Read to Succeed Buffalo, Inc.

What Read to Succeed Buffalo, Inc. does

Read to Succeed Buffalo, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit coalition founded in 2007 and headquartered at 392 Pearl Street, Buffalo, New York. Its mission is to improve literacy outcomes for children from birth through third grade, with a particular focus on economically disadvantaged families in Buffalo and Erie County. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs: the CARE (Community Alignment for Reading Excellence) suite spans child care, preschool, and elementary school settings, embedding literacy coaches and intervention specialists directly into childcare providers and classrooms; Experience Corps recruits volunteers aged 50 and older to tutor K-3 readers in Buffalo Public Schools under an AARP Foundation partnership; and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library mails free age-appropriate books monthly to registered children from birth to age five. RTSB functions as a coalition of more than 70 local organizations, coordinating foundation, government, school district, Head Start, and childcare-provider partners to deliver evidence-based literacy interventions.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its operating model relies on human-delivered, evidence-based literacy interventions, literacy coaching, and nationally normed assessments rather than software. It does not generate revenue from fees — programs are provided at no cost to children, families, and schools — and is funded instead through grants from foundations (Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, John R. Oishei Foundation, Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, AARP Foundation, Cullen Foundation, Gallogly Family Foundation, Rich Family Foundation, Garman Family Foundation), government sources (NY State Library, Erie County, AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund, U.S. Department of Education), and individual/corporate donations processed via Network for Good. Go-to-market is event- and partnership-driven: RTSB recruits volunteers through campaigns with AARP and the City of Buffalo, distributes books by mail through registered ZIP code enrollment, and secures school-district placement through the Buffalo Public Schools relationship. As of recent reporting, RTSB programs reach more than 15 Buffalo Public Schools, serve nearly 7,500 children through Imagination Library, and have delivered 50,000+ books cumulatively since 2012; documented outcomes include kindergarten readiness improving from 50% to 80% and 96% of 423 students exceeding oral language targets.

Name

Read to Succeed Buffalo, Inc.

Legal name

Read to Succeed Buffalo, Inc.

Website

https://readtosucceedbuffalo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Read to Succeed Buffalo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit coalition that delivers evidence-based literacy interventions to children birth through third grade in Buffalo and Erie County via school-embedded coaching, AARP volunteer tutoring, and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library book distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Literacy Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Child Care Services (62441)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Literacy & Phonics Programs (EDAMAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Literacy & Pre-Reading (Phonics, Letter Knowledge) (EDAGACAA), K–12 Remedial Reading & Literacy Intervention (EDANAJAA), Family Literacy & Early Language Development Programs (EDACALAE), Early Literacy & Reading Intervention Programs (EDAGAAAD), Assessment, Screening & Progress Monitoring Tools (0–5) (EDACANAI)

Keywords

• Early childhood literacy
• Literacy intervention programs
• Volunteer tutoring services
• Book distribution programs
• Community education coalition

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: RTSB operates primarily through grant funding from foundations (Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, John R. Oishei Foundation, Cullen Foundation, Garman Family Foundation, Gallogly Family Foundation, Rich Family Foundation) and government sources (NY State Library, Erie County, AmeriCorps). Funding supports specific programs including Imagination Library, Experience Corps, and CARE Child Care.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: RTSB accepts donations from individuals and corporate sponsors. The organization offers corporate sponsorship opportunities and receives in-kind donations (e.g., Fisher-Price toys, Lawley Insurance book donations). Donations are tax-deductible as RTSB is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity.
3. Volunteer-Generated Value: Experience Corps recruits volunteers age 50+ to provide literacy tutoring. The program leverages volunteer hours to deliver services at no cost to schools, with volunteer support quantified as a form of community contribution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Read to Succeed Buffalo delivers free, evidence-based early childhood literacy programs for children from birth through third grade in Buffalo and Erie County, New York. Core offerings include the CARE program continuum (CARE Child Care, CARE Preschool, CARE Elementary) providing literacy coaching and embedded intervention specialists, the AARP Foundation Experience Corps volunteer tutoring program for K-3 students, and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library mailing free age-appropriate books monthly to registered children birth to age five.

