READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

750 1ST ST NE STE 920, WASHINGTON, DC 20002-8005

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

ALICIA LEVI, 750 FIRST STREET NE 920, WASHINGTON, DC 20002

Signed the 990

ALICIA LEVI, PRESIDENT AND CEO

Phone

(202) 536-3400

Website

WWW.RIF.ORG

Return prepared by

CBIZ ADVISORS LLC

Mission

READING IS FUNDAMENTAL WORKS TO DISRUPT THE ALARMING U.S. LITERACY CRISIS BY INSPIRING THE JOY OF READING IN CHILDREN, A CRITICAL ELEMENT TO DRIVING THE FREQUENCY, MOTIVATION, AND ENGAGEMENT NEEDED TO CREATE SKILLED READERS. WE KNOW THAT IF WE BUILD A FOUNDATION OF JOY FOR CHILDREN, THEN DEVELOPMENT, DISCOVERY, AND OPPORTUNITY FOLLOW.

Program accomplishments

• PRINT 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 CHILDREN AGENCY, ALLOWING THEM TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN BOOKS FROM A WIDE RANGE OF TITLES APPROPRIATE TO THEIR READING LEVEL. THE DISTRIBUTIONS, WHICH OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ALSO INCLUDE PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF FUNDERS TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. FOCUSING ON ACCESS AND CHOICE, STUDENTS IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY PARTICIPATE IN A BOOKS FOR OWNERSHIP PROGRAM SELECTING NEW, AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS TO TAKE HOME AND OWN. THE PROGRAM'S INTEGRATED APPROACH TO LITERACY PROVIDES SUPPORTING RESOURCES TO TEACHERS AND FAMILIES. BY MOTIVATING CHILDREN TO READ THROUGHBOOK CHOICE, ENGAGING THEM IN TOPICS THAT APPEAL TO THEM, AND PROVIDING THEM WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO READ, THIS PROGRAM WILL ENABLE CHILDREN TO BECOME MORE PROFICIENT READERS AND, THROUGH READING, LEARN. THESE BOOKS ARE FURTHER SUPPORTED THROUGH DIGITAL RESOURCES ON RIF'S LITERACY CENTRAL TO ENSURE ONGOING READING ENGAGEMENT.LITERACY KITS ARE AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR BOOK DISTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE BOOKS FOR OWNERSHIP PROGRAM AND ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS AT A BROADER SCALE. LITERACY KITS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH CRITICAL ACCESS TO BOOKS AND READING RESOURCES AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THEIR AT-HOME LIBRARIES. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS VOLUNTEERS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO ASSEMBLE KITS FOR EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT THAT CONTAIN UP TO 3 BOOKS, LITERACY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER RESOURCES TO CREATE A JOY OF READING. THE VOLUNTEERS DISTRIBUTE THE KITS TO STUDENTS IN UNDER RESOURCED COMMUNITIES THROUGH SCHOOLS OR SCHOOL-ADJACENT ORGANIZATIONS. THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO HOST BOOK CELEBRATION EVENTS THAT INCORPORATE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF LITERACY. FUNDED BY A VARIETY OF CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION PARTNERS, OFTEN AS AN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY, AND WORKING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, RIF COORDINATES THE DISTRIBUTION OF THESE PRE-MADE KITS TO STUDENTS THAT ARE FREE TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE BOOKS INCLUDED IN THE KITS ARE FURTHER SUPPORTED THROUGH DIGITAL RESOURCES ON RIF'S LITERACY CENTRAL.RIF CONTINUES TO OFFER ITS READ FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM, AN INNOVATIVE READING INTERVENTION ADDRESSING THE LITERACY BACKSLIDE THAT TRADITIONALLY HAPPENS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. READ FOR SUCCESS IS CENTERED AROUND MOTIVATING CHILDREN TO READ BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CLASSROOM BOOK COLLECTIONS, BOOKS FOR STUDENTS TO CHOOSE AND OWN, ENRICHING STEAM-THEMED CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS, AND PARENT ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES. TESTED OVER TWO YEARS AMONG 33,000 STUDENTS FROM 16 STATES, RIF'S READ FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM HELPED REVERSE THE TREND OF SUMMER LEARNING LOSS FOR MORE THAN HALF THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, 57% OF THE STUDENTS SAW GAINS IN READING PROFICIENCY WHEN TESTED FROM SPRING TO FALL.
  Expenses $5,871,309 · grants $4,254,588 · revenue $3,057,823
• 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 PROGRAMS AND VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, REACH MORE CHILDREN WITH LIFE-CHANGING LITERACY SUPPORT. THIS IS THE DESTINATION FOR ALL OF THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LOCAL LITERACY CHAMPION WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WANTS TO VOLUNTEER, ONE OF RIF'S COMMUNITY PARTNERS, A SCHOOL THAT WANTS TO IMPLEMENT A RIF PROGRAM, OR ONE OF OUR LOCAL RIF PROGRAMS.SKYBRARY IS A SUBSCRIPTION-BASED INTERACTIVE, DIGITAL LIBRARY OF MORE THAN 900 HIGH-QUALITY EBOOKS AND VIDEO EXPLORATION FIELD TRIPS THAT ENGAGE READERS AND HELP FOSTER A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING. THIS ONLINE RESOURCE ALLOWS CHILDREN TO EXPLORE OTHER THEMATIC ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE BOOK. SKYBRARY SCHOOL FEATURES THE SAME CAREFULLY CURATED LIBRARY OF DIGITAL BOOKS ALONG WITH ADDED FEATURES JUST FOR EDUCATORS. TEACHERS CAN ACCESS LESSON PLANS AND TEACHING GUIDES INSPIRED BY THE BOOKS AND VIDEOS IN THE LIBRARY FOR EXTENDED LEARNING AS WELL AS TRACK AND MANAGE STUDENTS' USAGE OF THE BOOKS AND VIDEOS.
  Expenses $2,553,882 · revenue $168,317
• 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. WITH THE GUIDANCE OF RIF'S VOLUNTEERS, PARENTS PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS, BOOK DISTRIBUTIONS, AND READING CELEBRATIONS.RIF CONDUCTS LITERACY TRAINING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS. THIS TRAINING IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S EMERGING LANGUAGE AND LITERACY SKILLS WHILE INCLUDING PARENTS AS THEIR CHILDREN'S FIRST TEACHERS. THE TRAINING IS DONE THROUGH A "TRAIN THE TRAINER" MODEL THAT PREPARES PARTICIPANTS TO RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND DELIVER THE TRAINING TO THEIR COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITIES.RIF HOSTS OTHER LITERACY EVENTS WHICH PROMOTE LITERACY AND INFORM OTHERS ABOUT ITS MISSION.RIF ENGAGES WITH INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE EXPERTS TO EVALUATE RIF'S PROGRAM ACTIVITIES TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF NEED AND ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.
  Expenses $2,434,324

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

52-0976257

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1973

Accounting year ends

September

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Education (B92Z)

Assets (IRS master file)

$28,242,855

Income (IRS master file)

$23,472,090

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 52-0976257).

Questions about READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC

What is the EIN of READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC?

The employer identification number (EIN) of READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC is 52-0976257.

Is READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1973.

Are donations to READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.

Who is the principal officer of READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC?

The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names ALICIA LEVI.

Who are the officers and directors of READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC?

The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 17 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $430,208 (ALICIA LEVI, PRESIDENT AND CEO).

How much revenue does READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC have?

On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $18,697,726, expenses of $15,678,781 and total assets of $28,242,855 at year end.

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