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Book Em

EIN 58-2000621 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BOOK'EM CREATES A MORE LITERATE NASHVILLE AND IGNITES CHILDREN'S PASSION FOR READING THROUGH BOOK OWNERSHIP AND ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEERS. SEE SCHEDULE O. BOOK'EM ENVISIONS A FUTURE IN NASHVILLE WHERE ALL CHILDREN OWN BOOKS AND KNOW FIRST-HAND THE JOY AND VALUE OF READING.OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY IS SERVING NASHVILLE'S ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN DURING THEIR PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YEARS. WE BELIEVE THAT DEVELOPING STRONG LITERACY SKILLS FROM AN EARLY AGE IS ESSENTIAL FOR ACADEMIC AND LIFELONG SUCCESS. BOOK'EM PROVIDES VITAL LITERACY SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF BOOKS AND READING ROLE MODELS, SO THAT NASHVILLE'S UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN CAN BUILD THEIR LITERACY SKILLS.-A SINGLE BOOK FOR A CHILD MAKES A DIFFERENCE.-OUR BOARD AND STAFF ARE ACTIVELY COMMITTED TO OUR MISSION.-DONORS OF BOOKS, TIME AND MONEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR MISSION.-EFFICIENCY WILL BEST MEET OUR MISSION.-WORKING WITH OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY MAKES US BETTER.

Income
$729,485
Spending
$844,143
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
14
Volunteers
275
Highest pay
$71,960, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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, 2024, 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. $471,269 spent. BOOKS FOR NASHVILLE'S KIDS (BFNK)- THROUGH OUR BOOKS FOR NASHVILLE'S KIDS PROGRAM, BOOK'EM PROVIDED 83,000 BOOKS TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH AGES 0-18 LIVING IN DAVIDSON COUNTY IN 2024. WE PARTNERED WITH 180 DIFFERENT GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY TO GET BOOKS INTO THE HANDS OF YOUTH WHO NEEDED AND WANTED THEM. BOOK'EM IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF FREE BOOKS FOR YOUTH AGES 0-18 IN DAVIDSON COUNTY.
  2. $131,103 spent. READING IS FUNDAMENTAL (RIF) PROGRAM- RIF BUILDS UNDER-SERVED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN'S LITERACY SKILLS, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. ELEMENTARY CHILDREN SELECT BOOKS FOR THEMSELVES TO CHERISH, ENJOY AND BUILD THEIR HOME LIBRARIES. THEY ARE ALSO EXPOSED TO RIF VOLUNTEERS AS POSITIVE COMMUNITY ROLE MODELS, WHO HELP MOTIVATE THEM TO LOVE READING AND BOOKS.DURING THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, BOOK'EM PROVIDED 31,000 BOOKS TO APPROXIMATELY 6,000 ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHO ATTENDED FIFTEEN TITLE I METRO NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH OUR RIF PROGRAM. AN AVERAGE OF 80% OF THESE STUDENTS ARE CONSIDERED ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, 72% ARE BELOW BASIC READING LEVEL, AND 30% ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.APPROXIMATELY 250 VOLUNTEERS VISITED THEIR ASSIGNED CLASSROOMS TO READ ALOUD AND ENGAGE WITH THE STUDENTS ABOUT 5 TIMES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.EVERY CHILD RECEIVED ABOUT 5 BOOKS WITH A TOTAL OF 31,000 BOOKS DISTRIBUTED.
  3. $33,068 spent. BOOK BUS - IN 2022, PARNASSUS BOOKS DONATED THEIR SMALL BOOK BUS TO BOOK'EM. WE RENOVATED AND UPDATED THE BUS AND DEVELOPED A NEW BOOK BUS PROGRAM WHICH LAUNCHED LATE 2023. THIS PROVIDES THE MEANS TO REACH MORE YOUTH BY GOING TO WHERE THEY ARE AND ALLOWING THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SPECIAL PROGRAMMING AND SELECTED BOOKS THROUGH A NOVEL VENUE.
  4. $30,067 spent. READ ME DAY CELEBRATIONS- BOOK'EM HELD TWO READ ME DAY CELEBRATIONS AT MNPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN 2024. SEVERAL HUNDRED COMMUNITY GUESTS HELPED US CELEBRATE READING AT THESE SCHOOLS WITH AN ASSEMBLY PROGRAM FOLLOWED BY GUESTS READING ALOUD AND ENGAGING WITH EACH CLASSROOM. STUDENTS GOT TO SELECT TWO BOOKS TO TAKE HOME AS THEIR FOREVER BOOKS.
  5. $16,131 spent. READY FOR READING- READY FOR READING PROVIDES CLASSROOM READING ROLE MODEL VOLUNTEERS FOR PRE-K CLASSROOMS AT TWO EARLY LEARNING CENTERS IN METRO NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THESE VOLUNTEERS READ ALOUD AND ENGAGE WITH THESE 4 YEAR OLDS ONCE A WEEK FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO HELP THEM GET READY FOR KINDERGARTEN.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 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 June 1992.

    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.

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