PLATINUM2024

Frances and Henry Riecken Foundation, Inc.

aka Riecken Community Libraries   |   Princeton, NJ   |  www.riecken.org

Mission

Riecken Community Libraries promote democracy and prosperity in Central America through modern community libraries that awaken a spirit of discovery and foster citizen participation.

Ruling year info

2000

President and CEO

Mr. William Cartwright

Main address

ESG, Inc./ Riecken Community Libraries / The Riecken Foundation C/O T. Grover PO Box 30

Princeton, NJ 08542 USA

Show more contact info

Formerly known as

The Riecken Foundation

EIN

04-3500365

NTEE code info

Libraries, Library Science (B70)

Rural (S32)

Citizenship Programs, Youth Development (O54)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

In many parts of Central America, rural, mostly poor communities lack access to information, have extremely low literacy rates, suffer from poor nutrition and lack of opportunity. Largely indigenous, these communities receive little government attention and are often excluded from available educational resources. Leadership development is desperately needed so that these communities can evolve to analyze and problem-solve their challenges.

The 65 Riecken Community Libraries provide key lifelines to the outside world and opportunities to overcome these challenges in Honduras and Guatemala.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Reading

The Reading Program's overall goal is to create life-long readers by promoting reading as a pleasurable, exciting activity.  Among a vast selection of tools, the three primary activities we implement are:

 

1. Early Childhood Develepment / Emergant Literature: Mothers and fathers learn and practice valuable techniques to read, sing, play, and learn with their small children ages 0-5.  Nutrition and other basic health care education is an integral component.

 

2. Story Hours: Targeted at children under 10 year old, dynamic story hours delivered by trained librarians and volunteers engage children to discover new worlds and wonders through books and stories.  Combined with hands-on, participatory activities that help participants better understand and relate to the story content, Story hours inspire children to consider books valuable gateways to inspire imagination and fun.

 

3. Book Clubs: Children and youth ages nine and up meet weekly for book clubs to read and discuss novels and other literature with library staff and their peers.  The book clubs are voluntary; no grades are given, which inspires personal motivation and commitment to reading.  Skills enphasized are critical thinking and analysis, self-confidence, and communications.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Youth Clubs formed in many of the libraries offer opportunities for local teenagers to participate in debate teams, environmental education campaigns, community volunteer projects, arts and crafts, cultural and theatrical performances, and values development.  The groups' activities aim to build participants' knowledge bases, and to develop vital Life Skills related to leadership, communication, teamwork, critical thinking, self-esteem, and more.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents

This program promotes the libraries as venues for celebrating local culture and identity, valuing the use of indegnous native Mayan languages, value systems, knowledge and practices, in addition to access to information from Western societies.  Community pride in local languages and belief systems is fostered through this program, ensuring that all populations around a library feel welcomed to visit and use the services offered.  Some activities include:

 

1. Pixab': The term Pixab' in Maya language means "advice" or "Council".  Elders meet with young children weekly to share oral histories and stories about their childhood, instruct on customs no longer practiced commonly such as how to greet someone older than yourself when passing on the street, or different kinds of games and food preparation techniques.

 

2. Bilingual Teacher Resource Centers: In regions where appropriate, libraries are equipped with bilingual materials in Spanish and native Mayan languages, and the library staffs provide trainings for teachers how to apply learner-based education practices in the classroom to ensure children growing up in bilingual communities value and develop their reading, writing, communication and critical thinking skills in both languages.

 

3. Book Publication: The Riecken Foundation publishes high quality bilingual children's books (Spanish and Maya languages) based on traditional oral histories written and illustrated by library staff and local volunteers.

 

4. Cultural Patrimony and Natural Resource Mapping: Using GPS technology, the library offers training and opportunities for students and interested citizens to chart and map their community assets for use of community planning decisions.

Population(s) Served
Adults

In partnership with organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank, Reckon has developed an advanced program of early childhood development and nutrition in all 53 of its libraries in Honduras and 8 of its libraries in Guatemala. The program allows parents and children to work together with high quality materials to being the love of reading and sound nutritional practices. The libraries partner with local educational and health resources.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

In the communities we serve, a Reckon Community Library often provides the first and only hands-on experience with a computer. Our library visitors gain new skills and become linked to each other, to ideas and to opportunities - powerful tools for improving their communities and strengthening their participation in the bigger world.

Where the Internet is available, users perform research, participate in online commerce, blogging and distance learning. The Reckon Network, a web-based portal available those libraries with Internet, links our libraries electronically to share ideas and help one another solve problems.
Our technology program activities include practical computer and Internet courses, and the use of software especially aimed at young people. Teachers in some Riecken libraries are trained in effective use of social networking and implementation of educational platforms including Khan Academy and WebQuest, while adhering to the Ministry of Education National Basic Curriculum standards.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Adults

Where we work

Affiliations & memberships

REFORMA -Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking 2019

American Library Association - ALA 2019

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of donations made by board members

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Age groups, People of Central American descent, At-risk youth, Working poor

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Metric is derived from annual amount of unrestricted donations provided by board members and other key friends of the foundation.

Number of hours of training

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Young adults, Seniors

Related Program

Reading

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Decreasing

Context Notes

New Librarians are trained in reading promotion and other topics.

Number of students showing interest in topics related to STEM

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Young adults, Adolescents, Children

Related Program

Technology

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Decreasing

Context Notes

Children and young people using computers and Internet at libraries

Number of children who have emerging literacy skills such as beginning letter recognition and phonological awareness, story comprehension, and use of writing materials.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adolescents, Children, Infants and toddlers

Related Program

Reading

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Decreasing

Context Notes

Children and Young people participating in reading activities at libraries

Number of books distributed

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Young adults, Seniors, Adolescents, Children, Infants and toddlers

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Decreasing

Context Notes

New book collections donated to community libraries

Number of youth who volunteer/participate in community service

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adolescents, Preteens

Related Program

Youth

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Decreasing

Hours of volunteer service

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Seniors, Young adults, Adolescents

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Average of 3 weekly hours by each volunteer.

Number of training workshops

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Young adults, Adolescents, Seniors

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Decreasing

Context Notes

Workshops Trainings oriented to strengthen Librarians and Young People's skills

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Riecken Community Libraries and its network of 65 libraries in Honduras and Guatemala work daily in support of community development, health and nutrition, human rights education, and environmental conservation by providing modern libraries that:

- Provide access to information through quality books and where available, to the Internet
- Foster leadership development
- Serve as community development centers
- Provide training and tools to equip the communities with skills to solve their community development issues
- Create local opportunities that can help community members lift themselves out of poverty

Our strategies fall into these key areas:

* Providing modern community libraries that are open and free to all. We share the definition of "modern libraries" with international organizations such as Beyond Access and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
* Alignment with a strategic model that requires participation by the community, local governance and the Riecken Foundation in order for a community to have a Riecken library. This 3-pillar model ensures sustainability of a library's operation by requiring local community and government buy-in and support.
* Delivery of dynamic, community-relevant training in support of the greatest needs
* The creation and continued building of local library associations in each country to help move the library networks toward self-governance and eventual self-reliance.
* Promotion of technology use and training in the libraries, so that with the help of technology funding partners, remote learning modalities can be used to extend the training capacity

The Riecken Foundation has 20 years of experience developing and operating community libraries in remote, poor communities, often difficult to reach geographically.

Our strong sustainability model requires that a library community have community support, local government support and Riecken Foundation expertise support. The communities with libraries consider them of high value to the community, its members and opportunities to build a better future.

Although Riecken Community Libraries operates with very lean staff, those on staff are very dedicated and capable in skills required for their specific job, including local librarians at each library. The strength of the staff is multiplied by their ability and willingness to teach local community members to participate, volunteer and support activities in the libraries.

A high degree of trust in library leadership and volunteer desire for skills offered maintain a level of volunteerism that keeps the libraries running smoothly. The 9,000 volunteers represent annual in-kind support of $400,000 USD.

Thanks to funding partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Riecken Foundation has been able to institute a level of financial infrastructure and reporting capabilities to attract larger partners to implement our work and programs.

The Riecken Foundation has a strong Board of Directors, and is supported by loyal friends of the Foundation.

The Riecken Foundation has created 65 vibrant community libraries that are governed and managed by their community volunteers in conjunction with their local governments and Foundation support.

We have created, implemented and are expanding strong programming in the key areas of youth programs, technology and technology training, and reading programs. Many of these programs have been replicated for use beyond the Riecken library network.

We have been instrumental in developing strong leadership at the community and network (library network) levels, such that community development issues are more frequently being analyzed and solved by individual libraries.

Looking forward we intend to:

- Develop the milestones for a self-sustainability roadmap that the 65 libraries follow on their path toward the ultimate goal of self-management with minimal or no oversight from the Riecken Foundation

- Further strengthen leadership at library and association levels to support the transition to self-governance so that Riecken can focus on building new libraries

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome

Financials

Frances and Henry Riecken Foundation, Inc.
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Frances and Henry Riecken Foundation, Inc.

Board of directors
as of 08/10/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mr. William Cartwright

Riecken Foundation

Term: 2015 -

Allen Andersson

Founder

Liz Davila

Consultant

Bill Cartwright

Riecken Foundation

Jim Wilson

Corcept Therapeutics

Dan Bradbury

Biobrit

Jon Hofius

Independent

Adrian Ridner

Study.com

Divanny Lamas

Sutter Hill Ventures

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 5/30/2022
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or other sexual orientations in the LGBTQIA+ community
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 05/30/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.