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Working in the Schools

EIN 36-3891846 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WITS BELIEVES THAT LITERACY IS THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH ALL OTHER LEARNING DEVELOPS. OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER CHICAGO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TO DISCOVER THEMSELVES THROUGH READING WHILE DEVELOPING FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY SKILLS. WE DO THIS BY CREATING COMMUNITY THROUGH LITERACY-BASED MENTORSHIP, ENABLING TEACHERS TO BUILD DIVERSE CLASSROOM LIBRARIES, AND PROMOTING BOOK OWNERSHIP AT HOME.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
16
Volunteers
488
Highest pay
$168,356, ex-officio ceo

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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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 (4)
  1. $382,562 spent. WORKPLACE MENTORING: WORKPLACE MENTORING IS AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FOR THIRD THROUGH SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS TO BE TRANSPORTED BY BUS TO CORPORATE OFFICES WHERE THEY ARE MATCHED WITH EMPLOYEES FOR ONE-ON-ONE, 60 MINUTE MENTORING SESSIONS.
  2. $244,044 spent. MID-DAY MENTORING: MID-DAY MENTORING IS A SCHOOL DAY LITERACY AND MENTORING PROGRAM THAT PAIRS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS FOR ONE-ON-ONE, 45 MINUTE READING SESSIONS. MID-DAY MENTORING PROMOTES FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY SKILLS AND LOVE OF READING THROUGH READING ALOUD, SHARING FAVORITE STORIES, AND TALKING ABOUT BOOKS.
  3. $258,495 spent. ROCHELLE LEE TEACHER AWARD: THE ROCHELLE LEE TEACHER AWARD (RLTA) IS NAMED IN HONOR OF ROCHELLE LEE, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS (CPS) EDUCATOR AND LIBRARIAN WHO INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS TO BE IMPASSIONED READERS. ROCHELLE LEE TEACHER AWARDEES ARE CPS TEACHERS THAT EMBODY THE SAME DRIVE AS ROCHELLE LEE TO DEVELOP THEIR STUDENTS INTO PEOPLE WHO WILL FOSTER A LIFE-LONG RELATIONSHIP TO LEARNING AND READING. THE COMPETITIVE ESSAY-BASED APPLICATION PROCESS DRAWS CPS TEACHER APPLICANTS ACROSS SUBJECT MATTERS IN GRADES PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH. TEACHERS APPLY EITHER AS A POTENTIAL INDIVIDUAL AWARDEE OR PART OF A STUDY GROUP. TEACHERS MAY BE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN RLTA FOR A MAXIMUM OF FOUR YEARS. THE FIRST TWO YEARS CAN BE AS AN INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANT; THE LAST TWO MUST BE AS A MEMBER OF A STUDY GROUP. TEACHERS ATTEND SELF-SELECTED LITERACY WORKSHOPS DURING WITS' SUMMER INSTITUTE AND RECEIVE ACCREDITED CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS FOR EACH COMPLETED WORKSHOP. ONCE TEACHERS COMPLETE THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF WORKSHOP HOURS, THEY ARE AWARDED BOOK GRANTS TO PURCHASE NEW BOOKS FOR THEIR CLASSROOM LIBRARIES.
  4. $216,006 spent. WITS KINDERGARTEN: THE WITS KINDERGARTEN ("WITSK") PROGRAM IS A ONE-ON-ONE READING PROGRAM THAT TAKES PLACE AT CHICAGO PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ("CPS"). KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS READ WITH A CONSISTENT VOLUNTEER EACH WEEK, WHICH ALLOWS VOLUNTEERS AND CHILDREN TO ESTABLISH A CONSISTENT READING RAPPORT AND BUILD BOOK PRINT AWARENESS, AS WELL AS EARLY LITERACY SKILLS, OVER THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

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 November 6, 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 October 1993.

    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 November 4, 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.