Read Better Be Better

What it reported doing in 2024

Read better be better (rbbb) was founded in 2014 as a response to Arizona's literacy crisis. Though the organization began as a third-grade literacy intervention, read better be better has evolved to serve the needs of every grade level. The preventative k-1 program ensures that a child does not fall behind in reading. The third-grade program provides supplementary literacy instruction to students who cannot read at grade level. The pathways to education and pathways to civic leadership programs, tailored towards high schoolers, equip future educators and civic leaders with the tools necessary to help solve Arizona's literacy crisis. (continued on schedule o) rbbb k-8 programs earn tier ii evidence-based recognition by wested: this year, rbbb hit a momentous milestone! Over the last 2 years, wested has been evaluating our k-8 programs, funded by helios education foundation, with the goal of receiving a tier ii evidence-based status. We are excited to announce that wested, has confirmed what educators and families have seen for years: rbbb programs make a real difference in equipping students with key reading skills! Wested's independent study found that rbbb students scored higher on Arizona's statewide reading test compared to peers not in the program. Participants made significant gains in reading fluency, phonemic awareness, and decoding skills. Our program's model of pairing younger readers with youth leaders fosters both academic growth and leadership development. This recognition positions rbbb as a trusted, evidence-based partner for schools and districts seeking literacy solutions. It demonstrates that the program can deliver measurable improvements in reading achievement, helping to close literacy gaps that affect long-term educational success. For communities, the tier ii designation means that rbbb's approach is research-validated. Families and educators can be confident that the program provides meaningful support to students who need it most.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 91%; rating input score 91
• Program expense ratio: 68%; rating input score 68
• Fundraising efficiency: $5.2 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 19; 19th 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: 90.9%; rating input score 91; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 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: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -33.5%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.38; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.1; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.2%; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 25.1% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 21.5% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 26.7% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings