Connecticut Community Empowerment Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION INC.WHICH OPERATES AS REREADS BOOKS & MORE, A USED BOOKSELLER, RAISES AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL, DEVELOPMENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES ADVANCEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS BY PROVIDING INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AND JOB SKILL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND BY PROVIDING THE INDIVIDUALS, THEIR FAMILIES,AND THE COMMUNITY WITH EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON INDEPENDENT LIVING.
- Income
- $295,126
- Spending
- $205,446
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 51%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $56,950, executive di
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 53% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
- $181,649 spent. THE CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION (CCEF) WAS FOUNDED IN MAY OF 2020. CCEF OPERATES A USED BOOKSTORE NAMED REREAD BOOKS & MORE, THE STORE OPENED TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF JOB TRAINING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING OPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. REREAD BOOKS & MORE OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE GREATER CHESHIRE COMMUNITY IN NOVEMBER OF 2020. THE NEED FOR JOB TRAINING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING OPORTUNITIES ESCALATED AND BECAME CRITICAL DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SINCE YOUNG ADULTS WITH DIFFERENCES WERE AMONG THE FIRST WORKERS TO LOSE JOBS. A GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAD EXPERIENCED THIS CRISIS FIRST HAND, FROM FAMILIES DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE LACK OF OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, TO PROFESSIONALS IN EDUCATION, TRANSISTION PROGRAMS, AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY RECOGNIZED THE URGENT NEED FOR INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVES. THE BOOKSTORE WAS FOUNDED TO OFFER A HOST OF JOB TRAINING AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS SERVING AS A SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL HUB TO SUPPORT CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION: A. CCEF OPERATES A THRIVING USED BOOKSTORE WITH DESIGNATED AREAS FOR CONTEMPORARY FICTION, MEMOIR, CURRENT EVENTS, CLASSICS, YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE, ART, COOKING, MYSTERY AND THRILLERS, PHILOSOPHY, SCIENCE, POETRY, GARDENING AND CRAFTS. A LARGE CENTRAL TABLE HAS BEEN SETUP IN THE STORE WITH THEMED DISPLAYS, BOOKCLUB MEETING, AND PRESENTATIONS BY AUTHORS. THE BRIGHT AND WELCOMING CHILDREN'S AREA FEATURES A COLORFUL RUG A LARGE BENCH WITH PILLOWS, SHELVES AND BASKETS OF BOOKS ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN, ALONG WITH A TABLE FOR CRAFTS. THIS SPACE ALSO ACCOMODATES CHILDREN'S PARTIES, SEASONAL ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN, AND A WEEKLY STORY TIME. B. CCEF OFFERS INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY'S OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT, WHICH PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A WORK ENVIROMENT WITH THE COACHING AND MENTORING SUPPORT NEEDED NOT ONLY FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT, BUT WHICH CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO MANY OTHER SITUATIONS AND CONTEXTS SUCH AS INDEPENDENT LIVING, SOCIAL EVENTS, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. REREAD'S GUIDE TO INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT TRAINING (2022 EDITION) PREPARED BY DR. KAREN MAJESKI, OTD/OTR/L, IN CONCERT WITH THE QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY OCCUPATION PROGRAM DETAILS SPECIFIC SKILLS, COACHING GUIDELINES, AND ASSESSMENTS. THIS GUIDE IS AVAILABLE TO EDUCATORS, STUDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. C. PROVIDES JOB SKILL TRAINING, ACCORDING TO COGNITIVE OR DEVELOPMENT NEEDS, IN FIVE SETTINGS. REREAD BOOKS JOB SKILL TRAINING INCLUDES CUSTOMER SERVICE, REGISTERING AND ALPHABETIZING BOOKS, STORY TIME, TOURS FOR VISITING GROUP, ASSISTANCE WITH EVENTS, ANSWERING THE PHONE, SETTING UP DISPLAYS AND DECORATIONS, RECORD KEEPING, AND MAKING POSTERS AND VIDEOS FOR EVENTS. D. SERVES AS A FIELDWORK SITE FOR QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY GRADUATE STUDENTS WHICH IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY EDUCATION EXPERIENCE, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO APPLY CLINICAL REASONING AND PRACTICE SKILLS, BUILD PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH FUTURE CO- WORKERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CLIENTELE, AND TRANSITION FROM STUDENT TO ENTRY-LEVEL OT PRACTITIONER. THE EXACT DAY-TO-DAY TASKS OF STUDENTS MAY LOOK DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHAT PROJECTS THEY ARE WORKING ON. HOWEVER, THEY WORK TOWARD THE SAME GOALS: THE ABILITY TO EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT THE ROLE AND VALUE OF OT, ENGAGEMENT WITN OTHERS IN OT RELATED ACTIVITIES AND TASKS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIPS, DEMONSTRATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT GUIDELINES, AND THE TRANSITION FROM STUDENT TO ENTRY LEVEL PRACTITIONER. E. COLLABORATES WITH AND SUPPORTS OTHER REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES THAT SERVE THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. F. THE FOUNDATION HAS SECURED SPACE IN THE FACILITY THAT THE BOOK STORE IS LOCATED AND HAS OPENED A LOCAL EVENTS CENTER. THE COMMUNITY HAS VERY FEW OPTIONS OF AVAIALBLE SPACE FOR SMALLER EVENTS SUCH AS GATHERINGS FOR ORGANIZATIONS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, BRIDAL EVENTS AND BUSINESS MEETINGS. THE SPACE THAT THE FOUNDATION HAS SECURED WILL ACCOMODATE UP TO 100 EVENT ATTENDEES. THE FOUNDATION HAS COMPLETED RENOVATION WORK AND IS ACTIVELY BOOKING EVENTS. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EVENTS VENUE WILL PROVIDE OUR ASSOCIATES WITH ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT OPORTUNITIES FROM EVENT SET-UP AND CLEAN-UP, HELPING WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND ASSISTING IN EVENT OPERATIONS ALONG WITH OBTAINING LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT THRU THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH THE ATTENDEES. THE CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION RESOURCES INCLUDE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF 17 COMMUNITY LEADERS, 4 PART-TIME STAFF, AND A NETWORK OF 40-50 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, AS WELL AS UNIVERSITY-BASED INTERNS. THE CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION (CCEF) WAS FOUNDED IN MAY OF 2020. CCEF OPERATES A USED BOOKSTORE NAMED REREAD BOOKS & MORE, THE STORE OPENED TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF JOB TRAINING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING OPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. REREAD BOOKS & MORE OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE GREATER CHESHIRE COMMUNITY IN NOVEMBER OF 2020. THE NEED FOR JOB TRAINING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING OPORTUNITIES ESCALATED AND BECAME CRITICAL DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SINCE YOUNG ADULTS WITH DIFFERENCES WERE AMONG THE FIRST WORKERS TO LOSE JOBS. A GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAD EXPERIENCED THIS CRISIS FIRST HAND, FROM FAMILIES DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE LACK OF OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, TO PROFESSIONALS IN EDUCATION, TRANSISTION PROGRAMS, AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY RECOGNIZED THE URGENT NEED FOR INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVES. THE BOOKSTORE WAS FOUNDED TO OFFER A HOST OF JOB TRAINING AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS SERVING AS A SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL HUB TO SUPPORT CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION: A. CCEF OPERATES A THRIVING USED BOOKSTORE WITH DESIGNATED AREAS FOR CONTEMPORARY FICTION, MEMOIR, CURRENT EVEN
- $5,166 spent. THE FOUNDATION HAS SECURED SPACE IN THE FACILITY THAT THE BOOKSTORE IS LOCATED AND HAS OPENED A LOCAL EVENTS CENTER. THE COMMUNITY HAS VERY FEW OPTIONS OF AVAILABLE SPACE FOR SMALLER EVENTS SUCH AS GATHERINGS FOR ORGANIZATIONS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, BRIDAL EVENTS AND BUSINESS MEETINGS. THE SPACE THAT THE FOUNDATION HAS SECURED ACCOMMODATES UP TO 100 EVENT ATTENDEES. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EVENTS VENUE WILL PROVIDE ASSOCIATES WITH ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FROM EVENT SET-UP AND CLEAN-UP, HELPING WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND ASSISTING IN EVENT OPERATIONS ALONG WITH OBTAINING LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH THE ATTENDEES.
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 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 May 2020.
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 November 4, 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.