Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← FERST READERS INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by FERST READERS INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$2,728,942
Total expenses
$2,478,137
Contributions and grants received
$2,570,243
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$22,654
Other revenue
$136,045
Total assets, end of year
$2,103,064
Total liabilities, end of year
$146,498
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$1,956,566
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$2,245,036
Management and general expenses
$152,787
Fundraising expenses
$80,314
Program service expenses (Part III)
$2,245,036

Program services were 90.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $540,129

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $132,176

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,897,938

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $14,878

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $22,654 · excluded $22,654

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $167,545

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $31,500

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $136,045 · excluded $136,045

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $109,274 · program services $87,419 · management and general $8,742 · fundraising $13,113

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $403,991 · program services $323,193 · management and general $32,319 · fundraising $48,479

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $11,274 · program services $9,019 · management and general $902 · fundraising $1,353

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $39,926 · program services $31,941 · management and general $3,194 · fundraising $4,791

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $34,040 · management and general $34,040

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $45,075 · management and general $45,075

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $2,187 · program services $1,212 · fundraising $975

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $21,973 · program services $16,786 · management and general $2,298 · fundraising $2,889

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $42,763 · program services $23,328 · management and general $14,857 · fundraising $4,578

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $676 · program services $338 · management and general $338

  • 17 · Travel

    total $2,676 · program services $2,676

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $2,288 · program services $1,389 · management and general $725 · fundraising $174

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,954 · program services $1,758 · management and general $137 · fundraising $59

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $2,062 · program services $356 · management and general $1,662 · fundraising $44

  • 24a · Other expenses: READ TO ME LIBRARY

    total $1,726,461 · program services $1,726,461

  • 24b · Other expenses: CAT SUPPORT

    total $8,262 · program services $8,262

  • 24c · Other expenses: TELECOMMUNICATIONS

    total $5,712 · management and general $5,712

  • 24d · Other expenses: LEASE EXPENSE

    total $5,141 · program services $3,770 · management and general $1,371 · fundraising $0

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $12,402 · program services $7,128 · management and general $1,415 · fundraising $3,859

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $235,196 · end of year $598,493

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    end of year $50,000

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $7,402 · end of year $46,875

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $57,626 · end of year $33,246

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $21,790

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $18,138

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $5,605 · end of year $3,652

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $1,268,750 · end of year $1,308,987

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $23,351 · end of year $61,811

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $3,635 · end of year $137,392

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $4,358 · end of year $3,322

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $11,475 · end of year $5,784

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year -$178,470 · end of year $65,980

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,756,932 · end of year $1,890,586

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

FERST READERS PROVIDES BOOKS FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO PREPARE PRESCHOOL CHILDREN FOR READING AND LEARNING SUCCESS. PROVIDING LITERACY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN, BIRTH TO FIVE, AND FAMILIES, FERST READERS STRIVES TO IMPROVE SCHOOL READINESS AND EARLY LEARNING OUTCOMES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING QUALITY BOOKS AND LITERACY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO USE AT HOME DURING THE EARLIEST STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.

  • CHILDREN, BIRTH TO FIVE, WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE FERST READERS PROGRAM RECEIVE A FREE, AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOK EVERY MONTH IN THE MAIL ALONG WITH LITERACY SUPPORT RESOURCES FOR PARENTS THAT HELP CREATE A LANGUAGE-RICH ENVIRONMENT IN THE HOME. THE FERST READERS PROGRAM INCREASES CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO PRINT AND EARLY LANGUAGE EXPERIENCES SO THAT THEY HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF ENTERING SCHOOL WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO SUCCEED. COMMUNITY ACTION TEAMS, COMPRISED OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BY RAISING FUNDS, REGISTERING CHILDREN AND PARTNERING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO RAISE AWARENESS AROUND THE EARLY LITERACY ISSUE. PARTNER ACTION TEAMS ARE DIRECT FUNDERS WHO CHOOSE TO SUPPORT A SPECIFIC GROUP OF CHILDREN FOR PROGRAM ENROLLMENT.

    Expenses $2,245,036 · Revenue $2,570,243

  • FERST READERS ADMINISTERS THE GEORGIA RURAL LIBRARIES INITIATIVE WHICH PROVIDES MULTI-YEAR GRANTS TO TWO COUNTY LIBRARIES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN GEORGIA. THESE GRANTS SERVE TO ENHANCE THE AVAILABILITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING RESOURCES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES PRIMARILY THROUGH EXISTING PUBLIC LIBRARIES. FERST READERS SERVES AS FISCAL AGENT FOR GRANTS PROVIDED THROUGH THE GREATER ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR.

  • FERST READERS SERVES AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR TOOMBS COUNTY FAMILY CONNECTION/GET TOOMBS COUNTY READING CAMPAIGN, A LOCAL COLLABORATION THAT SUPPORTS THE STATEWIDE "GET GEORGIA READING" CAMPAIGN, THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE LITERACY FOR ALL FUND. THE GTCRC PROVIDES A VARIETY OF LITERACY-RELATED SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN TOOMBS COUNTY INCLUDING THE FERST READERS PROGRAM.

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Susannah Balish

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    8
  • Michelle Valteau

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6
  • Chris Barge

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Vicki Cansler

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Denise Finley

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Margaret Quinlin

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6
  • Wes Turner

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Rayna Wooden

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Amy Storey

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6
  • Brittany Collins

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Chaundra Luckett

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10
  • Cynthia Price Czabala

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Dr Chris Bearden

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Dr Susan McWhirter

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Erika Hill

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Jany Brown

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Lauri Strauss

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6
  • Davida Morgan-Washington

    PRESIDENT / CEO

    Total calculated
    $109,273
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $109,273
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
28 January 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202530349349300443

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.