Sing Out and READ

What it reported doing in 2025

Sing out and read (soar) continued its mission in 2025 to improve literacy outcomes for struggling young readers through its innovative, evidence-based reading intervention that combines music, technology, and family engagement. The organization's flagship soar program provides qualifying elementary-aged children with a tablet preloaded with proprietary sing-to-read software, a headset with microphone, internet connectivity as needed, individualized coaching, and ongoing family support at no cost to participating families.(continued on schedule o)the soar program is designed to help children who are reading below grade level develop fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and reading confidence through structured, music-based instruction. Students participate in a 12-week program requiring approximately 90 minutes of weekly practice, while trained soar coaches monitor participation, encourage families, recognize milestones, and provide accountability to help students complete the program successfully.during 2025, sing out and read served approximately 30 cohorts, serving 511 children and their families through the soar program throughout pinellas and hillsborough counties. The organization distributed tablets and learning materials, provided individualized coaching and progress monitoring, and partnered with schools, community organizations, and philanthropic supporters to expand access to evidence-based literacy intervention for children at risk of reading failure.the organization's program continued to emphasize measurable outcomes through ongoing collection and evaluation of participant data, including software usage, lesson completion, reading assessments, and school-based performance measures when available. These data are used to monitor student progress, improve program implementation, demonstrate program effectiveness, and ensure accountability to funders and community partners.the soar methodology is supported by research conducted through the university of south Florida and subsequent validation studies demonstrating that students who complete the program with fidelity can achieve significant improvements in reading proficiency in a relatively short period of time. By combining repeated oral reading, music, vocabulary development, and engaging technology, the program helps children build both literacy skills and confidence while creating positive reading habits that extend beyond program completion.throughout 2025, sing out and read also continued to strengthen its organizational capacity by expanding community awareness, cultivating strategic partnerships, and increasing philanthropic support to position the organization for future growth and expansion into additional communities. These efforts support the organization's long-term goal of making its evidence-based literacy intervention available to more struggling readers throughout Florida and ultimately across the united states.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 87.8%; rating input score 88
• Program expense ratio: 83.9%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $11.14 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 39; 39th 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; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -4.7%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.05; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.87; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.2%; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 15.4% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 12.4% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -2% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings