At Words Alive, we envision a world where everyone is connected to the power of reading. Our portfolio of programs and volunteer corps reached 4,145 participants across two counties to advance our mission.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
61¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 1,600 volunteers and 9 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
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $555K a year · 36% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
61%
of spending
Worth a look: 61% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$134K
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
9 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $19K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$81K
3% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 3% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 13 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
$1.2M
+12% vs prior year
Spent
$1.1M
To programs
61%
Net assets
$2.9M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$1.2M
FY2025▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$1.0M
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$3.1M
FY2024$1.0M
FY2025$1.2M
Expenses
$1.1M
FY2025▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$809K
FY2022$790K
FY2023$1.0M
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.1M
Net assets
$2.9M
FY2025▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$352K
FY2022$867K
FY2023$3.0M
FY2024$2.9M
FY2025$2.9M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · 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 Jul 1999.

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

Where the money goes

61 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 61% · $699K Management & general 23% · $261K Fundraising 16% · $177K

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

19 people listed on the 990; $134K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$79,388Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$53,125Pt VII · Sec A
$1,108Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Hampton Nonprofit Mgt Jan -Dec 2024’s $79K as Executive Director is at the 17th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M arts & culture 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 · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Rachael Orose$53,125$119,447$93,909$102,515$100,000
Hampton Nonprofit Mgt Jan -Dec 2024$79,388————
T Hampton Dohrman—$46,420———
Anastasia Rollins Optima Started Dec 2024$1,108————

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

Connects people to reading's power through programs and volunteers.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $699K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Read Aloud Program volunteers share the joy of a good story while helping children develop the cognitive, language, and social-emotional skills needed to be capable readers. Our program inspires students to be curious, courageous, and compassionate by exploring engaging and relevant books together with caring adults.

$392Kprogram expense
02

Family Literacy Program inspires parents and family caregivers to make exploring books a robust family habit by connecting reading and play.Parents and caregivers receive new childrens books to grow their personal libraries and learn engagement strategies and exploratory activities to use reading as a family at home.

$207Kprogram expense
03

Adolescent Book Group ignites a love of reading by connecting teenagers with volunteer facilitators to discuss, write, and create projects that bring books alive. As students share perspectives in this safe space, they improve communication skills, gain confidence, and enhance their ability to express themselves authentically.

$99Kprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$19K
Grants paid · 3 grants · $62K · 2020–2022
Unitemized GrantFY2022$17,205
Unitemized GrantFY2021$16,380
Unitemized GrantFY2020$28,810

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$108K
Investment incomeLn 3$23K
Money outPt IX
$1.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$699K
Managementcol C$261K
Fundraisingcol D$177K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$863K
Total assetsLn 16$3.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$81K
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$75K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$22K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$40K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$108K
Investment incomeLn 3$23K
Total revenueLn 12$1.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$204K
SavingsLn 2$658K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$863K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$17K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.0M
Other assetsLn 15$23K
Total assetsLn 16$3.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$81K
Net assetsLn 32$2.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 59
VolunteersI 61,600
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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$837K$863K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$15K$17K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.0M$2.0M
Total assetsLn 16$3.0M$3.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$83K$81K
Net assetsLn 32$2.9M$2.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$180K$74K$82K$25K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$522K$384K$38K$101K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$11K$7K$1K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$39K$26K$5K$7K
Payroll taxesLn 10$50K$34K$7K$9K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$886$886
Accounting feesLn 11c$15K$2K$13K$439
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$33K$500$32K$250
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$30K$7K$15K$7K
Information technologyLn 14$38K$9K$26K$3K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$17K$6K$9K$2K
TravelLn 17$5K$3K$833$1K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$64K$43K$9K$11K
InsuranceLn 23$10K$10K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$116K$102K$12K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$7K$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.1M$699K$261K$177K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.2M$1.1M$27K$2.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.0M$1.1M−$74K$2.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.1M$1.0M$2.1M$3.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.3M$790K$516K$867K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.0M$809K$209K$352K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,164,791 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $880,008$1,037,465
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $143,252$108,040
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $16,383$23,000
I-11 Other revenue−$3,714
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,039,643$1,164,791
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $708,880$801,983
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $404,552$335,732
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,113,432$1,137,715
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$73,789$27,076
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
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 $1,164,791 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$40,340
VIII-1e Government grants$75,390
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$921,735
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$21,740
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,037,465
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $108,040$108,040
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $23,000$23,000
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$3,714−$3,714
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $108,040 · Excluded from tax $19,286$1,164,791
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,137,715 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $73,517 · Management $82,468 · Fundraising $24,506$180,491
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $383,519 · Management $37,868 · Fundraising $100,627$522,014
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $7,414 · Management $1,351 · Fundraising $1,868$10,633
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $26,212 · Management $5,397 · Fundraising $6,939$38,548
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $34,202 · Management $7,042 · Fundraising $9,053$50,297
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $886$886
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $1,660 · Management $13,236 · Fundraising $439$15,335
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $500 · Management $32,031 · Fundraising $250$32,781
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $7,402 · Management $15,483 · Fundraising $7,302$30,187
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $9,305 · Management $25,795 · Fundraising $3,206$38,306
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $6,478 · Management $8,834 · Fundraising $1,715$17,027
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,973 · Management $833 · Fundraising $1,110$4,916
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $43,321 · Management $8,919 · Fundraising $11,467$63,707
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $9,556$9,556
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $102,441 · Management $11,626 · Fundraising $1,755$115,822
IX-24e All other expensesFundraising $7,209$7,209
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $698,944 · Management $261,325 · Fundraising $177,446$1,137,715
Part X · Balance sheet $3,017,556 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $204,272$204,268
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $632,595$658,398
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $66,175$38,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $95,126$83,889
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $5,534$15,539
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,952,667$1,977,890
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $15,078$16,511
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $3,728$23,061
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,975,175$3,017,556
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $79,208$58,046
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $3,728$23,187
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $82,936$81,233
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,648,077$2,598,749
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $244,162$337,574
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,892,239$2,936,323
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,975,175$3,017,556
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,936,323 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,164,791
XI-2 Total expenses$1,137,715
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$27,076
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,892,239
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,433
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$15,575
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,936,323

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

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