Our Kids Read Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE LOVE OF PHYSICALLY DIVERSE BOOKS WITH CHILDREN AGES 4-12 AND TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT OUR STUDENTS AND MENTORS WITH DIVERSE BOOKS THAT ENCOURAGE, INSPIRE, AND EDUCATE.
- Income
- $656,402
- Spending
- $611,329
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 450
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: 51 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 87% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 110% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
- $443,032 spent. READING (AND BEING READ TO) HAS BEEN LINKED TO ALL SORTS OF AMAZING BENEFITS, INCLUDING ENHANCING CREATIVITY, RELEASING ENDORPHINS (POSITIVE EFFECT ON MOOD), INCREASING EMPATHY, DECREASING STRESS, ENHANCING MEMORY, IMPROVING SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, AND INCREASING VOCABULARY. IN ADDITION, A LONG-TERM STUDY BY THE ANNE E. CASEY FOUNDATION FOUND THAT STUDENTS WHO WERE NOT PROFICIENT IN READING BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE WERE FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL THAN PROFICIENT READERS. THE STUDY FURTHER CONCLUDED THAT 88 PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO FAILED TO EARN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WERE STRUGGLING READERS IN THIRD GRADE.OUR KIDS READ IS THEREFORE FOCUSING ON PRE-K THROUGH 5TH GRADE AS THE TARGET FOR OUR READING PROGRAMS IN HOPES OF CREATING LIFELONG READERS TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF READING AND ALL OF ITS BENEFITS.
- $110,758 spent. THE OUR KIDS READ "REMOTE READING BUDDIES" PROGRAM CONNECTS WHITE AND BLUE-COLLAR PROFESSIONALS, RETIREES, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LOOKING TO SATISFY THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR PROGRAMS WHO ARE BEHIND IN THEIR READING SKILLS. WE RECRUIT FROM LARGE AND SMALL COMPANIES, LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN SPARE AT LEAST 30 MINUTES PER WEEK TO READ TO A CHILD (MINIMUM 8-WEEK COMMITMENT). WE AIM TO EXPAND THE READING BUDDIES PROGRAM EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS: 250 READING BUDDIES IN 2024, AND 1,000 READING BUDDIES IN 2025.
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
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.