Product overview

Read to Succeed Buffalo is a non-profit literacy organization that operates as a coalition of more than 50 local organizations dedicated to improving early childhood literacy in Buffalo. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs: CARE (Community Alignment for Reading Excellence) provides literacy intervention and quality improvement across child care, preschool, and elementary settings through literacy coaches and intervention specialists; Experience Corps connects volunteer tutors aged 50+ with struggling K-3 readers for small group tutoring; and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library distributes free age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth to age five. The organization focuses on children from birth through third grade in economically disadvantaged communities, particularly targeting the 14215 ZIP code and expanding to surrounding neighborhoods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CARE Child Care School readiness program providing literacy intervention and quality improvement support for licensed child care providers caring for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in Buffalo's high-need neighborhoods.
• CARE Preschool Early childhood literacy program focused on preparing preschool-aged children for kindergarten through evidence-based literacy instruction and developmentally appropriate activities.
• CARE Elementary Literacy support program for elementary school students providing continued literacy coaching and intervention as children transition from preschool into early grades.
• Experience Corps AARP Foundation volunteer tutoring program matching mature volunteers (age 50+) with struggling K-3 students for small group reading support in Buffalo Public Schools.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Book distribution program that mails age-appropriate, free books monthly to registered children from birth until age five to foster a love of reading.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of 423 students exceeded oral language targets
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• AARP FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2016AARP Foundation awarded $200,000 Reading Intervention Grant to implement Experience Corps volunteer tutoring program. Grant leveraged $200,000 from local foundations for $400,000 total in 2016-2017, with commitment of up to $1.6 million over 4 years. Experience Corps matches mature volunteers (50+) with struggling readers in K-3.
• Buffalo Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school district partner. RTSB literacy intervention specialists work in BPS classrooms K-3. Buffalo Succeed collaborates with BPS on Early Reading First and other literacy initiatives. District serves as referral source for Experience Corps tutoring.
• Bethel AME Church/Head StartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Early Reading First program with 5 Head Start centers. Rev. Richard Stenhouse served on RTSB board. Church provided Jeremiah Project and community engagement.
• Fisher-PriceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing in-kind donations. Employees participated in United Way Day of Caring with RTSB children at Buffalo Science Museum. Donated age-appropriate toys to CARE Child Care sites.
• WNED/PBSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestern New York public broadcasting station serving as local Imagination Library affiliate. Partnered on Ready to Learn Initiative with RTSB to increase math and literacy proficiency in 14215 ZIP code using PBS KIDS Lab.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational book distribution program for which RTSB serves as Western New York affiliate. Since 2012, has delivered 40,000+ books to 2,200+ children. Currently serves nearly 7,500 children in Erie County.
• Bezos Family Foundation/VroomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTSB partnered with Bezos Family Foundation in 2016 to provide Vroom brain-building resources to parents. Vroom provides science-based tips for early childhood development during everyday activities.
• Say Yes BuffalomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to increase high school and postsecondary graduation rates. RTSB provides early literacy component while Say Yes provides comprehensive support services. Rich Family Foundation supports both organizations.
• Buffalo Promise NeighborhoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCradle-to-career initiative in 14215 ZIP code. RTSB provides early childhood literacy programming as part of the continuum. Partners include M&T Bank, John R. Oishei Foundation, and Westminster Foundation.
• City of BuffalomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMayor Byron Brown partnership for Experience Corps. City allocated $40,000 for senior volunteer incentives and participated in recruitment campaign. Recognized at National Service Day events.
• The Service Collaborative of WNYminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLargest provider of volunteer services to schools and community agencies in the region. Serves as volunteer recruitment partner for Experience Corps.
• Buffalo Teachers FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in volunteer recruitment for Experience Corps program in Buffalo Public Schools.
• University at Buffalo Graduate School of EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for free tutoring services to students in grades 5-12, offered virtually Tuesday through Thursday 2:30-6:30 PM.
• Catholic CharitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through Buffalo Promise Neighborhood's Closing the Gap program addressing non-academic barriers to learning. Also involved in Foster Grandparent Program for Experience Corps.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Raising A Reader: National early-literacy nonprofit focused on birth-age 5 book distribution and parent engagement. Closely comparable to RTSB's Imagination Library + Vroom parent engagement portfolio.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: National free book-distribution program for children birth-5. RTSB is the Western NY affiliate, so their program portfolios and target demographics (children birth-5 in high-need ZIPs) directly overlap.
• AARP Foundation Experience Corps: National volunteer tutoring program pairing adults 50+ with K-3 struggling readers. RTSB is one of its implementation sites, and the programs share identical methodology, target outcomes, and funder base.
• Reach Out and Read: National nonprofit leveraging pediatricians to promote early literacy from birth-age 5. Comparable age range and focus on low-income families, though delivered through healthcare settings rather than schools.
• Reading Partners: National nonprofit delivering volunteer-led literacy tutoring to K-5 students in under-resourced schools. Highly comparable volunteer-tutor model, school-district partnership structure, and outcome measurement approach.
• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): Long-standing national literacy nonprofit providing free books and literacy resources to underserved children. Comparable mission and beneficiary population; differs in that RIF operates across all U.S. grade levels while RTSB focuses birth-3rd grade.

Emerging players

• Parents as Teachers: National home-visiting early-childhood parent education program serving prenatal-age 5. Comparable family-literacy engagement model via parent coaching, though RTSB layers school-based intervention on top.

Broad incumbents

• First Book: Large national nonprofit distributing books and educational resources to programs serving children in need. Overlapping book-distribution mission with RTSB's Imagination Library; broader portfolio across all grade levels.

Regional players

• Say Yes Buffalo: Buffalo-based cradle-to-career nonprofit with which RTSB directly partners on early literacy components. Highly comparable geography and beneficiary population; broader educational scope beyond literacy.
• Buffalo Promise Neighborhood: Cradle-to-career Buffalo initiative (14215 ZIP) of which RTSB is the early-childhood literacy partner. Comparable regional footprint, funder base (Oishei, Westminster), and target demographics.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RTSBuffalo
• Facebookfacebook.com/ReadtoSucceedBuffalo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/read-to-succeed-buffalo-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/rtsbuffalo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Read to Succeed Buffalo, Inc.