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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2025 Expires: August 2027

Reading Is Fundamental

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
Accreditation seal
(877) 743-7323
750 First Street NE, Suite 920
Washington, DC, 20002
https://www.rif.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Reading Is Fundamental meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to motivate children to read by making reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life."

Year, State Incorporated:
1973, DC

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) reports that it works to create a culture of literacy for children through book access, choice, and engagement. RIF's programs include Books for Ownership, Read for Success, and its digital library, Skybrary. Through its programs the organization states that it partners with local partners around the country (including schools, community centers, after-school programs, and more) to provide free new books and eBooks to children in these communities. RIF also develops and makes available free, digital resources to support reading engagement for teachers, families, and children via its online platforms, Literacy Central and Literacy Network. In 2024, the organization reports that it distributed 9 million books and operated 21,000 program sites. Some ($777,830 or 8%) of RIF's programs are conducted in conjunction with informational materials that include fundraising appeals.

For the year ended September 30, 2024, Reading Is Fundamental's program expenses were:

Digital programs $2,375,045
Community literacy awareness $2,157,806
Print programs $5,372,838
Total Program Expenses $9,905,689

Chief Executive
Alicia Levi, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$386,669

Chair of the Board
John Remondi

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Navient

Board Size
11

Paid Staff Size
35

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Special events, Print advertisements, Corporate solicitation

RIF incurred joint costs of $1,199,780 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $777,830 was allocated to program expenses and $421,950 was allocated to fundraising expenses.

Fundraising costs were 29% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $9,724,126, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Reading Is Fundamental's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2024.

Source of Funds
Other income $61,123
In-kind contributions $1,073,174
Federal grants $1,250,000
Investment income, net $2,397,402
Program service income $2,882,667
Contributions $7,400,952
Total Income $15,065,318

Programs: 69% Fundraising: 20% Administrative: 11%

Total Income $15,065,318
Total expenses: $14,325,228
  Program expenses $9,905,689
  Fundraising expenses $2,842,937
  Administrative expenses $1,576,602
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $740,090
Beginning Net Assets $20,684,583
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $21,424,673
Total Liabilities $2,975,644
Total Assets $24,400,317

Note: According to RIF's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2024, the organization received $1,073,174 in contributed goods and services including media and advertising ($710,000), book ($239,000), and legal and consulting fees ($124,174).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance