Reading Is Fundamental Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
READING IS FUNDAMENTAL WORKS TO DISRUPT THE ALARMING U.S. LITERACY CRISIS BY INSPIRING THE JOY OF READING IN CHILDREN, A CRITICAL ELEMENT TO DRIVING THE FREQUENCY, MOTIVATION, AND ENGAGEMENT NEEDED TO CREATE SKILLED READERS. WE KNOW THAT IF WE BUILD A FOUNDATION OF JOY FOR CHILDREN, THEN DEVELOPMENT, DISCOVERY, AND OPPORTUNITY FOLLOW.
- Income
- $18.7 million
- Spending
- $15.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 13.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 37
- Volunteers
- 30,000
- Highest pay
- $457,080, president and ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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)
- $5.9 million spent. PRINT PROGRAMS:BOOKS FOR OWNERSHIP IS RIF'S FLAGSHIP READING PROGRAM WHERE CHILDREN CHOOSE NEW BOOKS AND PARTICIPATE IN READING ACTIVITIES WITH TEACHERS, PARENTS, VOLUNTEERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS PROGRAM EDUCATES, BUILDS COMMUNITY, AND INSPIRES CHILDREN TO MAKE GREATER CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES TO CHOOSE LEARNING, AND TO CHOOSE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. FUNDED BY A VARIETY OF INDIVIDUAL DONORS, CORPORATIONS, AND FOUNDATION PARTNERS, AND WORKING THROUGH LOCAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, RIF DISTRIBUTES BOOKS TO CHILDREN THAT ARE FREE TO THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM GIVES CHILDREN AGENCY, ALLOWING THEM TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN BOOKS FROM A WIDE RANGE OF TITLES APPROPRIATE TO THEIR READING LEVEL. THE DISTRIBUTIONS, WHICH OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ALSO INCLUDE PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF FUNDERS TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. FOCUSING ON ACCESS AND CHOICE, STUDENTS IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY PARTICIPATE IN A BOOKS FOR OWNERSHIP PROGRAM SELECTING NEW, AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS TO TAKE HOME AND OWN. THE PROGRAM'S INTEGRATED APPROACH TO LITERACY PROVIDES SUPPORTING RESOURCES TO TEACHERS AND FAMILIES. BY MOTIVATING CHILDREN TO READ THROUGHBOOK CHOICE, ENGAGING THEM IN TOPICS THAT APPEAL TO THEM, AND PROVIDING THEM WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO READ, THIS PROGRAM WILL ENABLE CHILDREN TO BECOME MORE PROFICIENT READERS AND, THROUGH READING, LEARN. THESE BOOKS ARE FURTHER SUPPORTED THROUGH DIGITAL RESOURCES ON RIF'S LITERACY CENTRAL TO ENSURE ONGOING READING ENGAGEMENT.LITERACY KITS ARE AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR BOOK DISTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE BOOKS FOR OWNERSHIP PROGRAM AND ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS AT A BROADER SCALE. LITERACY KITS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH CRITICAL ACCESS TO BOOKS AND READING RESOURCES AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THEIR AT-HOME LIBRARIES. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS VOLUNTEERS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO ASSEMBLE KITS FOR EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT THAT CONTAIN UP TO 3 BOOKS, LITERACY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER RESOURCES TO CREATE A JOY OF READING. THE VOLUNTEERS DISTRIBUTE THE KITS TO STUDENTS IN UNDER RESOURCED COMMUNITIES THROUGH SCHOOLS OR SCHOOL-ADJACENT ORGANIZATIONS. THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO HOST BOOK CELEBRATION EVENTS THAT INCORPORATE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF LITERACY. FUNDED BY A VARIETY OF CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION PARTNERS, OFTEN AS AN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY, AND WORKING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, RIF COORDINATES THE DISTRIBUTION OF THESE PRE-MADE KITS TO STUDENTS THAT ARE FREE TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE BOOKS INCLUDED IN THE KITS ARE FURTHER SUPPORTED THROUGH DIGITAL RESOURCES ON RIF'S LITERACY CENTRAL.RIF CONTINUES TO OFFER ITS READ FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM, AN INNOVATIVE READING INTERVENTION ADDRESSING THE LITERACY BACKSLIDE THAT TRADITIONALLY HAPPENS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. READ FOR SUCCESS IS CENTERED AROUND MOTIVATING CHILDREN TO READ BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CLASSROOM BOOK COLLECTIONS, BOOKS FOR STUDENTS TO CHOOSE AND OWN, ENRICHING STEAM-THEMED CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS, AND PARENT ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES. TESTED OVER TWO YEARS AMONG 33,000 STUDENTS FROM 16 STATES, RIF'S READ FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM HELPED REVERSE THE TREND OF SUMMER LEARNING LOSS FOR MORE THAN HALF THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, 57% OF THE STUDENTS SAW GAINS IN READING PROFICIENCY WHEN TESTED FROM SPRING TO FALL.
