Literacy Advocates USA Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO SERVE STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS BY INSTILLING THE JOY OF PROVIDING FUN, INSPIRING BOOKS AND ENTERTAINMENT.
- Income
- $138,429
- Spending
- $165,849
- Spent on programs
- 53%
- Reserves
- -0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 76%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $51,992, president
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
Weak: 13 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 115% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1553% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $88,009 spent. GOOD NEWS BOOK FAIR CONTINUES TO COMBAT THE DECLINE IN READING, AS REPORTED IN THE 2025 NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP), OFTEN REFERRED TO AS "THE NATION'S REPORT CARD." ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, FEW STUDENTS ARE ACHIEVING STRONG READING PROFICIENCY, AND SCHOOLS HAVE NOT YET FULLY RECOVERED FROM PANDEMIC-ERA LEARNING LOSSES. THROUGHOUT 2025, OUR ORGANIZATION INCREASED AWARENESS BY ATTENDING SIX ANNUAL CONFERENCES AND SPEAKING AT VARIOUS EVENTS. THESE EFFORTS HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF READING FOR WORKFORCE READINESS, YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, LOVE OF COUNTRY AND THE OVERALL ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF OUR NATION. THE MORE AWARENESS WE CREATE, THE MORE SUPPORT WE CAN GENERATE FOR INNOVATIVE BOOK FAIRS THAT PROVIDE A TRULY ENGAGING AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. THESE EVENTS FEATURE AUTHOR BOOK SIGNINGS, WHOLESOME MEDIA, AND QUALITY RESOURCES FROM A VARIETY OF LEADING PUBLISHERS. AT A TIME WHEN TECHNOLOGY IS INCREASINGLY REPLACING TRADITIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARY RESOURCES, WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE PARENTS AND EDUCATORS ABOUT THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE SCREEN TIME. THESE EFFECTS CAN INCLUDE REDUCED READING COMPREHENSION, BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS PHYSICAL ISSUES SUCH AS DRY EYES, NECK PAIN, AND HAND STRAIN CAUSED BY PROLONGED USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES. SINCE 2015, GOOD NEWS BOOK FAIR, THE PRIMARY PROGRAM IN LITERACY ADVOCATES USA, HAS BEEN LEADING THE WAY IN DEVELOPING CREATIVE APPROACHES TO INSPIRE A LOVE OF READING IN THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ENCOURAGE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN LITERACY, AND SUPPORT FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. AS PIONEERS IN PROMOTING WHOLESOME MEDIA, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE IN SOCIETY WHILE ENCOURAGING OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY TO EMBRACE AND SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT MISSION. GOOD NEWS BOOK FAIR CONTINUES TO COMBAT THE DECLINE IN READING, AS REPORTED IN THE 2025 NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (NAEP), OFTEN REFERRED TO AS "THE NATION'S REPORT CARD." ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, FEW STUDENTS ARE ACHIEVING STRONG READING PROFICIENCY, AND SCHOOLS HAVE NOT YET FULLY RECOVERED FROM PANDEMIC-ERA LEARNING LOSSES. THROUGHOUT 2025, OUR ORGANIZATION INCREASED AWARENESS BY ATTENDING SIX ANNUAL CONFERENCES AND SPEAKING AT VARIOUS EVENTS. THESE EFFORTS HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF READING FOR WORKFORCE READINESS, YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, LOVE OF COUNTRY AND THE OVERALL ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF OUR NATION. THE MORE AWARENESS WE CREATE, THE MORE SUPPORT WE CAN GENERATE FOR INNOVATIVE BOOK FAIRS THAT PROVIDE A TRULY ENGAGING AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. THESE EVENTS FEATURE AUTHOR BOOK SIGNINGS, WHOLESOME MEDIA, AND QUALITY RESOURCES FROM A VARIETY OF LEADING PUBLISHERS. AT A TIME WHEN TECHNOLOGY IS INCREASINGLY REPLACING TRADITIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARY RESOURCES, WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE PARENTS AND EDUCATORS ABOUT THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE SCREEN TIME. THESE EFFECTS CAN INCLUDE REDUCED READING COMPREHENSION, BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS PHYSICAL ISSUES SUCH AS DRY EYES, NECK PAIN, AND HAND STRAIN CAUSED BY PROLONGED USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES. SINCE 2015, GOOD NEWS BOOK FAIR, THE PRIMARY PROGRAM IN LITERACY ADVOCATES USA, HAS BEEN LEADING THE WAY IN DEVELOPING CREATIVE APPROACHES TO INSPIRE A LOVE OF READING IN THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ENCOURAGE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN LITERACY, AND SUPPORT FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. AS PIONEERS IN PROMOTING WHOLESOME MEDIA, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE IN SOCIETY WHILE ENCOURAGING OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY TO EMBRACE AND SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT MISSION.
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
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 December 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 2023.
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.