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Tree House Books

EIN 59-3802913 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT TREE HOUSE BOOKS, OUR VISION IS THAT EVERY CHILD IN PHILADELPHIA HAS ACCESS TO BOOKS, AND EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS. WE ARE ON A MISSION TO GROW AND SUSTAIN A COMMUNITY OF READERS, WRITERS, AND THINKERS. SINCE 2005, TREE HOUSE BOOKS HAS PROVIDED OUT OF SCHOOL TIME (OST) PROGRAMS THAT SPARK A LIFELONG LOVE OF READING AND WRITING IN CHILDREN FROM THEIR EARLIEST MOMENTS, THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND. OUR SPACE IS A WARM, SAFE HAVEN FOR CHILDREN TO EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS. WE SUPPORT THE CRUCIAL ROLE FAMILIES PLAY IN CREATING A LITERACY-RICH ENVIRONMENT, AND ACTIVELY WORK TO PROMOTE FAMILIES READING TOGETHER AT HOME. EVERYTHING WE DO IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
15
Volunteers
117
Highest pay
$81,200, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $686,964 spent. TREE HOUSE BOOKS MARKED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN 2025, CELEBRATING ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY WHILE ACHIEVING RECORD PROGRAMMATIC OUTCOMES. THE YEAR STARTED OFF IN RECOVERY FROM A CHRISTMAS DAY WATER EMERGENCY THAT CLOSED OUR DOORS FOR 3 WEEKS AND RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF OVER 5,000 BOOKS. OUR SUPPORTERS STEPPED UP AND MADE SURE THIS SETBACK WOULD NOT SET US BACK FOR LONG. IN JUST THREE WEEKS, WE WERE BACK RUNNING AT FULL CAPACITY, AND WE RECEIVED MORE BOOK DONATIONS THAN AT ANY OTHER POINT IN OUR HISTORY. IN ORDER TO PROPERLY CELEBRATE OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY, WE GATHERED TOGETHER OFTEN TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY OF TREE HOUSE BOOKS. IT ALL STARTED WITH AN ALUMNI REUNION IN APRIL, WHERE FOUNDERS, PAST STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, FAMILIES, AND YOUTH SHARED STORIES OF HOW THIS PLACE HELPED SHAPE THEIR LIVES: FROM BECOMING BETTER READERS, TO ALUMNI STARTING THEIR OWN NONPROFITS, TO FORMER STUDENTS BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN TO ENJOY THE READING LOFT. THE CELEBRATIONS CONTINUED WITH OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY CHAMPIONS OF LITERACY EVENT, WHERE WE HEARD FROM ALUM DR. MECCA JAMILIAH SULLIVAN, OUR FIRST PROGRAM DIRECTOR. SHE WAS PRESENTED HER AWARD BY FORMER BOARD MEMBER ELI GOLDBLATT AND FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DARCY SEABRIGHT. WE ALSO RECOGNIZED THE S. ALBERT FUND AS OUR PARTNER OF THE YEAR. OUR PHILADELPHIA LITERACY DAY HAD OVER 1,400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE AT OUR ANNUAL STREET FESTIVAL. ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS TOOK HUGE STEPS FORWARD IN 2025. WE HIRED A FULL-TIME COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND BOOK DISTRIBUTOR SO THE TRAVELING TREE HOUSE COULD CONTINUE TO GROW AND EXPAND. TREE HOUSE BOOKS DISTRIBUTED 106,513 BOOKS IN 2025, SURPASSING 100,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY. THIS WAS DESPITE LOSING A MONTH TO THE WATER EMERGENCY. WE HAD 266,246 WORTH OF BOOKS DONATED THROUGH 59 UNIQUE BOOK DRIVES AND SEVERAL HUNDRED INDIVIDUAL DONORS. OUR TRAVELING TREE HOUSE VISITED 182 PARTNER SITES, GIVING AWAY 18,699 BOOKS IN 443 STOPS. OUR GIVING LIBRARY ADDED 2,014 MEMBERS FOR A TOTAL OF OVER 10,000. WE HAD 7,538 VISITS TO THE GIVING LIBRARY IN 2025. WE ALSO STARTED MEASURING OUR IMPACT IN REDUCING WASTE, SAVING 30,321 LBS OF BOOKS FROM POTENTIALLY HEADING INTO A LANDFILL. BOTH OUR AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER LITERACY STUDIOS WERE WELL ATTENDED, WITH 25 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN EACH PROGRAM. OUR SUMMER WORDS ON WHEELS DELIVERY PROGRAM HAD 79 STUDENT SUMMER READERS. OUR TEEN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL ALSO STEPPED INTO GREATER LEADERSHIP THIS YEAR, PLANNING A WRITING RETREAT IN THE POCONOS THAT 12 YOUTH ATTENDEDOUR FIRST OF ITS KIND. OUR TEEN PROGRAM WAS FEATURED IN "ECOSYSTEMS OF YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: PATHWAYS TO NEW PROGRAMS" BY TRISHA A. SWED, PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY. ONCE AGAIN, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE A BEACH DAY FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, RENTING A BUS AND TAKING 50 PEOPLE FOR A DAY OF FUN AT THE SHORE. COMMUNITY EVENTS INCLUDED TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND THE BOOK RELEASE FOR "WE THE PIZZA," PENNED BY OUR NEIGHBOR MUHAMMAD ABDUL-HADI, OWNER OF DOWN NORTH PIZZA. OUR PLANS FOR BUILDING RENOVATION AND PROGRAM EXPANSION REMAIN ON TARGET FOR COMPLETION BY THE END OF 2026. