About Reading Is Fundamental
Reading Is Fundamental works to disrupt the alarming U.S. literacy crisis by inspiring the joy of reading in children, driving the frequency, motivation, and engagement needed to create skilled readers.
Focus Areas
children's literacyearly childhood literacybook distribution / ownershipfamily engagementeducator support and professional development
Who They Fund
children and youth (students)adult learnersfamilies and caregiversliteracy educators and community-based literacy organizationsunderserved or low-literacy communities
Funding Style
direct service / program support
About Reading Is Fundamental
Reading Is Fundamental Inc uses matching grants to put books and literacy resources directly into the hands of children through schools and youth-serving organizations. Its active programs include Books for Ownership, Read for Success, and Skybrary, with book awards delivered through RIF’s online Bookstore and matching support tied to local dollars. Recent awards show a wide spread of literacy partnerships, from Ready Set Read in Los Angeles to United Way of West Central Mississippi in Vicksburg and Muskingum Valley ESC in Zanesville. The grant list also shows repeat support for organizations such as Muskingum IRA, Believe in Books Literacy Foundation, and Start Lighthouse across multiple years, suggesting an ongoing relationship with selected local providers rather than one-off transactions. The foundation’s work centers on children’s literacy, early childhood literacy, book ownership, family engagement, and educator support. Its stated purpose is to disrupt the U.S. literacy crisis by building the frequency, motivation, and engagement that help children become skilled readers. In practice, that means funding direct service and program support for organizations that can distribute books, support reading activities, and extend literacy programming into homes and classrooms. The recent grant record points to both large-scale district partnerships and community-based literacy groups, all within a national U.S. giving footprint.
What Reading Is Fundamental Funds
A core theme is book access and ownership. Reading Is Fundamental Inc awarded $182,400 to Ready Set Read in Los Angeles and $124,424 to United Way of West Central Mississippi in Vicksburg, both marked to foster literacy. Those awards fit the foundation’s matching-grant model, which pairs local dollars with books and literacy resources for children. The foundation also supports school-based literacy delivery. It gave $117,888 to Muskingum Valley ESC in Zanesville and $46,800 to Meridian Public School District in Meridian, Mississippi, again for fostering literacy. These grants align with its emphasis on direct service and education-focused support. A third pattern is community literacy organizations and family-facing reading programs. Believe in Books Literacy Foundation in Intervale, New Hampshire received $50,320 in 2025, while Reach Out and Read Hq in Boston received $44,880 in 2024 and $22,872 in 2025. That mix points to a portfolio that includes both local implementation and broader literacy infrastructure.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.1M
Total Assets
$28.2M
Total Revenue
$18.7M
Total Expenses
$15.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $6K and $11K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$11K
Geographic Reach
National37 states funded
About 1% of grants go to recipients in MS.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ALICIA LEVI
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