOME LIBRARY PROGRAM, GELF DELIVERS QUALITY BOOKS AND LITERACY RESOURCES TO COMBAT SUMMER LEARNING LOSS AND SUPORT STUDENT LEARNING IN THE HOME. IN COLLABORATION WITH SCHOLASTIC EDUCATION, THIS PROGRAM MAILS A PACK OF HIGH-QUALITY BOOKS TO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DURING THE SUMMER, AT NO COST TO FAMILIES OR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SINCE IT'S LAUNCH IN SUMMER 2020, THE K-3 HOME LIBRARY PROGRAM HAS QUICKLY GROWN TO BECOME ONE OF GELF'S KEY PROGRAMS, AND THE FIRST STATEWIDE K-3 BOOK DELIVERY EFFORT IN THE U.S IN 2021. SINCE THE INCEPTION OF GELF'S K-3 SUMMER READING PROGRAM OVER 6 MILLION BOOKS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO CHILDREN AND TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE.
  4. $129,700 spent. THROUGH OUR BOOK BUS PROGRAM, WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO ESTABLISH MOBILE LIBRARIES THAT PROVIDE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY LITERACY RESOURCES. PARTNERING SCHOOL SYSTEMS RETROFIT DECOMMISSIONED SCHOOL BUSES WITH SEATING AND SHELVING TO HOUSE BOOKS AND LITERACY RESOURCES CREATING A LEARNING SPACE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO ENJOY. MANY OF THE BOOK BUSES ARE FOCUSED ON SERVING CHILDREN IN AREAS THAT FACE CHALLENGES TO ACCESSING BOOKS, SUCH AS LIBRARY DESERTS, LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, OR RURAL AREAS WHERE TRANSPORTATION TO A BOOKSTORE OR LIBRARY IS DIFFICULT. SOME BOOK BUSES OPERATE YEAR-ROUND, WHILE OTHERS PRIORITZE SERVICE OVER THE SUMMER, WORKING TO PREVENT SUMMER LEARNING LOSS.

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 November 2004.

    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.

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