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SILENT PHASE OF OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND WE ARE CONFIDENT WE WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN 2026 WITH NO DISRUPTION TO PROGRAMMING. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADDED 3 NEW MEMBERS, AND SAW THE DEPARTURE OF 2 MEMBERS DUE TO TERMS EXPIRING. WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A DIVERSE RATIO OF BOARD MEMBERS, WITH OVER 50% BLACK AND BROWN LEADERSHIP. VOLUNTEER SUPPORT REMAINED ESSENTIAL TO OPERATIONS AND 96 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 2,289 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. TREE HOUSE BOOKS MARKED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN 2025, CELEBRATING ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY WHILE ACHIEVING RECORD PROGRAMMATIC OUTCOMES. THE YEAR STARTED OFF IN RECOVERY FROM A CHRISTMAS DAY WATER EMERGENCY THAT CLOSED OUR DOORS FOR 3 WEEKS AND RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF OVER 5,000 BOOKS. OUR SUPPORTERS STEPPED UP AND MADE SURE THIS SETBACK WOULD NOT SET US BACK FOR LONG. IN JUST THREE WEEKS, WE WERE BACK RUNNING AT FULL CAPACITY, AND WE RECEIVED MORE BOOK DONATIONS THAN AT ANY OTHER POINT IN OUR HISTORY. IN ORDER TO PROPERLY CELEBRATE OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY, WE GATHERED TOGETHER OFTEN TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY OF TREE HOUSE BOOKS. IT ALL STARTED WITH AN ALUMNI REUNION IN APRIL, WHERE FOUNDERS, PAST STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, FAMILIES, AND YOUTH SHARED STORIES OF HOW THIS PLACE HELPED SHAPE THEIR LIVES: FROM BECOMING BETTER READERS, TO ALUMNI STARTING THEIR OWN NONPROFITS, TO FORMER STUDENTS BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN TO ENJOY THE READING LOFT. THE CELEBRATIONS CONTINUED WITH OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY CHAMPIONS OF LITERACY EVENT, WHERE WE HEARD FROM ALUM DR. MECCA JAMILIAH SULLIVAN, OUR FIRST PROGRAM DIRECTOR. SHE WAS PRESENTED HER AWARD BY FORMER BOARD MEMBER ELI GOLDBLATT AND FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DARCY SEABRIGHT. WE ALSO RECOGNIZED THE S. ALBERT FUND AS OUR PARTNER OF THE YEAR. OUR PHILADELPHIA LITERACY DAY HAD OVER 1,400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE AT OUR ANNUAL STREET FESTIVAL. ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS TOOK HUGE STEPS FORWARD IN 2025. WE HIRED A FULL-TIME COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND BOOK DISTRIBUTOR SO THE TRAVELING TREE HOUSE COULD CONTINUE TO GROW AND EXPAND. TREE HOUSE BOOKS DISTRIBUTED 106,513 BOOKS IN 2025, SURPASSING 100,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY. THIS WAS DESPITE LOSING A MONTH TO THE WATER EMERGENCY. WE HAD 266,246 WORTH OF BOOKS DONATED THROUGH 59 UNIQUE BOOK DRIVES AND SEVERAL HUNDRED INDIVIDUAL DONORS. OUR TRAVELING TREE HOUSE VISITED 182 PARTNER SITES, GIVING AWAY 18,699 BOOKS IN 443 STOPS. OUR GIVING LIBRARY ADDED 2,014 MEMBERS FOR A TOTAL OF OVER 10,000. WE HAD 7,538 VISITS TO THE GIVING LIBRARY IN 2025. WE ALSO STARTED MEASURING OUR IMPACT IN REDUCING WASTE, SAVING 30,321 LBS OF BOOKS FROM POTENTIALLY HEADING INTO A LANDFILL. BOTH OUR AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER LITERACY STUDIOS WERE WELL ATTENDED, WITH 25 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN EACH PROGRAM. OUR SUMMER WORDS ON WHEELS DELIVERY PROGRAM HAD 79 STUDENT SUMMER READERS. OUR TEEN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL ALSO STEPPED

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 May 2007.

    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.

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