Making IT Better FY2020 filing

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Making It Better is dedicated to transforming communities by empowering children and families through literacy, leadership, and life skills. Literacy Now operates in 11 Houston Independent School District (HISD) campuses and multiple community sites.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 56-2571141) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
69¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$78K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $121K a year · 6% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
69%
of spending
69% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$78K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
4.1 mo
of spending, in cash
4.1 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
11
named funders · $162K
11 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$201K
39% of total assets
Liabilities are 39% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
10 of 10 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$885K
Spent
$1.2M
To programs
69%
Net assets
$313K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$885K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$885K
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$2.7M
FY2023$2.5M
FY2024$2.3M
FY2025$2.6M
Expenses
$1.2M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$1.8M
FY2023$2.9M
FY2024$2.3M
FY2025$2.4M
Net assets
$313K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$313K
FY2021$615K
FY2022$1.5M
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.4M

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending July 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Dec 2006.

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% · $825K Management & general 10% · $125K Fundraising 21% · $250K

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

11 people listed on the 990; $78K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Dir.
$77,514Pt VII · Sec A
Chairman
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jacklyn Wilson from 824’s $94K as CEO is at the 29th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3869 $1–10M human services 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jacque Daughtry—$93,305$99,171$93,277$80,000$77,514
Jacklyn Wilson from 824$94,076—————

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.

See Making IT Better executive salaries →

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

Empowering children and families through literacy, leadership, and life skills to transform communities.

Questions for Making IT Better

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1 program · $825K · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

The 25-week Reading Intervention program provides individualized, small group reading tutorials for at-risk students in grades K2, to create proficient readers by the end of 3rd grade. The 21-week Lunch Bunch mentoring program for students in grades 3-5, parent partnership programs that include literacy-related activities to engage and…

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2019. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 56-2571141) · Dispute this line
$825Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 11 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$885K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$787K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$147K
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Money outPt IX
$1.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$825K
Managementcol C$125K
Fundraisingcol D$250K
Owns and owesPt X
$313K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$415K
Total assetsLn 16$514K
LiabilitiesLn 26$201K
PeoplePt VI, VII
11
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$787K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$58K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$412K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$147K
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$885K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$196K
SavingsLn 2$219K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$415K
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$64K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$35K
Total assetsLn 16$514K
LiabilitiesLn 26$201K
Net assetsLn 32$313K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 551
VolunteersI 6274
Fiscal year endsHeaderJuly
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$58K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$523K$415K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$568K$514K
LiabilitiesLn 26$213K$201K
Net assetsLn 32$355K$313K
5Every 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 officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$87K$35K$26K$26K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$748K$598K$24K$126K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$41K$31K$2K$8K
Payroll taxesLn 10$61K$46K$4K$11K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$47K$47K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$40K$630$40K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$13K$4K$9K
Office expensesLn 13$76K$59K$4K$13K
Information technologyLn 14$34K$25K$9K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$556$556
TravelLn 17$3K$2K$1K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$5K$3K$722$1K
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$9K$8K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$34K$13K$16K$5K
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.2M$825K$125K$250K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS Mar 12, 2026 $2.6M$2.4M$276K$1.4M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Mar 25, 2025 $2.3M$2.3M−$47K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Mar 5, 2024 $2.5M$2.9M−$352K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Mar 31, 2023 $2.7M$1.8M$864K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Feb 9, 2022 $1.6M$1.3M$302K$615K 990 PDF
FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Mar 3, 2021 $885K$1.2M−$315K$313K 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990
Part I · Summary $884,578 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,131,528$786,708
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $107,000$146,953
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $3,482$3,334
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$89,439−$52,417
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,152,571$884,578
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $763,449$937,354
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $465,528$262,590
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,228,977$1,199,944
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$76,406−$315,366
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
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 $884,578 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$412,058
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$374,650
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$58,325
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$786,708
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $146,953$146,953
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $3,334$3,334
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$52,417−$52,417
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $146,953 · Excluded from tax −$49,083$884,578
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,199,944 across 31 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 officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $34,802 · Management $26,102 · Fundraising $26,102$87,006
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $598,061 · Management $23,572 · Fundraising $126,489$748,122
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $31,424 · Management $2,466 · Fundraising $7,577$41,467
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $46,043 · Management $3,614 · Fundraising $11,102$60,759
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $47,234$47,234
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $630 · Fundraising $39,825$40,455
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $4,000 · Fundraising $9,000$13,000
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $58,925 · Management $4,073 · Fundraising $13,467$76,465
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $24,974 · Fundraising $8,813$33,787
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $556$556
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,017 · Fundraising $1,103$3,120
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $2,694 · Management $722 · Fundraising $1,173$4,589
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $7,599 · Management $1,630$9,229
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $13,275 · Management $15,688 · Fundraising $5,192$34,155
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $825,000 · Management $125,101 · Fundraising $249,843$1,199,944
Part X · Balance sheet $513,746 assets, 23 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $370,369$196,057
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $152,230$218,758
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $6,000$63,500
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-5 Loans to officers and key people$0
X-6 Loans to other insiders$0
X-7 Notes and loans receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $39,442$35,431
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$0
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $568,041$513,746
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $36,208$40,301
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $16,373$160,450
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $213,181$200,751
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $354,860$242,495
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$70,500
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $354,860$312,995
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $568,041$513,746
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $312,995 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$884,578
XI-2 Total expenses$1,199,944
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$315,366
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$354,860
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$273,501
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$312,995

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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