Behind the Book

What it reported doing in 2024

Behind the book (btb) delivers multi-disciplinary, culturally responsive literacy programs to schools in low-income neighborhoods in nyc in order to motivate students to become avid and proficient readers and writers.btb works exclusively in pre-k through 12 grade classrooms in title 1 public schools where on average 89% of the students qualify for free lunch. 61% identify as latinx, 33% as black, 4% as white or other and 2% as asian american.the programs feature an 'anchor text selected from a curated book list and consist of 6-8 workshops that meet nyc public schools learning standards. During the 2024-2025 school year, 88% of the authors and 96% of the main characters of the books selected were bipoc or otherwise diverse, critical in fostering the participating students' intrinsic motivation to read and write. Program activities include author workshops, writing workshops, drama activities, art projects, and field trips. Many programs conclude with a professionally designed anthology of students' writing and art, making them published authors and illustrators. Programs are customized for each classroom by a btb curriculum developer and program facilitator with input from the partnering classroom teachers.during the fy2025, (the 2024-2025 school year), btb delivered 51 programs at 20 schools. (30% stem, 30% special education, 31% english language learners) consisting of 383 workshops. We served 1184 students. 14 of the 51 programs culminated in the publication of 9 anthologies of student work, making 325 students published authors and illustrators. The majority of students reported in their post-program self-assessments that they would choose another book to read, would like to participate in another btb project, are more interested in reading and writing, feel their reading has improved, and feel their writing has improved.btb evaluates its work based on the change in students' intrinsic (internal) motivation to read and write, which is critical for their overall school success. The evaluation survey is based on decades of research on the role of intrinsic motivation in learning success.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 59.2%; rating input score 59
• Program expense ratio: 59.4%; rating input score 59
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.79 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 2%; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.45; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.35; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 25%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 10.2% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 11.1% per year; rating input score 100; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 13.7% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings