South Sound Reading Foundation

What South Sound Reading Foundation does

South Sound Reading Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit founded in 2001 in Lacey, Washington, that delivers free child literacy programs across Thurston, Mason, Lewis, and Grays Harbor counties. Its core programs include the mobile Book Van (40,000+ books delivered annually across 12,500+ miles), the monthly Bag O' Books free book pickup program, Books for Babies and Born to Read (newborn literacy packets), READY! for Kindergarten parent education, Read to Me story times at schools and daycares, Literacy Bookshelves placed at pediatric and community sites, and seasonal engagement via the Craft-a-Reader Summer Reading Challenge and Grown-up Summer Reading Adventure. All services are free; the organization explicitly does not develop proprietary technology and operates without an app, API, or AI/ML capability.

The business model is donation-funded rather than transactional. Revenue streams include individual charitable donations (online and via the WA Combined Fund Drive, Charity #456644), corporate sponsorships for events and the Book Van, the Readership Circle recurring major-donor program at $1,200/year, foundation grants (Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, Grays Harbor Community Foundation, United Way of Mason County, Olympia Tumwater Foundation), workplace giving, gently used book donations, and planned/legacy bequests. Host institutional support from North Thurston Public Schools includes office space and a $0.50-per-student reinvestment model across Thurston County districts.

Operationally, SSRF runs with a lean team of approximately 5 staff (Executive Director Jennifer Williamson Forster since 2007, Development Director Joy Bustanoby, Books for Kids Program Coordinator Jess Lee, Operations Lead & Volunteer Coordinator Lynn Neeley, and additional staff) plus 123 volunteers contributing over 7,700 hours (2019 figures). It serves over 1,100 children and families weekly, distributes over 62,000 books annually, and collaborates with 60+ partner agencies. Governance is by a volunteer board chaired by banker Derek Bumrungsir, with board members drawn from Providence, North Thurston Schools, Olympia School District, and civic leadership.

Name

South Sound Reading Foundation

Legal name

South Sound Reading Foundation

Website

https://southsoundreading.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

South Sound Reading Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 that delivers free books and family literacy programs to over 1,100 children and families weekly across Thurston, Mason, Lewis, and Grays Harbor counties in Washington State.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Literacy Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Literacy (Parent/Child & Intergenerational) (EDAAAAAE), Family Literacy & Early Language Development Programs (EDACALAE), Family & Parenting Education (Family Literacy, Parenting Skills) (EDAAAFAF), Reading & Literacy Centers (Phonics, Comprehension, Writing) (EDANAHAD)

Keywords

• Child literacy programs
• Early childhood reading
• Book distribution services
• Family literacy education
• Nonprofit literacy organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Lacey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals that support operations and enable more programs. Donations can be made online through their website or through workplace giving via WA Combined Fund Drive (Charity #456644).
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Business sponsorships for events (Readers are Leaders, Books by the Bay), programs, and the Book Van. Sponsors receive logo placement, website recognition, e-newsletter mentions, and social media posts depending on sponsorship level.
3. Readership Circle Membership: Annual giving program at $1,200 per year ($100/month) providing special community of supporters with recognition, exclusive tote bags, VIP event access, and invitations to annual holiday meeting, spring social, and book club.
4. Legacy/Planned Giving: Bequest program where donors can include the foundation in their estate planning. Bequeathing 10% or more of estate helps foundation plan for stronger future.
5. Book Donations: Accepts gently used children's books at office locations and book drop boxes. Also receives new books through bookstore wishlists (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Browsers Bookstore, First Book Marketplace).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

South Sound Reading Foundation provides free books and family literacy education programs to children and families throughout Washington's Thurston, Mason, Lewis, and Grays Harbor counties. The organization operates a mobile Book Van, monthly Bag O' Books program, and Literacy Bookshelves at partner sites, complemented by family education programs such as Books for Babies, Born to Read, READY! for Kindergarten, and Read to Me story times. All programs are free of charge to participants and are funded through donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

The South Sound Reading Foundation operates a portfolio of interconnected literacy programs designed to ensure all children in the South Sound region have access to books and reading opportunities. The core offerings include mobile distribution services (Book Van, Bag O' Books, Literacy Bookshelves), family education programs (Books for Babies, Born to Read, READY! for Kindergarten), and seasonal engagement programs (Summer Reading Challenge, Grown-up Summer Reading Adventure). Supporting infrastructure includes Teacher Resource Day for educators, curated Book Lists, annual events (Readers are Leaders Breakfast, Books by the Bay gala), and the Readership Circle major donor program. The organization serves children and families across Thurston, Mason, Lewis, and Grays Harbor counties in Washington State.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Book Van Mobile book distribution service that visits low-income housing units, schools, after-school programs, and community events to promote reading and deliver free books to children throughout Thurston, Mason, Lewis, and Grays Harbor counties. The Book Van delivers over 40,000 books annually and travels more than 12,500 miles per year.
• Bag O' Books Free monthly book distribution program allowing families to order bags of books for pickup at three locations (Lacey, Olympia, and Shelton), with no requirement to return books. Designed for families who cannot easily visit Book Van stops.
• Books for Babies Program that distributes books and literacy information to parents of infants, promoting early reading habits and brain development from birth. Delivered in partnership with pediatric offices including Olympia Pediatrics.
• Born to Read Early literacy program providing books and information to families with newborns, designed to establish reading routines from the earliest stages of life and support brain development.
• READY! for Kindergarten

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,100 children and families served weekly
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Olympia Federal SavingscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2005Inaugural sponsor since 2005 when the first book van was launched. Instrumental in making SSRF events possible and finder of creative giving programs like their 'Two Cents' program that converts transactions into literacy investments. Named 2026 South Sound Partner Literacy Champion.
• North Thurston Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost organization that houses SSRF and provides office space. School district reinvests in the Reading Foundation at $0.50 per student. Partnership spans all school districts in Thurston County.
• NOVA Middle SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of the Read to Me program. SSRF provides story times and literacy programs at the school, supporting students' reading development.
• WA529 (Washington 529 Education Savings Plans)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerBook Van sponsor providing funding support for mobile book distribution services.
• Olympia PediatricsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBooks for Babies program sponsor. Hosts Literacy Bookshelf where families can take books during pediatric visits. Named 2019 Literacy Champion Partner.
• WSECUmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLiteracy Bookshelves sponsor, supporting book distribution at community locations.
• Panorama Retirement CommunityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLiteracy Bookshelf sponsor supporting book distribution at their location.
• Nicholson & Associates InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRead to Me program sponsor supporting story time and literacy programming.
• Chehalis TribemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner and funder supporting literacy programs in the South Sound region.
• Nisqually Indian TribemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner supporting literacy initiatives and book distribution.
• Squaxin Island TribemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner supporting literacy programs and book distribution efforts.
• Rotary InternationalmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiple Rotary clubs (Capital Rotary of Olympia, Rotary Club of Olympia, Kiwanis Club of North Thurston, Kiwanis Club of Shelton) support SSRF through funding, volunteer hours, and book van wrap maintenance.
• Humanities WashingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting cultural and literacy programming in Washington State.
• Barnes and Noble BooksellersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBookstore partner with wishlist program allowing donors to purchase books directly for SSRF.
• Browsers BookshopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Olympia bookstore with wishlist registry for SSRF book donations.
• Small to Tall Pediatric DentistryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBook Van sponsor supporting mobile book distribution services.
• South Puget Sound Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner supporting community literacy initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): Long-standing national children's literacy nonprofit focused on free books and reading motivation in schools and communities — broader geographic footprint but overlapping mission and book-distribution mechanics.
• Room to Read: Global literacy nonprofit supporting children's literacy and gender equality in education; comparable in mission to expand literacy access, though operating at much larger international scale.

Direct peers

• Reach Out and Read: National nonprofit that gives free books to children at pediatric visits and coaches parents on reading aloud — directly parallel to SSRF's Books for Babies program and its Literacy Bookshelf partnership with Olympia Pediatrics.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Global book-gifting program that mails free age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five — directly comparable to SSRF's Books for Babies, Born to Read, and Bag O' Books free book-distribution model.
• First Book: Nonprofit that provides free and low-cost books to children in low-income communities and operates a marketplace (First Book Marketplace) used by SSRF — a close distribution-side peer for free book provision to underserved kids.
• Books for Kids Foundation: Nonprofit that creates lending libraries and reading spaces for low-income children — operates a similar build-physical-access-to-books model that SSRF uses through Literacy Bookshelves and the Book Van.
• National Children's Reading Foundation: Parent network of which SSRF is an affiliate; promotes early childhood literacy with the same 'read 20 minutes a day' framework and family/educator engagement programs that SSRF operationalizes locally.
• Raising A Reader: Early literacy nonprofit that partners with schools and community organizations to provide books and parent education to families of young children — closely aligned with SSRF's READY! for Kindergarten and family education programming.

Regional players

• Literacy Inc (LINC): Community-based literacy nonprofit that mobilizes local networks to improve early childhood reading outcomes — comparable community-led, multi-channel model but focused on New York City rather than the Pacific Northwest.

Emerging players

• Reading Partners: Nonprofit mobilizing volunteer tutors for one-on-one reading support to K-5 students — adjacent to SSRF's Read to Me story-time and volunteer-driven reading engagement model, but tutoring-led rather than book-distribution-led.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/southsoundreading
• Instagraminstagram.com/southsoundreading
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-sound-readingfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 South Sound Reading Foundation