- $2.6 million spent. DIGITAL PROGRAMS:RIF'S DIGITAL PORTFOLIO OF PRODUCTS INCLUDES LITERACY CENTRAL, LITERACY NETWORK, THE LITERACY APP, AND SKYBRARY.LITERACY CENTRAL IS AN ONLINE DESTINATION FOR TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND LITERACY VOLUNTEERS TO GET THOUSANDS OF FREE DIGITAL RESOURCES TIED DIRECTLY TO THE BOOKS CHILDREN LOVE AND TEACHERS TURN TO EVERY DAY. THE PORTAL PROVIDES TOOLS TO EASILY ORGANIZE AND KEEP READING RESOURCES IN ONE PLACE WITH CUSTOMIZABLE BOOK LISTS, PRINTABLE LESSON PLANS, ACTIVITIES, GAMES, READING PASSAGES, CALENDARS, AND VIDEOS.LITERACY NETWORK IS RIF'S COMMUNITY PORTAL DESIGNED TO SUPPORT RIF PROGRAMS AND VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, REACH MORE CHILDREN WITH LIFE-CHANGING LITERACY SUPPORT. THIS IS THE DESTINATION FOR ALL OF THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LOCAL LITERACY CHAMPION WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WANTS TO VOLUNTEER, ONE OF RIF'S COMMUNITY PARTNERS, A SCHOOL THAT WANTS TO IMPLEMENT A RIF PROGRAM, OR ONE OF OUR LOCAL RIF PROGRAMS.SKYBRARY IS A SUBSCRIPTION-BASED INTERACTIVE, DIGITAL LIBRARY OF MORE THAN 900 HIGH-QUALITY EBOOKS AND VIDEO EXPLORATION FIELD TRIPS THAT ENGAGE READERS AND HELP FOSTER A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING. THIS ONLINE RESOURCE ALLOWS CHILDREN TO EXPLORE OTHER THEMATIC ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE BOOK. SKYBRARY SCHOOL FEATURES THE SAME CAREFULLY CURATED LIBRARY OF DIGITAL BOOKS ALONG WITH ADDED FEATURES JUST FOR EDUCATORS. TEACHERS CAN ACCESS LESSON PLANS AND TEACHING GUIDES INSPIRED BY THE BOOKS AND VIDEOS IN THE LIBRARY FOR EXTENDED LEARNING AS WELL AS TRACK AND MANAGE STUDENTS' USAGE OF THE BOOKS AND VIDEOS.
- $2.4 million spent. COMMUNITY LITERACY AWARENESS AND OTHER PROGRAMS: RIF PROMOTES AWARENESS OF THE CRITICAL IMPACT OF EARLY LITERACY THROUGH A BROAD RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, SHARING RESOURCES THROUGH ITS WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, DISTRIBUTION OF ITS THEMATIC BOOK COLLECTIONS, AND LEVERAGING MEDIA THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS. RIF'S LITERACY SERVICES INCLUDE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND LITERACY TRAINING FOR EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP PARENTS TAKE A LEADING ROLE IN ENCOURAGING THEIR CHILDREN'S LITERACY DEVELOPMENT. WITH THE GUIDANCE OF RIF'S VOLUNTEERS, PARENTS PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS, BOOK DISTRIBUTIONS, AND READING CELEBRATIONS.RIF CONDUCTS LITERACY TRAINING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS. THIS TRAINING IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S EMERGING LANGUAGE AND LITERACY SKILLS WHILE INCLUDING PARENTS AS THEIR CHILDREN'S FIRST TEACHERS. THE TRAINING IS DONE THROUGH A "TRAIN THE TRAINER" MODEL THAT PREPARES PARTICIPANTS TO RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND DELIVER THE TRAINING TO THEIR COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITIES.RIF HOSTS OTHER LITERACY EVENTS WHICH PROMOTE LITERACY AND INFORM OTHERS ABOUT ITS MISSION.RIF ENGAGES WITH INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE EXPERTS TO EVALUATE RIF'S PROGRAM ACTIVITIES TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF NEED AND ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1973.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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