Believe In Books Literacy Foundation
Believe In Books Literacy Foundation maintains strong program focus with consistent asset growth and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 20513225 · Intervale, NH · NTEE: B90 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Believe In Books Literacy Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Believe In Books Literacy Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Believe In Books Literacy Foundation
Believe In Books Literacy Foundation (EIN: 20513225) is a nonprofit organization based in Intervale, NH, classified under NTEE code B90. The organization reported total revenue of $1.8M and total assets of $3.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Believe In Books Literacy Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Believe In Books Literacy Foundation with a Mission Score of 92 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 7%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 3%
According to IRS 990 filings, Believe In Books Literacy Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 7%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 3%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all 13 filings, which is highly unusual for an organization with nearly $1.8 million in latest revenue and over $3.6 million in assets. This suggests either a fully volunteer-led executive team or that executive salaries are categorized differently within the financial statements, warranting further inquiry for complete transparency.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Believe In Books Literacy Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Negative revenue reported in 202208 ($-108,846) without immediate explanation.
- Consistently reported 0% officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and could indicate a lack of transparency in executive pay reporting or an unsustainable reliance on unpaid leadership.
- Significant increase in liabilities in recent years (e.g., $823,376 in 202208) compared to historical levels.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Believe In Books Literacy Foundation:
- Strong program focus, indicated by high efficiency and likely high program spending given 0% officer compensation.
- Consistent asset growth over the past decade, from $2,232,160 in 201408 to $3,656,693 currently.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating consistent compliance and transparency.
- Low administrative and fundraising costs implied by the high program focus and zero reported officer compensation.
- Positive net assets, with assets significantly exceeding liabilities in most periods.
Frequently Asked Questions about Believe In Books Literacy Foundation
Is Believe In Books Literacy Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Believe In Books Literacy Foundation (EIN: 20513225) some concerns. Mission Score: 92/100. 3 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Believe In Books Literacy Foundation spend its money?
Believe In Books Literacy Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Believe In Books Literacy Foundation tax-deductible?
Believe In Books Literacy Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 20513225). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Believe In Books Literacy Foundation a good charity?
Based on the available IRS 990 data, Believe In Books Literacy Foundation appears to be a very good charity. It demonstrates a strong commitment to its mission through high program spending, consistent asset growth, and a remarkable record of zero reported officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds.
Why is officer compensation consistently reported as 0%?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all 13 filings suggests that the organization may be primarily run by volunteers in executive roles, or that any compensation for leadership is categorized under other expense lines, which would require further clarification from the organization.
What caused the negative revenue in the 202208 period?
The negative revenue of $-108,846 in the 202208 period is an unusual financial event that could be due to significant returns, adjustments, or specific accounting practices. Further investigation into the organization's detailed financial statements for that period would be necessary to understand this anomaly.
How does the organization sustain operations without reported officer compensation?
The organization likely sustains operations through a combination of dedicated volunteer leadership, efficient operational management, and potentially by classifying leadership salaries under other expense categories if they exist, rather than as 'officer compensation' as defined by the IRS 990.
What is the trend in the organization's liabilities?
Liabilities have fluctuated, with a notable increase to $823,376 in 202208 and $788,662 in 202308, after being significantly lower in previous years (e.g., $97,343 in 202108). This recent increase in liabilities warrants monitoring to understand its nature and impact on financial health.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Believe In Books Literacy Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Believe In Books Literacy Foundation's revenue has grown by 16.7%, moving from $572K to $668K. Total assets increased by 46.9% over the same period, from $2.2M to $3.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 16.7%, from $358K to $418K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Believe In Books Literacy Foundation reported a surplus of $250K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $789K in liabilities against $3.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 24.2%), resulting in net assets of $2.5M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $668K | $418K | $3.3M | $789K | — | — |
| 2022 | $-108,846 | $340K | $3.0M | $823K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $850K | $515K | $2.8M | $97K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $489K | $476K | $2.6M | $222K | — | — |
| 2019 | $622K | $473K | $2.4M | $70K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $463K | $457K | $2.3M | $108K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $367K | $423K | $2.2M | $56K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $364K | $369K | $2.3M | $42K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $409K | $403K | $2.2M | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $418K | $372K | $2.2M | $16K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $452K | $442K | $2.2M | $22K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $540K | $457K | $2.2M | $72K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $572K | $358K | $2.2M | $138K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $668K, expenses of $418K, and assets of $3.3M.
- 2022: Revenue of $-108,846, expenses of $340K, and assets of $3.0M (revenue -112.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $850K, expenses of $515K, and assets of $2.8M (revenue +73.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $489K, expenses of $476K, and assets of $2.6M (revenue -21.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $622K, expenses of $473K, and assets of $2.4M (revenue +34.4% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $463K, expenses of $457K, and assets of $2.3M (revenue +26.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $367K, expenses of $423K, and assets of $2.2M (revenue +1.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $364K, expenses of $369K, and assets of $2.3M (revenue -11.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $409K, expenses of $403K, and assets of $2.2M (revenue -2.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $418K, expenses of $372K, and assets of $2.2M (revenue -7.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $452K, expenses of $442K, and assets of $2.2M (revenue -16.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $540K, expenses of $457K, and assets of $2.2M (revenue -5.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $572K, expenses of $358K, and assets of $2.2M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Believe In Books Literacy Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.