What kinds of organizations does Kids Need to Read fund?

They fund underfunded schools, public libraries, and community organizations that support disadvantaged children. Recent recipients include Mesa Public Schools, Mesa Public Library, Literacy Connects, Yuma School District #1, and Native Health Native American Community Health Center Inc.

What is the typical grant size?

Their grants are generally small to mid-sized. The 25th percentile is $6,940, the median is $9,326, and the 75th percentile is $14,832.

What are Kids Need to Read’s main focus areas?

Their focus areas center on children’s literacy, book donations, school and public library support, literacy programs and outreach, and summer and afterschool reading initiatives. The recent grants also reference reading proficiency support for disadvantaged children.

Do they support organizations outside Arizona?

Yes, but most giving is in Arizona. The recent grants list includes recipients in California, such as San Gabriel Education Foundation in San Gabriel and Camarena Memorial Library in Calexico, while 84% of grants go to recipients in Arizona.

Do any recipients appear more than once in the recent grants?

Yes. Pi Beta Phi Arizona Alpha appears in 2023 and 2025, Mountain View School appears in 2023 and 2025, and Native Health appears in 2023 and 2025. That pattern suggests repeat support for some partners.

Kids Need to Read

Name: Kids Need to Read — grants, 990 financials & funding data
Creator: Kindora

ActiveEducation

MESA, AZWebsite4802560115

About Kids Need to Read

Kids Need to Read helps children discover the joy of reading and the power of a literate mind by providing inspiring books and literacy programs to underfunded schools, libraries, and community agencies across the United States, especially those serving disadvantaged children.

Focus Areas

children's literacybook donationsschool and public library supportliteracy programs and outreachsummer & afterschool reading initiativessocial-emotional learning / STEAM / financial literacy (collection support)

Who They Fund

disadvantaged children (low-income students)underfunded literacy programs/organizationsK-12 students (primarily early grades)school communities in low-resource areas

About Kids Need to Read

Kids Need to Read concentrates on one clear intervention: getting reading resources into underfunded literacy programs, schools, libraries, and community organizations that serve disadvantaged children. A recent grant to Mesa Public Schools totaled $94,297 and was paired with language about reading resources for underfunded literacy programs to increase reading proficiency among disadvantaged children. Other large awards show the same model at work. Mesa United Way received $57,351, and Pi Beta Phi Arizona Alpha in Tucson received $62,694, both for the same reading-resources purpose. The foundation’s work is organized around book donations and literacy support rather than cash-only philanthropy. Its active programs include Grow Your Library, Share Our Libraries, From Our Shelves to Yours, the National Book Donation Program, Request Books, and The Page Coach. Several of these programs explicitly serve schools, public libraries, and community organizations through donated books, collections, and literacy experiences. The recent grants list also shows repeated support for Arizona-based education and community partners, including Mesa Public Library, Literacy Connects, Native Health Native American Community Health Center Inc, and Yuma School District #1. Across the grant list, the funding pattern points to direct support for organizations working with children in low-resource settings.

What Kids Need to Read Funds

A central theme in Kids Need to Read’s grantmaking is school and public-library literacy support. Mesa Public Library received $31,473 in 2025, and Camarena Memorial Library in Calexico received $14,964 in 2025, both for reading resources aimed at improving reading proficiency among disadvantaged children. The foundation also supports K-12 settings directly: Mountain View School in Phoenix received $24,989 in 2025, while Irving Elementary School in Mesa received $19,078 in 2023. Community-based literacy partners are another visible part of the portfolio. Literacy Connects in Tucson received $44,197 in 2025, and Read Better Be Better in Phoenix received $16,861 in 2023, again tied to reading resources for underfunded literacy programs. Kids Need to Read also funds organizations serving broader child and family needs, such as Native Health Native American Community Health Center Inc in Phoenix and Foothills Foodbank in Cave Creek, both connected to the same literacy-support purpose.

How Kids Need to Read Gives

Financial Snapshot

Annual Giving

$1.5M

Total Assets

$805K

Total Revenue

$579K

Total Expenses

$840K

Typical Grant Size

Most grants fall between $7K and $15K, with a median of $9K.

