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Childrens Book Project

EIN 94-3229734 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$283,368
Spending
$319,870
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
17.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
5
Volunteers
85
Highest pay
$24,799, board member

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

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
  1. $279,789 spent. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1992, WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED OVER 3.4 MILLION BOOKS, WITH MOST GOING TO TITLE 1 SCHOOLS OR TO CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN NON-SCHOOL SETTINGS, SUCH AS PUBLIC HEALTH CLINICS, AFTER-SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS (BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, ETC.), SHELTERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO ASSIST WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING NEEDS, FOSTER CARE, SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS, DAYCARES, ETC. IN 2025, THE CHILDREN'S BOOK PROJECT RECEIVED AND PROCESSED 151,134 BOOKS DONATED BY BUSINESSES, PUBLISHERS, AUTHORS, INDIVIDUALS (FROM CURATED WISH LISTS AT BOOKSHOP.ORG (HTTPS://BOOKSHOP.ORG/SHOP/CHILDRENSBOOKPROJECT) AND AMAZON.COM (HTTPS://HTTPS/WWW.AMAZON.COM/HZ/WISHLIST/LS/317FJVMN43M7Q?), AND OUR MAINSTAY - BOOK DRIVES (52 DRIVES IN 2025) (HTTPS://WWW.CHILDRENSBOOKPROJECT.ORG/ORGANIZE-BOOK-DRIVE-SUBPAGE/)), AND DISTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY 12,000 FREE BOOKS EVERY MONTH TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES LIVING IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, AS WELL AS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SHELTERS AND PROGRAMS FOR UNHOUSED CHILDREN, PUBLIC HEALTH CLINICS, CHILD CARE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS (INCLUDING THOSE WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS) IN THE GREATER BAY AREA AND BEYOND. WHILE WE PRIMARILY SERVE THE GREATER BAY AREA, IN 2025 WE SERVED 36 COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA. BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER ORGANIZATION THAT OFFERS FREE, HIGH-QUALITY, UNLIMITED BOOKS AND LITERACY RESOURCES, SOME EDUCATORS AND ORGANIZATION STAFF DRIVE 4-6 HOUR ROUND TRIPS FROM COUNTIES FAR FROM OUR SAN FRANCISCO BAYVIEW DISTRICT BOOK BANK TO SELECT OUR FREE, QUALITY, UNLIMITED BOOKS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WITH BOOKS PLACED WITH CHILDREN INDIVIDUALLY AND IN GROUP SETTINGS, THE PROJECT SERVES OVER 265,000 CHILDREN ANNUALLY. BOOK BANK PROGRAM (AGES 0-18): OUR BOOK BANK IN SAN FRANCISCO'S BAYVIEW DISTRICT OFFERS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BOOKS, ALL FREE, UNLIMITED, AND FOR KEEPS. EDUCATORS, ANY ORGANIZATION SERVING UNDER-RESOURCED CHILDREN, AND STORYTIME PROGRAM CHILDREN (ON FIELD TRIPS TO THE BOOK BANK) SELECT BOOKS FROM THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BOOKS AT OUR BOOK BANK. THE BOOK BANK IS DESIGNED LIKE AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE, BUT EVERY BOOK IS FREE. OUR BOOKS ARE FOR CHILDREN AGES 0-18, AND FOR EDUCATORS (WE OFFER TEACHING RESOURCE MATERIALS). WE OFFER BOOKS BY DIVERSE AUTHORS AND FEATURE INCLUSIVE CHARACTERS SO CHILDREN HAVE BOTH A MIRROR THAT REAFFIRMS THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE AND A WINDOW TO OTHERS' PERSPECTIVES. WE PROVIDE BOOKS IN OVER 19 LANGUAGES, AND READING TIPS IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND MANDARIN. WE ENDEAVOR TO OFFER SPECIALIZED SECTIONS, SUCH AS BOOKS WITH PROTAGONISTS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING. IN 2025, WE PROCESSED 151,134 DONATED BOOKS TO OUR BOOK BANK AND THE CHILDREN'S BOOK PROJECT DONATED APPROXIMATELY 12,000 BOOKS MONTHLY TO CHILDREN AND SUPPORTED 144 COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND LITERACY EVENTS. READ ALOUD PROGRAM (AGES 0-5): OUR READ ALOUD PROGRAM TRAINS COMMUNITY PARTNERS VIA EXPERT-LED BIMONTHLY WORKSHOPS FOR PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH GROUPS OF PARENTS WITH CHILDREN AGES 0-5, WITH A FOCUS ON EARLY LITERACY DEVELOPMENT. WE PROVIDE A WRITTEN TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR THESE PROFESSIONALS, EXPERT GUEST LECTURERS, AND THOUSANDS OF FREE NEW BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AGES 0-5 IN A VARIETY OF DIVERSE AND DIFFICULT-TO-SOURCE LANGUAGES, INCLUDING AMHARIC, ARABIC, CHINESE, KOREAN, VIETNAMESE, SPANISH, TAGALOG, AND RUSSIAN, WITH A BROAD RANGE OF CULTURAL AND RACIAL CHARACTER REPRESENTATION. IN 2025, THE READ ALOUD PROGRAM HELD 6 WORKSHOPS, READ ALOUD PARTICIPANTS SERVED THOUSANDS OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN (AGES 0-5), AND THE CHILDREN'S BOOK PROJECT DONATED THOUSANDS OF FREE BOOKS FOR THESE PARENTS. THE WORKSHOPS AND BOOKS PROVIDED ARE ALL FREE. TEEN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM OUR TEEN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM PROVIDES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AGES 16 AND OLDER WHO LOVE BOOKS AND READING, EMPOWERING THEM TO SPREAD THAT JOY AMONG THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN OUR MISSION. IN 2025, 11 TEENS VOLUNTEERED AT THE CHILDREN'S BOOK PROJECT. THE TEENS WROTE BOOK REVIEWS, ORGANIZED BOOK DRIVES, BUILT BOOK DROPS/SHELVES, PARTICIPATED IN SOCIAL MEDIA WORK, SELECTED AND DELIVERED BOOKS TO PLACES IN THE COMMUNITY WITH LITTLE TO NO ACCESS TO BOOKS, AND BROUGHT BOOKS TO LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SECOND READING PROGRAM OUR SECOND READING PROGRAM PLACES THOUSANDS OF TITLES EACH YEAR IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT SAN FRANCISCO WHICH HAVE LITTLE TO NO ACCESS TO BOOKS, TO ENSURE CHILDREN CAN CHOOSE THEIR OWN "FOR KEEPS" BOOKS. IN 2025, WE PROVIDED 58 DELIVERIES OF NEW SECOND READING BOOKSHELVES OR BOOKS IN SAN FRANCISCO NEIGHBORHOODS WITH LITTLE TO NO ACCESS TO BOOKS. ALL BOOKS AND SHELVING ARE PROVIDED FREE TO THE COMMUNITY. STORYTIME PROGRAM OUR STORYTIME PROGRAM OFFERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS TO OUR BOOK BANK FOR CHILDREN TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH PUBLISHED CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS. THE AUTHORS READ ALOUD, HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH CHILDREN ABOUT READING AND WRITING, SIGN THEIR BOOKS, AND TEACH ILLUSTRATION. WE GIVE THE CHILDREN FREE SKETCH BOOKS WITH LINES FOR TEXT AND COLORED MARKERS TO USE DURING THE FIELD TRIP AND THEN TAKE HOME TO KEEP. THE STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WRITE AND ILLUSTRATE THEIR OWN BOOKS WITH THE PROVIDED ART SUPPLIES. THEY ARE ALSO GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AFTER MEETING THE AUTHOR TO SELECT FREE BOOKS FROM THE BOOK BANK FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR SIBLINGS, AND TO TAKE THE BOOKS HOME IN TOTE BAGS WE PROVIDE, DECORATED WITH CHILDREN'S ART FROM PREVIOUS FIELD TRIPS. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE STORYTIME FIELD TRIP WAS LED BY CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR MAC BARNETT, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS'S NATIONAL AMBASSADOR FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S BOOKS, 2025-2026. IN 2025, WE HELD 5 STORYTIME FIELD TRIPS FOR PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES AT OUR BOOK BANK AND DONATED APPROXIMATELY 1,000 BOOKS TO THE CHILDREN AND THEIR TEACHERS, ALL OF WHICH THE CHILDREN SELECTED THEMSELVES. THE STORYTIME PROGRAM IS OFFERED ENTIRELY FREE OF CHARGE. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROG

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 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 December 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 September 1995.

    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.