Kids Need to Read

What Kids Need to Read does

Kids Need to Read is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, that improves childhood literacy by distributing books and running literacy programs to disadvantaged children across all 50 US states. Its core programmatic portfolio includes The Page Coach (a mobile outreach unit delivering books to low socioeconomic areas), Share Our Libraries (a 2024-launched program succeeding Grow Your Library, targeting rural and underfunded public libraries), From Our Shelves to Yours (direct book donations to schools and community organizations), READ Together (a caregiver engagement program active in 70+ classrooms), Kids-N-Peace (an anti-bullying literacy initiative), and Build-a-Book (interactive workshops at conventions). Supporting offerings include Storybook Adventures storytimes, Reading Buddies plush toys, and The Little Flame, a published children's book with proceeds reinvested into the mission.

The organization does not operate proprietary technology products; its infrastructure is standard nonprofit tooling comprising a WordPress website, MailChimp newsletter, eBay storefront, Amazon Wishlist integration, and donation processing through Network for Good, PayPal, and Sage Payment Solutions. FY2023 impact metrics include reaching 90,000+ children with books and reading resources, serving 50+ public libraries, and conducting 38 storytimes in the Phoenix-Mesa area during summer months.

The revenue model is donation-based, with no commercial product pricing. Revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and recurring via Amazon Smile and Network for Good), corporate and foundation grants (Cox Charities, Fiesta Bowl Charities, Thunderbirds Charities, Boeing Employees Community Fund, Life Alert, Highlights for Children, Mesa United Way), in-kind book donations (via Amazon Wishlist and warehouse drop-off), merchandise sales (KNTR calendars, art prints, t-shirts, and The Little Flame through the eBay store), vehicle donations (Vehicles for Charity), and event-driven fundraising at pop-culture conventions (Phoenix Comicon, A-Kon, Phoenix Fan Fusion). The go-to-market motion is event- and community-driven rather than sales-driven, leveraging volunteer networks, corporate sponsorships, and convention partnerships to distribute books and conduct literacy programs.

Name

Kids Need to Read

Legal name

Kids Need to Read

Website

https://kidsneedtoread.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kids Need to Read is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 and based in Mesa, Arizona, that distributes books and runs literacy programs for disadvantaged children across all 50 US states through school, library, and community-agency partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childhood Literacy Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Literature & Book Clubs / Guided Reading Groups (EDAMAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s Subscription & Book Club Publishing (MPAJAFAO), Family Literacy (Parent/Child & Intergenerational) (EDAAAAAE)

Keywords

• Childhood literacy programs
• Book donation nonprofit
• Literacy outreach services
• Community reading programs
• Educational book distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Mesa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting childhood literacy. Donors can give money directly, through Amazon Smile, or via the Network for Good platform.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Grants from corporations and foundations including Cox Charities, Fiesta Bowl Charities, Thunderbirds Charities, Boeing Employees Community Fund, and others supporting specific programs.
3. Book Donations: Accepts new and used children's books for distribution. Books can be dropped off or mailed to the Mesa warehouse, or purchased through Amazon Wishlist.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sells calendars, art prints, books (including The Little Flame), t-shirts, and reading buddies through eBay store and events.
5. Vehicle Donations: Accepts vehicle donations through Vehicles for Charity program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kids Need to Read is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that collects and distributes children's books and runs literacy programs to disadvantaged children across all 50 U.S. states. Core offerings include The Page Coach mobile outreach unit, Share Our Libraries, From Our Shelves to Yours, READ Together, and Grow Your Library programs. The organization also sells branded merchandise (calendars, children's books, apparel) to raise funds for its mission.

Product overview

Kids Need to Read is a nonprofit literacy organization offering a portfolio of book donation and literacy programs rather than a unified technology product. Core programs include: The Page Coach (mobile outreach unit), Share Our Libraries (library support), From Our Shelves to Yours (book donations to schools), READ Together (family reading encouragement), and Grow Your Library (community library donations). Supporting offerings include Storybook Adventures storytimes, Kids-N-Peace anti-bullying program, Build-a-Book workshops, Reading Buddies stuffed toys, and The Little Flame children's book. The organization also sells merchandise including annual calendars and the published Little Flame book through eBay.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Page Coach Mobile outreach unit that visits low socioeconomic areas, delivering books and supplemental reading resources to schools, libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, transitional homes, recreation centers, and community events.
• Share Our Libraries Program dedicated to improving literacy access through libraries, particularly in rural areas, including refreshing children's collections, supporting summer and afterschool community programs, and the Page Turners: Youth Literacy Champions initiative.
• From Our Shelves to Yours