25th Percentile

$7K

Median

$9K

75th Percentile

$15K

Geographic Reach

Local9 states funded

Funding intensity

Low

High

Headquarters

Leadership

TYSON BREINHOLT

Accepts unsolicited proposals

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Recipient	Location	Amount	Year	Purpose
MESA PUBLIC SCHOOLS	MESA, AZ	$94,297In-kind: 13445 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
PI BTA PHI ARIZONA ALPHA	TUCSON, AZ	$62,694In-kind: 4793 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE	PHOENIX, AZ	$60,622In-kind: 5988 reading resources donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
MESA UNITED WAY	MESA, AZ	$57,351In-kind: 4768 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA	TUCSON, AZ	$52,966In-kind: 4492 reading resource donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
LITERACY CONNECTS	TUCSON, AZ	$44,197In-kind: 4416 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
GATHERING HUMANITY	GILBERT, AZ	$42,275In-kind: 4324 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
MESA PUBLIC SCHOOLS	MESA, AZ	$41,778In-kind: 7562 reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
NATIVE HEALTH NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER INC	PHOENIX, AZ	$39,932In-kind: 3749 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
COCININO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES	FLAGSTAFF, AZ	$36,864In-kind: 2587 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE	PHOENIX, AZ	$34,577In-kind: 2832 reading resources donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
UNITED WAY OF TUCSON	TUCSON, AZ	$32,411In-kind: 4896 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
MILITARY SUPPORT FOUNDATION	PNOENIX, AZ	$31,737In-kind: 4716 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
MESA PUBLIC LIBRARY	MESA, AZ	$31,473In-kind: 3596 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
NATICE AMERICAN COMUNITY HEALTH CENTER (NATIVE HEALTH)	PHOENIX, AZ	$28,982In-kind: 3141 reading resources donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
MOUNTAIN VIEW SCHOOL	PHOENIX, AZ	$24,989In-kind: 2504 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
MESA PUBLIC LIBRARY	MESA, AZ	$21,743In-kind: 3216 reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
FOOTHILLS FOODBANK	CAVE CREEK, AZ	$20,224In-kind: 3956 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
COMMUNITY BRIDGES	MESA, AZ	$18,655In-kind: 1318 reading resource donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
YUMA SCHOOL DISTRICT #1	YUMA, AZ	$18,500In-kind: 1532 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
THE LITERACY CENTER	FLAGSTAFF, AZ	$18,192In-kind: 1393 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
TOYS FOR TOTS	SURPRISE, AZ	$17,627In-kind: 1300 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
WORKPLACE EDUCATION AND LITERACY COALITION OF MOHAVE COUNTY KINGMAN	KINGMAN, AZ	$16,589In-kind: 2400 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
SAN GABRIEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION	SAN GABRIEL, CA	$15,005In-kind: 816 reading resource donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
CAMARENA MEMORIAL LIBRARY	CALEXICO, CA	$14,964In-kind: 1923 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
ECHO MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY	PHOENIX, AZ	$14,401In-kind: 1280 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
CAESAR CHAVEZ HIGH SCHOOL	LAVEEN, AZ	$14,145In-kind: 1362 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
PAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY LAKE POWELL	PAGE, AZ	$13,994In-kind: 1578 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
OPERATION HOMEFRONT	PEORIA, AZ	$13,757In-kind: 1748 reading resources donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
SUPERSTITION FOOD BANK	APACHE JUNCTION, AZ	$13,661In-kind: 978 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
INDIAN OASIS PRIMARY	SELLS, AZ	$13,418In-kind: 1852 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
UNITED WAY OF PINAL COUNTY	CASA GRANDE, AZ	$12,965In-kind: 1525 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
VISTA COLLEGE PREPARATORY	PHOENIX, AZ	$12,825In-kind: 1050 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
FAITH CHRISTIAN CENTER	PHOENIX, AZ	$12,797In-kind: 870 reading resource donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
BASIS PHOENIX SOUTH	PHOENIX, AZ	$12,736In-kind: 1014 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
LA PALOMA ACADEMY	TUCSON, AZ	$12,522In-kind: 1411 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
MOUNTAIN VIEW SCHOOL	PHOENIX, AZ	$12,345In-kind: 1036 reading resource donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
WORKPLACE EDUCATION AND LITERACY COALITION OF MOHAVE COUNTY	KINGMAN, AZ	$12,322In-kind: 1832 reading resources donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
OFFICE OF PINAL COUNTY ATTORNEY	FLORENCE, AZ	$12,158In-kind: 1079 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
BONILLAS TRADITIONAL ELEMENTARY	TUCSON, AZ	$11,523In-kind: 462 reading resource donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES COMMUNITY SERVICES	MESA, AZ	$11,312In-kind: 1514 reading resources donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
ESCALANTE MULTI GENERATIONAL CENTER	TEMPE, AZ	$10,888In-kind: 1713 reading resources donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
SAN GABRIEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION	SAN GABRIEL, CA	$10,845In-kind: 1287 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
CHILD AND FAMILY RESOURCES NOGALES	NOGALAS, AZ	$10,578In-kind: 777 reading resource donated	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
EAGLE PATHWAY	MESA, AZ	$10,560In-kind: 1178 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
CALEXICO SCHOOL DISTRICT	CALEXICO, CA	$10,501In-kind: 858 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
DOS RIOS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	TOLLESON, AZ	$10,309In-kind: 1436 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
STREETS OF JOY	MESA, AZ	$9,828In-kind: 905 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
VALLEY OF THE SUN YMCA	PHOENIX, AZ	$9,812In-kind: 1287 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
FAITH CHRISTIAN CHURCH	PHOENIX, AZ	$9,326In-kind: 954 books and reading resources	2025	READING RESOURCES PROVIDED TO UNDERFUNDED LITERACY PROGRAMS TO INCREASE READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.

Recipient

Location

Amount

Year

Purpose

MESA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MESA, AZ

$94,297In-kind: 13445 books and reading resources

2025