Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

My Own Book Fund Inc

EIN 46-0799191 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE CHILD LITERACY IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES BY EMPOWERING THIRD-GRADE CHILDREN ENROLLED IN TITLE I NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO SELECT, PURCHASE, AND READ THEIR VERY OWN BOOKS.

Income
$187,808
Spending
$147,995
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
68.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 68.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $121,618 spent. Research consistently shows that students who read at or above grade level by the end of third grade have a greater chance of being productive and contributing to society. The mission of My Own Book Fund (MOBF) is to improve child literacy in disadvantaged communities by empowering third-grade children in Title I New York City public schools to select books to start or grow their own libraries. This initiative aims to ensure that each child has the opportunity to advance in reading at or beyond the third-grade level by the end of of the school year. While the success and reputation of MOBF are attributed to its founder Burt Freeman, and his family, the programs acceptance and achievement REST ON THE SHOULDERS OF MANY VOLUNTEERS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS BROUGHT THE PROGRAM TO 37 TITLE 1 SCHOOLS IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK CITY, MEETING WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS BEFORE ENTERING THE CLASSROOM. THEY EXPLAINED TO APPROXIMATELY 2,500 STUDENTS THAT THEY AND THEIR TEACHERS WOULD GO ON A CLASS OUTING TO A BOOKSTORE ALONG WITH THE MOBF VOLUNTEERS. EACH STUDENT COULD CHOOSE UP TO $60 WORTH OF BOOKS FOR HIMSELF/HERSELF. THE VOLUNTEERS RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE BOOKSTORE VISIT FOR A FINAL MEETING WITH THE THIRD-GRADERS AND DISCUSSED THE BOOKS THEY HAD READ SINCE THE TRIP AND WISHED THEM WELL. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OUR PROGRAM, WHETHER TO VOLUNTEER OF FINANCIALLY SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO OUR PRESIDENT VINCENT BRANCATO, AT (203) 586-8171 OR OUR VICE PRESEDENT

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 2012.

    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.