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We Shall Read

EIN 86-1665696 · Farmingtn Hls, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To teach train and mentor teachers, tutors, and parents in Brain Friendly instructional strategies that improve children's reading, spelling and writing regardless of their age, ability and background.

Income
$369,627
Spending
$342,131
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
15.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
1
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$82,500, executive director

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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $211,201 spent. We equipped 140 educators with between 12 to 30 hours of college-level professional development in reading intervention grounded in the Science of Reading. Through hands-on training in the Brain Friendly Reading program, teachers strengthened their ability to deliver explicit, systematic instruction that aligns with how the brain learns to read. Designed to be both high-impact and low-preparation, the program removes barriers to implementation and is reinforced through ongoing weekly live group coaching, ensuring that training translates into classroom practice and improved student outcomes. Beyond these intensive courses, more than 225 educators and parents participated in live virtual trainings on topics including foundational literacy skills and dyslexia. Our Tools in 10! bite-size training on YouTube allows all workshop participants to extend their learning on their time.
  2. $19,320 spent. Through our partnership with the Detroit River Conservancy, we taught over 1,400 parents and children how to use several high-impact reading activities during their 6-week Reading & Rhythm program as well as their 1-day Detroit Sports Youth Showcase. We continued the impact throughout SE Michigan by providing 420 children and families high impact reading materials and games at the Dearborn Summer Markets, connecting families to free, ongoing resources. These outreach activities led people to download thousands of dollars worth of free materials from the website and attend over a dozen on-line and in-person parent workshops.
  3. $8,700 spent. Instruction also continued at Freedom House in Detroit, where we provided 20 weeks of consistent literacy instruction to adult immigrants strengthening their English language skills. In that classroom, literacy is more than an academic goal-it is a pathway to employment, independence, and fuller participation in community life.

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 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 2022.

    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.

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.