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Roaring Fork Valley Early Learning Fund

EIN 55-0873041 · Glenwood Springs, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENGAGE CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5 IN A ROUTINE OF DAILY BOOK SHARING WITH THEIR PARENTS TO FOSTER HEALTHY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, PARENT-CHILD BONDING, AND EARLY LITERACY SKILLS CRITICAL FOR SCHOOL AND LIFE SUCCESS.

Income
$484,731
Spending
$406,957
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
10
Highest pay
$88,680, 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
  1. $164,005 spent. BOLSITAS ROJAS/LITTLE RED BAGS OUTREACH FILLS A NEED FOR OUR MOST UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND PARENTS. THESE PARENT-CHILD EARLY LITERACY FAMILY NETWORKS BRING TOGETHER FAMILIES OF CHILDREN NOT ENROLLED IN PRESCHOOL. IN WEEKLY, HOUR-LONG "PRESCHOOL" SESSIONS THAT INCLUDE PARENTS, RAISING A READER STAFF MODEL STORYTIME, PROVIDE PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND ENCOURAGE PARENT ENGAGEMENT, POSITIVE LITERACY BEHAVIORS, AND FAMILY DYNAMICS AND WELL-BEING AT HOME. THESE SESSIONS ALSO INCLUDE THE WEEKLY ROTATION OF OUR RED BOOK BAGS. THIS PROGRAM HAPPENS IN OUR NINE PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND ONE FIREHOUSE.
  2. $32,791 spent. 123 LET'S READ GIFTS ONE BOOK PER MONTH TO EACH PARTICIPATING PRESCHOOL TEACHER AND EVERY STUDENT IN THEIR CLASS. WITH EACH BOOK, RAR STAFF PROVIDES CUSTOMIZED SUGGESTIONS FOR HOME ACTIVITIES TO STIMULATE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, ENHANCE VOCABULARY, AND MOTIVATE AT-HOME READING. EACH CHILD RECEIVES SEVEN BOOKS A YEAR TO BUILD THE ALL-IMPORTANT HOME LIBRARY.
  3. $27,807 spent. BLUE BAG LIBRARY DAYS INTRODUCES OVER 800 CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF OUR BOOK PROGRAMS TO LOCAL LIBRARIES SO THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN ACCESS BOOKS AND OTHER RESOURCES. CHILDREN RECEIVE A RAISING A READER BLUE LIBRARY BAG TO KEEP AND CARRY THEIR LIBRARY BOOKS TO AND FROM HOME. THEY ALSO RECEIVE THEIR FIRST LIBRARY CARD AND INFORMATION ABOUT SUMMER READING PROGRAMS, THUS PROMOTING LIFELONG PUBLIC LIBRARY USE.
  4. $94,732 spent. OUR INNOVATIVE, EVIDENCE-BASED LITERACY PROGRAMS PROVIDE ROBUST AND EQUITABLE EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN FROM ASPEN TO PARACHUTE SO THAT PARENTS CREATE A FAMILY-READING ROUTINE AND A HEALTHY HOME LIFE, WHICH PREPARE THEIR CHILD TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO LEARN. OUR RED BOOK BAGS PROMOTE PARENT-CHILD BONDING AND INCREASE READ-ALOUD TIME AT HOME BY PROVIDING FAMILIES OF PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN WITH 75+ HIGH-QUALITY BOOKS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. EACH WEEK OVER 600 CHILDREN TAKE HOME A DIFFERENT RED BAG FILLED WITH 3-4 BOOKS TO READ WITH THEIR PARENTS, ENJOY BY THEMSELVES, AND RETURN FOR A NEW BAG THE FOLLOWING WEEK. EACH BAG PROVIDES RESOURCES TO MOTIVATE PARENTS TO READ AT HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES REGULARLY. OUR SUMMER CAMP IS A PARENT-CHILD, EARLY-LEARNING PARENT NETWORK THAT HAS EXPANDED INTO FOUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES SERVING UP TO 110 FAMILIES. THESE CAMPS COMBINE AN OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
  5. OUR INNOVATIVE, EVIDENCE-BASED LITERACY PROGRAMS PROVIDE ROBUST AND EQUITABLE EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN FROM ASPEN TO PARACHUTE SO THAT PARENTS CREATE A FAMILY-READING ROUTINE AND A HEALTHY HOME LIFE, WHICH PREPARE THEIR CHILD TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO LEARN. OUR RED BOOK BAGS PROMOTE PARENT-CHILD BONDING AND INCREASE READ-ALOUD TIME AT HOME BY PROVIDING FAMILIES OF PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN WITH 75+ HIGH-QUALITY BOOKS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. EACH WEEK OVER 600 CHILDREN TAKE HOME A DIFFERENT RED BAG FILLED WITH 3-4 BOOKS TO READ WITH THEIR PARENTS, ENJOY BY THEMSELVES, AND RETURN FOR A NEW BAG THE FOLLOWING WEEK. EACH BAG PROVIDES RESOURCES TO MOTIVATE PARENTS TO READ AT HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES REGULARLY. OUR SUMMER CAMP IS A PARENT-CHILD, EARLY-LEARNING PARENT NETWORK THAT HAS EXPANDED INTO FOUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES SERVING UP TO 110 FAMILIES. THESE CAMPS COMBINE AN OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES.

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 November 2004.

    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.