Worldreader is a global tech nonprofit, providing award-winning free-digital reading app, booksmart, to help families prepare young children for learning, by fostering reading routines-a proven formula to build school-readiness and lifelong learning habits.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
69¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 12 volunteers and 12 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $789K a year · 14% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
69%
of spending
Fine: 69% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$781K
to officers and key staff · 19% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 19% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
12
named funders · $1.5M
Looks good: 12 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$187K
5% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 5% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 12 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.6M
-70% vs prior year
Spent
$4.1M
To programs
69%
Net assets
$3.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.6M
FY2025▼ -70%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$7.2M
FY2021$9.0M
FY2022$6.8M
FY2023$5.0M
FY2024$5.2M
FY2025$1.6M
Expenses
$4.1M
FY2025▼ -29%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$6.8M
FY2021$6.8M
FY2022$7.7M
FY2023$8.4M
FY2024$5.7M
FY2025$4.1M
Net assets
$3.5M
FY2025▼ -42%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$8.6M
FY2021$10.8M
FY2022$10.0M
FY2023$6.6M
FY2024$6.0M
FY2025$3.5M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 2010.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

69 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 69% · $2.8M Management & general 18% · $727K Fundraising 13% · $550K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

18 people listed on the 990; $781K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief Executive Officer
$264,078Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Director, Human Resources
$172,553Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Product
$122,550Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Accounting & Admin
$120,386Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Major Gifts (thru 7/29/25)
$101,737Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (thru 3/31/25)
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Rebecca Chandler-Leege’s $264K as Chief Executive Officer is at the 89th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1168 $1–10M international nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Rebecca Chandler-Leege$264,078$242,958$238,489$183,758$186,900$149,976
Shannon Atkinson—$37,275$192,086$158,853$167,825$127,980
Veronica Gutierrez$172,553$170,744$160,465$147,420$137,512$103,936
Wendi Huestis—$116,453$163,747———
Deborah Backus——$156,857$145,689$132,518—
Melanie Wise———$153,693$130,424—
Hubert Lacey$122,550—————
Bea Perdue———$120,692——

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Helps people worldwide access and read books.

Questions for Worldreader Org

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.8M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

WORLDREADER.ORG (worldreader or the organization) is a global tech nonprofit on a mission to get families reading. By supporting parents and caregivers with free, accessible digital tools and resources, we build reading routines that improve children's learning outcomes and social-emotional skills in underserved communities worldwide.

$2.8Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 12 funders →
Grants paid · 25 grants · $283K · 2023–2025
World Vision INCWA · FY2025$20,000
Play Smart Literacy INCIL · FY2025$20,000
Planning Your SuccessIL · FY2025$20,000
Laamistad INCGA · FY2025$20,000
Play Smart Literacy INCIL · FY2024$10,000
Tutoring ChicagoIL · FY2023$7,500
The Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready StudentsFY2023$7,500
The Black Book ProjectFY2023$7,500
Play Smart Literacy INCIL · FY2023$7,500
Laundrycares FoundationIL · FY2023$7,500
See all 25 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$111K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$13K
Money outPt IX
$4.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.8M
Managementcol C$727K
Fundraisingcol D$550K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.4M
Total assetsLn 16$3.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$187K
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.5M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$3K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$13K
Investment incomeLn 3$111K
Gains on assetsLn 7$4K
Total revenueLn 12$1.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$136K
SavingsLn 2$2.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$3.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$187K
Net assetsLn 32$3.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 512
VolunteersI 612
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.3M$2.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$6.2M$3.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$178K$187K
Net assetsLn 32$6.0M$3.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$101K$101K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$617K$617K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$298K$119K$30K$149K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.0M$371K$368K$292K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$26K$1K$14K$10K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$92K$19K$55K$18K
Payroll taxesLn 10$83K$32K$28K$23K
Legal feesLn 11b$15K$15K
Accounting feesLn 11c$58K$58K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$421K$391K$27K$4K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$172K$171K$1K
Office expensesLn 13$6K$325$4K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$3K$1K$576$1K
TravelLn 17$47K$9K$27K$11K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1K$939$262$200
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$235K$235K
InsuranceLn 23$8K$2K$6K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$842K$755K$73K$14K
All other expensesLn 24e$47K$185$22K$25K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.1M$2.8M$727K$550K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.6M$4.1M−$2.5M$3.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $5.2M$5.7M−$532K$6.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.0M$8.4M−$3.4M$6.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.8M$7.7M−$864K$10.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $9.0M$6.8M$2.2M$10.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 $7.2M$6.8M$415K$8.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,580,555 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,860,812$1,456,078
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $136,745$13,300
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $208,869$111,177
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,206,426$1,580,555
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,174,300$717,536
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,904,143$1,529,212
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,659,763$1,854,837
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,738,206$4,101,585
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$531,780−$2,521,030
Part VI · Governance 12 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members12
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,580,555 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,456,078
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$2,875
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,456,078
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $13,300$13,300
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $106,953$106,953
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $4,224$4,224
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $13,300 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $111,177$1,580,555
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,101,585 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $100,750$100,750
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $616,786$616,786
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $119,077 · Management $29,769 · Fundraising $148,846$297,692
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $371,136 · Management $367,593 · Fundraising $292,371$1,031,100
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,164 · Management $14,390 · Fundraising $10,246$25,800
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $18,548 · Management $55,154 · Fundraising $17,935$91,637
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $31,705 · Management $28,085 · Fundraising $23,193$82,983
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $14,879$14,879
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $57,705$57,705
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $390,519 · Management $26,612 · Fundraising $3,652$420,783
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $170,766 · Management $1,000$171,766
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $325 · Management $3,687 · Fundraising $1,490$5,502
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,031 · Management $576 · Fundraising $1,473$3,080
IX-17 TravelPrograms $9,238 · Management $26,818 · Fundraising $11,015$47,071
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $939 · Management $262 · Fundraising $200$1,401
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $235,201$235,201
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,586 · Management $5,561 · Fundraising $1,100$8,247
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $755,478 · Management $72,648 · Fundraising $13,683$841,809
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $185 · Management $21,932 · Fundraising $25,276$47,393
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,824,434 · Management $726,671 · Fundraising $550,480$4,101,585
Part X · Balance sheet $3,694,787 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $377,159$135,678
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,922,516$2,310,615
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $617,774$432,529
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $408,646$53,771
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $112,505$86,404
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $749,117$675,790
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $9,671$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $6,197,388$3,694,787
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $170,387$149,970
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $7,276$37,136
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $177,663$187,106
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,571,417$2,528,797
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,448,308$978,884
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $6,019,725$3,507,681
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $6,197,388$3,694,787
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,507,681 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,580,555
XI-2 Total expenses$4,101,585
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,521,030
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$6,019,725
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$8,986
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,507,681

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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