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OUR KIDS READ ASSOCIATION

EIN 83-3401365 LAUREL, MD

Largest nonprofits in Maryland

Revenue 2024
$656,402
Expenses 2024
$611,329

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

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
B90
Classification
1200
Street
14203 DOWNDALE CT

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE LOVE OF PHYSICALLY DIVERSE BOOKS WITH CHILDREN AGES 4-12 AND TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT OUR STUDENTS AND MENTORS WITH DIVERSE BOOKS THAT ENCOURAGE, INSPIRE, AND EDUCATE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO PROMOTE THE LOVE OF PHYSICAL DIVERSE BOOKS WITH CHILDREN AGES 4-12.

  • READING (AND BEING READ TO) HAS BEEN LINKED TO ALL SORTS OF AMAZING BENEFITS, INCLUDING ENHANCING CREATIVITY, RELEASING ENDORPHINS (POSITIVE EFFECT ON MOOD), INCREASING EMPATHY, DECREASING STRESS, ENHANCING MEMORY, IMPROVING SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, AND INCREASING VOCABULARY. IN ADDITION, A LONG-TERM STUDY BY THE ANNE E. CASEY FOUNDATION FOUND THAT STUDENTS WHO WERE NOT PROFICIENT IN READING BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE WERE FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL THAN PROFICIENT READERS. THE STUDY FURTHER CONCLUDED THAT 88 PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO FAILED TO EARN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WERE STRUGGLING READERS IN THIRD GRADE.OUR KIDS READ IS THEREFORE FOCUSING ON PRE-K THROUGH 5TH GRADE AS THE TARGET FOR OUR READING PROGRAMS IN HOPES OF CREATING LIFELONG READERS TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF READING AND ALL OF ITS BENEFITS.

    Expenses $443,032 · Grants $381,464

  • THE OUR KIDS READ "REMOTE READING BUDDIES" PROGRAM CONNECTS WHITE AND BLUE-COLLAR PROFESSIONALS, RETIREES, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LOOKING TO SATISFY THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR PROGRAMS WHO ARE BEHIND IN THEIR READING SKILLS. WE RECRUIT FROM LARGE AND SMALL COMPANIES, LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN SPARE AT LEAST 30 MINUTES PER WEEK TO READ TO A CHILD (MINIMUM 8-WEEK COMMITMENT). WE AIM TO EXPAND THE READING BUDDIES PROGRAM EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS: 250 READING BUDDIES IN 2024, AND 1,000 READING BUDDIES IN 2025.

    Expenses $110,758

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Jahmal Lake

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    16

  • Myrleen Springer

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Denise Doig

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Marquis Parker

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kamil Ali-Jackson

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Karen Ali

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Shawn Cole

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $656,402
    Expenses
    $611,329
    Contributions
    $645,867
    Grants paid
    $381,464
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $311,838
    Expenses
    $340,930
    Contributions
    $311,838
    Grants paid
    $211,180
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $564,452
    Expenses
    $525,599
    Contributions
    $564,452
    Grants paid
    $447,209

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Form 990-N e-Postcard, tax year 2021

Tax period
1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021
Principal officer
Jahmal Lake
Mailing address
14203 DOWNDALE CTLAUREL MD 207076883
Website
https://www.ourkidsreadinc.org

As filed, from the IRS e-Postcard file of 2 November 2026. The IRS publishes only each organization's most recent postcard, so earlier years are not shown. A 990-N carries no financial detail. The postcard also gives the principal officer's address, which is not shown here.

Grants made

  • 148TH STREET BLOCK ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS OUTREACH FAIR

    $0

    2022 DONATED 840 BOOKS TO 280 STUDENTS

  • DREAM SCHOOLS AND SUMMER CAMP

    $0

    2022 DONATED 5,052 BOOKS TO 1,684 STUDENTS

  • EMMA BOWEN COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER - COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FAIR

    $0

    2022 DONATED 600 BOOKS TO 200 STUDENTS

  • HAMILTON GRANGE MIDDLE SCHOOL

    $0

    2022 DONATED 1,008 BOOKS TO 336 STUDENTS

  • HARLEM WEEK CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL

    $0

    2022 DONATED 960 BOOKS TO 320 STUDENTS

  • MADISON SQUARE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB

    $0

    2022 DONATED 2,952 BOOKS TO 984 STUDENTS

  • MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE IN EL BARRIO

    $0

    2022 DONATED 438 BOOKS TO 146 STUDENTS

  • PS 126X DR MARJORIE H DUNBAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

    $0

    2022 DONATED 1,800 BOOKS TO 600 STUDENTS

  • PS 140X THE EAGLE SCHOOL

    $0

    2022 DONATED 1,500 BOOKS TO 500 STUDENTS

  • PS 152 EVERGREEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

    $0

    2022 DONATED 1,869 BOOKS TO 623 STUDENTS

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 1 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.