Reading Ready Pittsburgh
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Supporting healthy development of young children by increasing access to books and by encouraging significant family engagement through reading,
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $793,955
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 22
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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 111% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $271,524 spent. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Partnering with the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Reading Ready Pittsburgh contracts for books to be mailed to over 8,000 children's homes each month. These books are intended to support the healthy development of young children by increasing access to books and by encouraging significant family engagement through reading.
- $237,427 spent. Raising a Reader: This is a book bag rotation program. The classic red Book Bag program supports families in developing shared reading routines that build early literacy skills and foster a love of books. This book bag rotation program is provided to over 1600 children through a variety of early childhood education professionals including Home Visitors, Head Starts, Early Head Starts, Private Childcare Centers and Elementary Schools.
- $91,608 spent. B is for Books:This is a 100% free bookstore for children and families. The bookstore also doubles as a resource for early childhood educators and parents to access high quality reading materials for the families in their care and as an educational support where workshops/trainings are provided. B is for Books is open to the public 5 days each week. Each child visiting can take home 3 free books. Fun community outreach events occur on a monthly basis.
- $45,751 spent. Community Engagement and Outreach:Reading Ready Pittsburgh loves to work directly and creatively in their local communities. Reading Ready Pittsburgh is often tabling at a variety of community events and at partner's events. They also work with the family centers and pediatricians around the Mon Valley and provide them books and resources of all kinds like early literacy posters, stickers with helpful hints for parents, and literature highlighting the importance of early literacy.
- $42,249 spent. Various Other Programs: These include Read With Me (Summer)and Give Away Books among others.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.