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The Dictionary Project

EIN 57-1029802 · Wellington, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE DICTIONARY PROJECT IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF OWNING A DICTIONARY. THIS PROGRAM ASSISTS PEOPLE IN BECOMING GOOD WRITERS, ACTIVE READERS, CREATIVE THINKERS AND RESOURCEFUL LEARNERS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THEIR OWN PERSONAL DICTIONARY. THE DICTIONARIES ARE A GIFT. EDUCATORS SEE THIRD GRADE AS THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN LEARNING TO READ AND READING TO LEARN. WE STRIVE TO INCLUDE EVERY STUDENT EACH YEAR. A DICTIONARY IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR A QUALITY EDUCATION. A CHILD CANNOT DO HIS OR HER BEST WORK WITHOUT ONE.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
1
Volunteers
28,000
Highest pay
$180,000, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 79% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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

    6 of 6 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 December 31, 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. $2.7 million spent. THE DICTIONARY PROJECT FUNCTIONS AND STRIVES TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD ARE ABLE TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF OWNING A DICTIONARY. PROGRAM EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON ASSISTING ALL PEOPLE IN BECOMING GOOD WRITERS, ACTIVE READERS, CREATIVE THINKERS, AND RESOURCEFUL LEARNERS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THEIR OWN PERSONAL DICTIONARY. AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE BELIEVE THAT A DICTIONARY IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR A QUALITY EDUCATION, AND THAT ONE CANNOT DO THEIR BEST WORK WITHOUT A DICTIONARY. THE DICTIONARY PROJECT MAKES PEOPLE SELF-RELIANT BY PROVIDING THEM WITH A RESOURCE THAT SERVES TO HELP THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW TO APPROACH A PROBLEM BY SOUNDING OUT A WORD AND USING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS TO FIND IT IN A DICTIONARY; THIS EXERCISE GIVES THEM A FEELING OF SATISFACTION AND SELF CONFIDENCE THAT AN ONLINE DICTIONARY DOESN'T OFFER AND HELPS FURTHER DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION OF THE CONNECTIONS THAT ARE FORMED WITH WORDS. DURING 2025, APPROXIMATELY 683,000 DICTIONARIES WERE GIVEN TO STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. WITH THIS RESOURCE, PEOPLE CAN BECOME MORE SELF-RELIANT AND BE BETTER ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THEIR UNIQUE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS, BY SHARING THEIR MOST INNATE GIFTS WITH OTHERS. THE DICTIONARY PROJECT FUNCTIONS AND STRIVES TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD ARE ABLE TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF OWNING A DICTIONARY. PROGRAM EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON ASSISTING ALL PEOPLE IN BECOMING GOOD WRITERS, ACTIVE READERS, CREATIVE THINKERS, AND RESOURCEFUL LEARNERS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THEIR OWN PERSONAL DICTIONARY. AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE BELIEVE THAT A DICTIONARY IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR A QUALITY EDUCATION, AND THAT ONE CANNOT DO THEIR BEST WORK WITHOUT A DICTIONARY. THE DICTIONARY PROJECT MAKES PEOPLE SELF-RELIANT BY PROVIDING THEM WITH A RESOURCE THAT SERVES TO HELP THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW TO APPROACH A PROBLEM BY SOUNDING OUT A WORD AND USING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS TO FIND IT IN A DICTIONARY; THIS EXERCISE GIVES THEM A FEELING OF SATISFACTION AND SELF CONFIDENCE THAT AN ONLINE DICTIONARY DOESN'T OFFER AND HELPS FURTHER DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION OF THE CONNECTIONS THAT ARE FORMED WITH WORDS. DURING 2025, APPROXIMATELY 683,000 DICTIONARIES WERE GIVEN TO STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. WITH THIS RESOURCE, PEOPLE CAN BECOME MORE SELF-RELIANT AND BE BETTER ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THEIR UNIQUE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS, BY SHARING THEIR MOST INNATE GIFTS WITH OTHERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 September 1996.

    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.