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Childrens Literacy Initiative

EIN 23-2515768 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak32 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CHILDREN'S LITERACY INITIATIVE ("CLI") IS A NON-PROFIT THAT EMPOWERS SCHOOL LEADERS AND TEACHERS TO TRANSFORM INSTRUCTION SO THAT EVERY CHILD CAN BECOME POWERFUL READERS, WRITERS, AND THINKERS.

Income
$9.4 million
Spending
$12.3 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
96
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$297,318, chief executive officer

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

Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 81% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
  1. $9.9 million spent. CHILDREN'S LITERACY INITIATIVE (CLI) PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS, DISTRICTS, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS TO STRENGTHEN LITERACY INSTRUCTION SO CHILDREN BECOME CONFIDENT READERS, WRITERS, AND THINKERS. CLI ADDRESSES PERSISTENT INEQUITIES IN INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS BY HELPING EDUCATION SYSTEMS BUILD COHERENT, SUSTAINABLE INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES GROUNDED IN EVIDENCE-BASED LITERACY INSTRUCTION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATOR COACHING, AND FAMILY PARTNERSHIP.CLI PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING WORKSHOPS, JOB-EMBEDDED IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL COACHING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT, AND HIGH-QUALITY CHILDREN'S BOOKS TO 1,183 EDUCATORS SERVING 14,335 STUDENTS ACROSS SIX STATES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. (CON'T IN SCH O)CLI'S WORK SUPPORTS EDUCATORS, SCHOOL LEADERS, AND INSTRUCTIONAL TEAMS IN IMPLEMENTING CULTURALLY SUSTAINING AND RESEARCH-ALIGNED LITERACY PRACTICES THAT IMPROVE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND STRENGTHEN LONG-TERM STUDENT OUTCOMES.CLI PARTNERS WITH SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO BUILD INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY RATHER THAN DELIVER SHORT-TERM INTERVENTIONS ALONE. SERVICES INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING, STRATEGIC PLANNING SUPPORT, CLASSROOM OBSERVATION AND FEEDBACK CYCLES, LITERACY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT STRUCTURES, AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO EXTEND LITERACY LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS A DIVERSIFIED REVENUE MODEL THAT COMBINES EARNED REVENUE THROUGH DISTRICT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTNERSHIPS WITH PHILANTHROPIC AND PUBLIC-SECTOR INVESTMENT. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, CLI GENERATED APPROXIMATELY $5.0 MILLION IN FEE-FOR-SERVICE REVENUE THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS AND RECEIVED ADDITIONAL PHILANTHROPIC AND FEDERAL FUNDING, RESULTING IN TOTAL REVENUE OF $9.4 MILLION.CLI CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE STRONG FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO MISSION-FOCUSED RESOURCE ALLOCATION. APPROXIMATELY 80.3% OF TOTAL EXPENSES WERE DIRECTED TOWARD PROGRAM SERVICES, WITH 10.8% ALLOCATED TO MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES AND 8.9% DEDICATED TO FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES. CLI ALSO CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINS FOUR-STAR RATINGS FROM CHARITY NAVIGATOR, REFLECTING THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE.

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 September 1988.

    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.

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.