Reading Is Fundamental
Reading Is Fundamental reported $18.7 million in revenue and $15.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $69.26 went to program services, $13.63 to management and general costs and $17.11 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 76.1% of the total. Government grants made up 13.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $457,080 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 181% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $16MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $19MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 69.3% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.6% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 17.1% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.19 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 76.1% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 13.4% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 17.3% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $457,080 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.92% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 14 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 19.2 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 10 of 11 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expensePrint programs:books for ownership is rif's flagship reading program where children choose new books and participate in reading activities with teachers, parents, volunteers, and community members. This program educates, builds community, and inspires children to make greater choices for themselves to choose learning, and to choose success in school and in life. Funded by a variety of individual donors, corporations, and foundation partners, and working through local community programs, rif distributes books to children that are free to the children and their families. This program gives…
Digital programs:rif's digital portfolio of products includes literacy central, literacy network, the literacy app, and skybrary.literacy central is an online destination for teachers, parents, and literacy volunteers to get thousands of free digital resources tied directly to the books children love and teachers turn to every day. The portal provides tools to easily organize and keep reading resources in one place with customizable book lists, printable lesson plans, activities, games, reading passages, calendars, and videos.literacy network is rif's community portal designed to support rif…
Community literacy awareness and other programs: rif promotes awareness of the critical impact of early literacy through a broad range of activities, sharing resources through its website and social media platforms, distribution of its thematic book collections, and leveraging media through public service announcements. Rif's literacy services include family and community engagement and literacy training for educators and community organizations. Family and community engagement activities are designed to help parents take a leading role in encouraging their children's literacy development.…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $430,208 | $0 | $26,872 | $457,080 |
| SVP, MARKETING & PARTNERSHIP Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $214,528 | $0 | $50,023 | $264,551 |
| CFO UNTIL 06/25 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $235,268 | $0 | $23,245 | $258,513 |
| VP, ANNUAL GIVING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $147,950 | $0 | $31,119 | $179,069 |
| SVP, DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $169,380 | $0 | $3,846 | $173,226 |
| SR. ASSOCIATE, ENGINEERING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $148,655 | $0 | $11,146 | $159,801 |
| SR. MANAGER, ENGINEERING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $137,712 | $0 | $12,214 | $149,926 |
14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Reading Is Fundamental (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $712K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b11 · 10 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 537
- Volunteers Part I, line 630,000
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| COMMUNITY COUNSELLING SERVICE CO LLC Professional fundraising | $478,557 |
| LAUTMAN MASKA NEILL & CO Professional fundraising | $439,247 |
| EXCEL MAILING SERVICES Printing & production of literacy materi | $359,244 |
| ZEBRA MARKETING Printing & production of literacy materi | $298,749 |
| ICP SOLUTIONS LLC It consulting | $229,770 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 16 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
83 private foundations reported grants to Reading Is Fundamental totaling $889K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Reading Is Fundamental's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Reading Is Fundamental, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Reading Is Fundamental spent in FY2025, $69.26 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Renaissance Charter SchoolJackson Heights, NY · revenue $19M · programs 89.3% · FY2025
- Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day SchoolChicago, IL · revenue $19M · programs 84.4% · FY2025
- Orange Grove Charter SchoolCharleston, SC · revenue $19M · programs 85.9% · FY2025
- The Day SchoolPittsburgh, PA · revenue $19M · programs 79.3% · FY2025
- Miami Community Charter SchoolFlorida City, FL · revenue $19M · programs 90.3% · FY2025
All education charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Reading Is Fundamental's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Reading Is Fundamental reported that 69.3% of its $15.7 million in expenses went to program services, 13.6% to management and general and 17.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Reading Is Fundamental pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Reading Is Fundamental reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $457,080, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Reading Is Fundamental get its money?
Of $18.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 76.1% came from contributions and grants (including 13.4% from government grants) and 17.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Reading Is Fundamental a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-0976257 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202640369349300044 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202540379349301549 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202410439349300046 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202300619349301000 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202200559349301900 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202110399349301056 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-0976257: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.