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Readers Are Leaders

EIN 20-5628965 · Herndon, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceWeak35 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH NEEDED READING STRATEGIES AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES NECESSARY TO SUCCEED. ALSO, TO PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES, STRATEGIES AND LEARNING TO PROMOTE THEIR DEVELOPMENT AS ROLE MODELS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$54,749
Spending
$96,289
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
18.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$15,000, director

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

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 76% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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. $76,263 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS NECESSARY READING & REVIEW STRATEGIES AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED. SUCH STRATEGIES PROVIDED WERE TEACHING PHONICS WITH LITERATURE, INCREASED TIME ON READING, REINFORCED SKILLS TAUGHT AT SCHOOL, REREAD MATERIAL AS NEEDED, MAKE CONNECTIONS AND ACTIVATE VISUAL CLUES AND BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE, TEACHING STUDENTS TO SELF-MONITOR FOR UNDERSTANDING AND WHEN READING FINDING THE MAIN IDEA OF A STORY AND MAKING INFERENCE TO WHAT WAS READ. STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVED THE BENEFIT OF SOCIAL GOALS, WHICH ARE TO BOOST SELF-CONFIDENCE AND DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS. CONTINUED BELOW
  2. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO BOOST SELF-CONFIDENCE, DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS, TO BE A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM FOSTERS AND GENERATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO GROW INDIVIDUALLY AND SOCIALLY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A VEHICLE ENABLING OUR STUDENT ATHLETES TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMUNITY NEEDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 November 2006.

    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.