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Joyful Readers Inc

EIN 86-2200001 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS GAIN THE LITERACY SKILLS THEY NEED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL, CONFIDENT, AND YES...JOYFUL READERS!

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 43%
Employees
95
Volunteers
93
Highest pay
$118,828, executive director

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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $1.8 million spent. AMERICORPS READING TUTORING PROGRAM -JOYFUL READERS RECRUITS AND TRAINS AMERICORPS MEMBERS TO SERVE AS HIGH-DOSAGE READING TUTORS FOR PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO READ ON GRADE LEVEL. THE PROGRAM IS BASED ON THE EXTENSIVE BODY OF RESEARCH THAT IDENTIFIES HIGH-DOSAGE READING TUTORING AS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE EDUCATION INTEVENTIONS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS. IN THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED HIGH-IMPACT READING TUTORING TO 991 STUDENTS IN 18 PHILADELPHIA SCHOOLS. EXTERNAL RESEARCH ON THE JOYFUL READERS PROGRAM HAS CONTINUED TO FIND THAT STUDENTS' READING GROWTH OUTPACES THE GROWTH THAT WOULD BE EXPECTED IN A TYPICAL SCHOOL YEAR. JOYFUL READERS STUDENTS ARE NOT ONLY IMPROVING IN READING, BUT ALSO MAKING MEANINGFUL PROGRESS TOWARDS CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN THEIR ASSESSMENT SCORES AND THE NATIONAL MEDIAN SCORE OF STUDENTS IN THE SAME GRADE BETWEEN FALL AND SPRING. MOST GRADUATES FROM THE JOYFUL READERS AMERICORPS MEMBER COHORT REPORT THAT THEIR NEXT STEP INVOLVES PURSUING A CAREER IN THE EDUCATION FIELD, HELPING JOYFUL READERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO A DIVERSE PIPELINE OF EDUCATORS WHO WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE STUDENTS AFTER THEIR TERM OF SERVICE.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 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 October 2021.

    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 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.