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Reach Inc

EIN 54-1918686 · Norfolk, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak33 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF REACH, INC. (READING ENRICHES ALL CHILDREN) IS TO PROMOTE LITERACY FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE AT-RISK AND HOMELESS THROUGHOUT COASTAL VIRGINIA.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
13
Volunteers
650
Highest pay
$69,221, 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

Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 99% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% 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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $396,828 spent. THE BIG FREE BOOKSTORE: IMAGINE A PLACE WHERE THE JOY OF READING IS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, WHERE THE SHELVES ARE STOCKED WITH A TREASURE TROVE OF STORIES WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED. THE BIG FREE BOOKSTORE IS EXACTLY THAT - A WELCOMING SPACE OFFERING HIGH-QUALITY, NEW, AND GENTLY USED BOOKS, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON CHILDREN'S LITERATURE, YET PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR EVERY FAMILY MEMBER. OUR BOOKSTORE IS MORE THAN JUST A COLLECTION OF BOOKS; IT'S A VIBRANT COMMUNITY HUB. WITH RESOURCES SPANNING ALL AGES, WE ENSURE THAT THE JOY OF LITERARY EXPLORATION IS A SHARED FAMILY EXPERIENCE. FROM THE ENCHANTING WORLD OF CHILDREN'S FAIRY TALES TO THE THOUGHT-PROVOKING REALMS OF ADULT FICTION AND NON-FICTION, THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
  2. $680,276 spent. BULK BOOK DISTRIBUTION: IN OUR QUEST TO MAKE LITERACY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, THE BULK BOOK DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM BY REACH PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE POWER OF A BOOK EXTENDS FAR BEYOND ITS PAGES, AND OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT THIS POWER REACHES AS MANY HANDS AS POSSIBLE. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH A NETWORK OF PARTNER AGENCIES IN THE AREA, PROVIDING THEM WITH NEW BOOKS AT LITTLE TO NO COST. THESE AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS, WHICH QUALIFY BASED ON THEIR COMMITMENT TO LITERACY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, BECOME CONDUITS FOR SPREADING KNOWLEDGE AND JOY THROUGH BOOKS.
  3. $56,690 spent. GROWING READERS PROGRAM: IN A WORLD WHERE EDUCATION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OPPORTUNITY, OUR "GROWING READERS" PROGRAM STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF SHARED KNOWLEDGE AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT. THIS INITIATIVE IS DEDICATED TO DISTRIBUTING GENTLY DONATED USED BOOKS, COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE, TO CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND AGENCIES, FOSTERING A CULTURE OF LITERACY AND LEARNING IN COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT MOST.
  4. FAMILY LITERACY KITS: THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE ARE CRUCIAL FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR FUTURE LEARNING AND SUCCESS. OUR FAMILY LITERACY KITS PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED ZERO TO FIVE WHO ARE ENROLLED IN HOME VISITATION PROGRAMS. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHILD, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, DESERVES THE JOY AND BENEFITS OF EARLY LITERACY. RAP SESSIONS (READ ALOUD PROGRAM): AT THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE ARE ITS CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE FACING THE TOUGHEST OF LIFE'S CHALLENGES. OUR READ ALOUD PROGRAM (RAP) IS EMPOWERS CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH STORIES, GEARED TOWARDS CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 12. THIS PROGRAM ISN'T JUST ABOUT READING STORIES; IT'S ABOUT OPENING DOORS TO NEW WORLDS AND POSSIBILITIES SESSIONS CAN TAKE PLACE ANYWHERE, AND TYPICALLY OCCUR INSIDE THE BIG FREE BOOKSTORE, LOCAL COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND AREA HOMELESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS. SCHOOL HOUSE ROCKIN' TEACHER RESOURCE PROGRAM: SESSIONS ARE CONDUCTED WEEKLY, BI-MONTHLY, OR MONTHLY, READ-ALOUD SESSIONS TAKE PLACE AT 11 SHELTERS AND THROUGH 16 COMMUNITY INITIATIVES ACROSS COASTAL VIRGINIA TO HELP CHILDREN BUILD STRONGER ACADEMIC FUTURES. PROGRAMMING CONSISTS OF VARIOUS STORIES AND ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS THE SELECTION OF TWO NEW BOOKS AT THE CLOSE OF THE PROGRAM.
  5. FAMILY LITERACY KITS: THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE ARE CRUCIAL FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR FUTURE LEARNING AND SUCCESS. OUR FAMILY LITERACY KITS PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED ZERO TO FIVE WHO ARE ENROLLED IN HOME VISITATION PROGRAMS. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHILD, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, DESERVES THE JOY AND BENEFITS OF EARLY LITERACY. RAP SESSIONS (READ ALOUD PROGRAM): AT THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE ARE ITS CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE FACING THE TOUGHEST OF LIFE'S CHALLENGES. OUR READ ALOUD PROGRAM (RAP) IS EMPOWERS CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH STORIES, GEARED TOWARDS CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 12. THIS PROGRAM ISN'T JUST ABOUT READING STORIES; IT'S ABOUT OPENING DOORS TO NEW WORLDS AND POSSIBILITIES SESSIONS CAN TAKE PLACE ANYWHERE, AND TYPICALLY OCCUR INSIDE THE BIG FREE BOOKSTORE, LOCAL COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND AREA HOMELESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS. SCHOOL HOUSE ROCKIN' TEACHER RESOURCE PROGRAM: SESSIONS ARE CONDUCTED WEEKLY, BI-MONTHLY, OR MONTHLY, READ-ALOUD SESSIONS TAKE PLACE AT 11 SHELTERS AND THROUGH 16 COMMUNITY INITIATIVES ACROSS COASTAL VIRGINIA TO HELP CHILDREN BUILD STRONGER ACADEMIC FUTURES. PROGRAMMING CONSISTS OF VARIOUS STORIES AND ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS THE SELECTION OF TWO NEW BOOKS AT THE CLOSE OF THE PROGRAM.

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 March 1999.

    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.