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Read Better Be Better

EIN 47-4003520 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

READ BETTER BE BETTER'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT YOUNG READERS AND YOUTH LEADERS TO INSPIRE A LOVE OF LITERACY AND LEADERSHIP.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
11.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
214
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$106,592, board member and 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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

    10 of 11 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 (1)
  1. $1.6 million spent. READ BETTER BE BETTER (RBBB) WAS FOUNDED IN 2014 AS A RESPONSE TO ARIZONA'S LITERACY CRISIS. THOUGH THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN AS A THIRD-GRADE LITERACY INTERVENTION, READ BETTER BE BETTER HAS EVOLVED TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF EVERY GRADE LEVEL. THE PREVENTATIVE K-1 PROGRAM ENSURES THAT A CHILD DOES NOT FALL BEHIND IN READING. THE THIRD-GRADE PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTARY LITERACY INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS WHO CANNOT READ AT GRADE LEVEL. THE PATHWAYS TO EDUCATION AND PATHWAYS TO CIVIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, TAILORED TOWARDS HIGH SCHOOLERS, EQUIP FUTURE EDUCATORS AND CIVIC LEADERS WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO HELP SOLVE ARIZONA'S LITERACY CRISIS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) RBBB K-8 PROGRAMS EARN TIER II EVIDENCE-BASED RECOGNITION BY WESTED: THIS YEAR, RBBB HIT A MOMENTOUS MILESTONE! OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS, WESTED HAS BEEN EVALUATING OUR K-8 PROGRAMS, FUNDED BY HELIOS EDUCATION FOUNDATION, WITH THE GOAL OF RECEIVING A TIER II EVIDENCE-BASED STATUS. WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WESTED, HAS CONFIRMED WHAT EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES HAVE SEEN FOR YEARS: RBBB PROGRAMS MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN EQUIPPING STUDENTS WITH KEY READING SKILLS! WESTED'S INDEPENDENT STUDY FOUND THAT RBBB STUDENTS SCORED HIGHER ON ARIZONA'S STATEWIDE READING TEST COMPARED TO PEERS NOT IN THE PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS MADE SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN READING FLUENCY, PHONEMIC AWARENESS, AND DECODING SKILLS. OUR PROGRAM'S MODEL OF PAIRING YOUNGER READERS WITH YOUTH LEADERS FOSTERS BOTH ACADEMIC GROWTH AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. THIS RECOGNITION POSITIONS RBBB AS A TRUSTED, EVIDENCE-BASED PARTNER FOR SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS SEEKING LITERACY SOLUTIONS. IT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PROGRAM CAN DELIVER MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN READING ACHIEVEMENT, HELPING TO CLOSE LITERACY GAPS THAT AFFECT LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. FOR COMMUNITIES, THE TIER II DESIGNATION MEANS THAT RBBB'S APPROACH IS RESEARCH-VALIDATED. FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT THE PROGRAM PROVIDES MEANINGFUL SUPPORT TO STUDENTS WHO NEED IT MOST.

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 2015.

    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.