PLATINUM2023

BookSpring

Launching Children into a World of Reading

aka BookSpring   |   Austin, TX   |  https://www.bookspring.org

Mission

BookSpring builds early literacy in children and families through healthcare, education, and the community. Our vision is a world of families reading and suceeding together. As a nonsectarian, nonpartisan, inclusive organization, we value: Excellence Integrity Innovation Diversity Community Collaboration Education Through book distributions, volunteer training and placements, and motivational activity support, we launch children into a world of reading.

Ruling year info

1989

Executive Director

Ph.D. Emily Ball Cicchini

Main address

PO Box 153024

Austin, TX 78715 USA

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Formerly known as

RIF Austin & CAROR

Capital Area Reach Out and Read

Reading is Fundamental of Austin

Friends of Reading is Fundamental of Austin

The Friends of Reading is Fundamental

EIN

74-2542664

NTEE code info

Remedial Reading, Reading Encouragement (B92)

Arts Education/Schools (A25)

Children's and Youth Services (P30)

IRS filing requirement

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

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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

American literacy rates lag far below other developed nations, with about 14% of the public remaining functionally illiterate (2019, National Center for Education Statistics). National research demonstrates that children and families living in high-poverty neighborhoods have significantly less access to books (Neuman & Moland, 2019). When entering kindergarten, this gap in exposure to print and parental engagement through books leaves these children behind their more affluent peers. It can result in educational disadvantages perpetuated through school, work, and life (Foster & Miller, 2007). International research demonstrates that increased long-term access to literacy-rich materials through simple, cost-effective interventions, such as print and digital book distributions, improves young children's academic, social, and behavioral outcomes (Lindsay, 2010; Bus, Neuman & Rothkos, 2020). Reliable access to books is key to student educational success.

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?

BookSpringGo

Motivates young children to read by working with them, their parents and volunteer community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. BookSpring's book distribution and motivational activity program works with underserved children from birth to young adulthood at more than 50 elementary schools and child care centers in the Central Texas area.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Economically disadvantaged people

Prepares young children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors who prescribe books and encourage families to read together. Supporting integration of pediatric literacy into primary care, our program builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early literacy skills in children from birth to 5 years of age. BookSpring supports over 100 providers with a focus on rural and underserved areas nationwide.

Population(s) Served
Infants and toddlers
Economically disadvantaged people

This evidence-based program is designed to not only stop but reverse the summer slide in reading skills in early childhood education. Working with classroom teachers, a large set of career themed books and activities are provided near the end of the school year. Participating students are showing a statistically significant increase in their reading scores when they return in the fall. Aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and available for English, Spanish, and Bi-lingual classrooms.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

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 books distributed

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

Economically disadvantaged people, Infants and toddlers, Families, Children, Parents

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Books distributed are both new, like new, and in gently used conditions. Books are curated for overall quality, including literary value, topical relevance, reading level, and target language.

Number of low-income child engagements across all programs

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

Economically disadvantaged people, Infants and toddlers, Children and youth

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Engage children in attendance at BookSpring supported events with a focus on partner sites operating in zip codes with the highest numbers of children living in poverty according to the U.S. Census.

Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization

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

Infants and toddlers, Children and youth, Families

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Volunteer roles include sorting books, supporting motivational reading activities, reading aloud to groups of children, delivering driving, and organizational support.

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.

BookSpring is the leading Central Texas-based organization focusing on building literacy skills and the motivation to read through increasing home libraries and reading aloud activities for low-income children. With over 45 years of experience, BookSpring has taken the best practices of our founding national programs and adapted them to the special needs of Texas low-income families. We have created a continuum of early literacy interventions that support brain development, family interaction, skill-building, and the motivation to read in children from birth through age 12.

BookSpring is focusing on building literacy skills and the motivation to read through increasing home libraries and reading aloud activities for children with low socioeconomic status. With nearly 50 years of experience, BookSpring has taken the best practices of our founding national programs and adapted them to the unique needs of Texas with low socio-economic status (SES) families, creating a continuum of early literacy interventions that support brain development, family interaction, skill-building, and the motivation to read in children from birth through age 12. Due to years of working with teachers, librarians, and parents and listening to their preferences and testimonials about what works to engage young readers, BookSpring has unique expertise in curating children's books and building early literacy and is dedicated to putting more books in the hands of our community's most vulnerable children. BookSpring has developed a continuum of literacy programs that start from birth and have many potential touchpoints for a child up through age 12.

We have a staff of 8 full-time employees dedicated to this cause. We also leverage over 500 community volunteers to enact these programs year-round.

We have delivered over a million books over the past 50 years. Our SMART goals from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, are to distribute 228,000 books to 135,200 children. As of November 14th, 2022, we have distributed 35,206 books to 27,628 children. We aim to develop new processes and methods based on research and best practices to become even more efficient and effective at getting more books to the right children at the right times in their lives.

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 and remedy poor client service experiences, 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?

Financials

BookSpring
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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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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.

BookSpring

Board of directors
as of 02/14/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mrs. Lindsey Stuart

Madison Jechow

Lindsey Stuart

Rise Candelaria

Charlie Holleman

Carrie Conner

David Roe

Ginger Weber

Beth Hallmark

Susan Patterson

Andrea Angelo

Michelle Bourianoff

Lucinda Cassidy

Seth Koppel

David Rice

Arielle Sadler

Lydia Valdes

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 2/14/2023
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
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person with a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 04/12/2022

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 ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • 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.