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Reading in Motion

EIN 36-3235853 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT REACHES OR EXCEEDS GRADE-LEVEL READING PROFICIENCY DURING THEIR CRUCIAL EARLY YEARS OF EDUCATION. WE ARE ESPECIALLY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING TARGETED SUPPORT TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE DUE TO THEIR UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHALLENGES.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
21
Highest pay
$128,125, executive di

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.0 million spent. READING IN MOTION IS THE PREMIER ARTS-INFUSED LITERACY PROGRAM BUILT AROUND THE SCIENCE OF READING, OFFERED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. OVER 90% OF OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVE GROWTH IN READING OVER THE COURSE OF A SCHOOL YEAR, FAR EXCEEDING THE PROGRESS TYPICALLY SEEN IN STANDARD PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAMS. OUR ARTS-INFUSED READING CURRICULUM FOR PRE-K TO 1ST GRADE BLENDS MUSIC, MOVEMENT, AND DRAMA TO BUILD VOCABULARY, BOOST COMPREHENSION, AND MAKE READING FUN. THROUGH CREATIVE, MULTI-SENSORY LESSONS,STUDENTS DEVELOP CORE LITERACY SKILLS WHILE GAINING CONFIDENCE AND A LASTING LOVE FOR LEARNING. DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, 3100 PREK, KINDERGARTEN AND 1ST GRADE STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM.
  2. $75,610 spent. SPANISH IS THE SPANISH LANGUAGE VERSION OF RIM ASPIRE AND IS AN ADAPTATION DESIGNED TO BE USED IN BILINGUAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN, KINDERGARTEN, AND 1ST GRADE CLASSROOMS IN WHICH READING IS TAUGHT IN SPANISH. THIS PROGRAM USES MUSIC AND DRAMA-BASED ACTIVITIES TO ADDRESS KEY READING AND PREREADING SKILLS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, 250 PRE-KINDERGARTEN, KINDERGARTEN, 1ST GRADE, AND 2ND GRADE STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM. IN 2024, 550 PRE-KINDERGARTEN, KINDERGARTEN, 1ST GRADE, AND 2ND GRADE STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM. THE SPANISH ADAPTATION ACCOUNTS FOR THE PARTICULARS OF THE SPANISH LANGUAGE AND ITS ORTHOGRAPHY, SUCH AS AN EMPHASIS ON SYLLABIC SEGMENTATION AND AN EARLIER PUSH FOR ENCODING AND DECODING SKILLS.
  3. $252,032 spent. LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS FOCUSED ON BRINGING RIM'S BEST IN CLASS RIM ASPIRE PROGRAM (IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH) TO OTHER MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WITH LARGE POPULATIONS OF AT-RISK STUDENTS. 50 AND 425 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DURING THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 AND 2024, RESPECTIVELY.

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 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 June 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 1983.

    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.