Quantifiable outcome

• 90,000+ children impacted in single fiscal year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Phoenix ComiconcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary sponsored charity for 5+ years. Phoenix Comicon hosts multiple fundraising events for KNTR including Geek Prom, art auctions, poker tournaments, and children's programming. Raised over $28,000 in 2014 and nearly $30,000 in 2015.
• A-KoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnime convention in Dallas, Texas that raised $10,000 for Kids Need to Read through charity donor badges and auctions at A-Kon 25 in 2014.
• Square Egg Entertainment / Phoenix Fan FusionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAppointed Kids Need to Read as charity of choice at Phoenix Fan Fusion comic and popular culture convention.
• Bookmans Entertainment ExchangecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term partner that sponsors Geek Prom annually and provided ongoing sponsorship and volunteer support. Community Relations Manager Lori Cothrun joined KNTR as Operations Director.
• Highlights for ChildrencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor contributor providing magazines for all KNTR programs including READ Together, Build-a-Book, Grow Your Library, and The Page Coach. Raised 32,820 copies in 2014 through GivingTuesday campaign.
• Fry's Food StorescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Rewards Program allows shoppers to designate KNTR as their charitable beneficiary. Organization #AS724. KNTR receives percentage of qualifying purchases.
• Arizona CoyotescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored Build-a-Book program at Phoenix Comicon, providing backpacks and hardcover books to participating children.
• Mesa Arts CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFourth-year partnership providing books for ProjectLit (formerly Literacy through the Arts) initiative. KNTR provides books for school workshops and theater performances at MAC.
• Eric PierpointminorGTM or Marketing PartnerActor/author who volunteers time to visit Title I schools, bringing books and historical fiction presentations. Raised over $4,000 through Book Express fundraiser and $2,000+ through Book Revolution.
• Pi Beta Phi Arizona ChaptersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhoenix Alumnae and Arizona Alpha/Beta Chapters support KNTR as volunteers and donors.
• Various Cosplay Groups (501st Legion, Justice League Arizona, Arizona Avengers)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCosplay groups conduct fundraising activities at conventions including Blast-a-Trooper, raffles, and interactive games benefiting KNTR.
• AmazoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmazon Wishlist allows donors to purchase books directly for KNTR. Also Amazon Smile charity designation.
• Network for GoodcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline donation platform processing charitable contributions to KNTR.
• Vehicles for CharityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle donation program allowing supporters to donate cars to benefit KNTR.
• Steven RileycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthor/illustrator who developed and runs Build-a-Book program at Phoenix Comicon for 6+ years, inspiring children to create stories.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Raising A Reader: National family-literacy nonprofit that promotes shared reading through book rotations and parent engagement. Closely comparable to KNTR's READ Together program in caregiver-child reading emphasis and book-rotation delivery to families.
• Reach Out and Read: Nonprofit that partners with pediatricians to give books to children and encourage family reading. Comparable in family-literacy focus and integration of book distribution with structured reading programs — overlapping with KNTR's READ Together family-engagement model.
• Reading Is Fundamental: National 501(c)(3) that provides free books and literacy resources to children in underserved communities. Directly comparable to Kids Need to Read in mission (children's book distribution to underfunded schools), beneficiary base (disadvantaged children), and funding model (corporate/foundation grants + donations).
• Room to Read: Global nonprofit focused on childhood literacy and gender equality in education. Comparable in mission (literacy skills, book access) and program-model approach (combining book distribution with reading programs), though broader in geographic scope.
• First Book: Nonprofit that distributes new books and educational resources to children in need across the U.S. and Canada. Closely comparable to KNTR in target segment (underfunded schools, Title I), distribution model (channeling publisher-donated books to educators), and nonprofit funding structure.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Program that mails free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five. Directly comparable in book-distribution mission to children and recurring-delivery model that resembles KNTR's book-by-book distribution through schools and libraries.
• National Center for Families Learning: Family-literacy nonprofit operating programs like Wonderopolis and Beyond Literature. Directly comparable to KNTR's Family Literacy / intergenerational reading programming (READ Together) and focus on parent-child reading engagement.
• Book Harvest: Nonprofit that provides books to children from birth through high school, with a focus on book ownership and home libraries. Comparable to KNTR in book-ownership framing, caregiver-engagement programs, and North Carolina-based operations serving Title I populations.

Emerging players

• Little Free Library: Nonprofit that promotes neighborhood book access through free book-exchange boxes. Comparable to KNTR in grassroots book-access mission but distinct in delivery model (decentralized take-a-book boxes vs. KNTR's curated school/library donations).
• Books for Africa: Nonprofit that collects and ships books to libraries and schools, primarily in Africa. Comparable to KNTR in donation-driven book-distribution model and warehouse-based operations, though geographically distinct (international rather than U.S.-only).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kidsneedtoread
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KidsNeedToRead
• Facebookfacebook.com/kidsneedtoread
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kids-need-to-read
• Instagraminstagram.com/kidsneedtoread

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kids Need to Read