Read To Me International

What Read To Me International does

Read To Me International Foundation (RTMI) is a Hawaii-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 in Honolulu that promotes children's literacy through read-aloud practices. The organization serves families with children from birth through approximately age 8, along with educators, librarians, incarcerated parents, and community volunteers across Hawaii, with program reach extending to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, and Hawaii Island, plus virtual audiences nationally through Zoom-based events and a free virtual annual conference.

The organization's portfolio comprises six core programs: RTM10 (a parent-coaching model launched in 2014), Family Literacy Nights at public libraries, and three programs serving incarcerated parents — Fathers Bridging the Miles (Arizona, since 2003), Read, Revive, Restore (Hawaii Community Correctional Center and neighbor islands, since 2003, expanded 2018), and Haku Mo'olelo (since 2015). Supporting the programs are an annual Read To Me International Literacy Conference and the annual Feed Me A Story benefit dinner/gala, plus a curated digital resource library (recommended reading lists organized by age and topic, book-based activities organized by age, read-aloud demonstration videos, online learning resources, and monthly email newsletters). There is no proprietary technology platform; the underlying "technology" is RTMI's literacy methodology, program curriculum, and curated book content.

RTMI operates a community-led nonprofit GTM: programs are delivered free of charge through in-person events at libraries, malls, restaurants, and schools, and via virtual events. Revenue is generated entirely through donations and grants rather than fees or pricing. Streams include individual donations (PayPal/check, tax-deductible), corporate and foundation grants (Atherton Family Foundation, Henry and Colene Wong Foundation, Hawaii Community Foundation, Hawai'i Pizza Hut Literacy Fund, Public-Partners for Literacy Trust Fund), government grants (State Grant In Aid, City and County of Honolulu Grant In Aid), the annual Feed Me A Story gala (sponsorships, ticket sales, silent and live auctions), and AmazonSmile/affiliate revenue (up to 5% of qualifying book purchases). Revenue figures, audited financials, and headcount-detailed compensation are not publicly disclosed; the organization operates with 1-10 employees.

Name

Read To Me International

Legal name

Read To Me International Foundation

Website

https://readtomeintl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Read To Me International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 in Honolulu that promotes children's literacy through read-aloud programs, including the RTM10 parent-coaching model, family literacy nights, and initiatives serving incarcerated parents, serving families across Hawaii.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's literacy education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Literacy & Reading Intervention Programs (EDAGAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Literacy & Reading Intervention (Phonics, Fluency, Comprehension) (EDAKADAA), K–12 Remedial Reading & Literacy Intervention (EDANAJAA)

Keywords

• Children's literacy programs
• Early childhood literacy
• Parent coaching programs
• Read aloud education
• Community literacy outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: RTMI accepts donations from individuals via PayPal and check. Donors can make one-time gifts that support the mission of promoting read-aloud practices to children. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, making contributions tax-deductible.
2. Annual Fundraising Events: RTMI hosts an annual Feed Me A Story benefit dinner and gala, which is described as a major annual fundraiser. The event includes silent and live auctions, table sponsorships, and individual ticket sales, serving as a key revenue-generating event.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: RTMI receives funding from corporate donors, private foundations (e.g., Atherton Family Foundation, Henry and Colene Wong Foundation, Hawaii Community Foundation), and government grants (e.g., State Grant In Aid, City and County Grant in Aid). The Ways to Give page lists multiple named donors and sponsors, including retirement plan distributions and appreciated stock donations.
4. AmazonSmile Donations: RTMI participates in the AmazonSmile program, where Amazon donates up to 5% of qualifying purchases made through the organization's curated book lists on Amazon to RTMI at no additional cost to the shopper.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Read To Me International (RTMI) is a Hawaii-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and delivers free children's literacy programs statewide. Its portfolio includes family literacy nights hosted at libraries, schools, restaurants and malls, a 10-week parent coaching program (RTM10), an incarcerated-father read-aloud program, a Read, Revive, Restore program, and a Hawaiian storytelling (Haku Mo'olelo) program. The organization is sustained through donations, grants, sponsorships, and fundraising events such as an annual benefit dinner and an annual literacy conference.

Product overview

Read To Me International Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to improving children's literacy in Hawaii through a portfolio of programs and resources united by the mission to 'share the love and joy of reading aloud.' The organization operates as a program-centric nonprofit rather than a product company, offering direct literacy intervention programs including RTM10 (parent coaching), Family Literacy Nights, and initiatives for incarcerated parents (Fathers Bridging the Miles, Read Revive Restore, Haku Mo'olelo), supplemented by an annual literacy conference, Feed Me A Story fundraiser, and educational resources (videos, activities, reading lists, newsletters).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Literacy Night Programs Free community read-aloud events hosted at libraries, schools, restaurants, and shopping malls across Hawaii, designed for local families with young children to participate in literacy activities together.
• RTM10 Parent Coaching Program A free 10-week parent coaching program for Hawaii families with newborns, providing materials and guidance to help parents build early literacy habits with their babies.
• Fathers Bridging the Miles Program A program supporting incarcerated fathers in Hawaii by facilitating read-aloud connections with their children to maintain parent-child bonds through literature.
• Read, Revive, Restore Program A community-based literacy program within RTMI's portfolio, delivered in Hawaii to support reading engagement and restoration through shared reading experiences.
• Haku Mo'olelo Program A Hawaiian storytelling program for Hawaii families that weaves cultural storytelling into literacy sessions, with each gathering centered on a selected book.
• Read To Me Annual Literacy Conference An annual conference hosted by RTMI that convenes literacy advocates, educators, and partners to advance children's literacy in Hawaii.
• Feed Me A Story Annual Benefit Dinner RTMI's signature annual fundraising dinner that supports the organization's children's literacy programs across Hawaii.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches over 6,500 adults and children annually in the State of Hawai'i
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rotary Club of Honolulu SunrisecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise is a co-sponsor of RTMI's annual literacy conferences and was involved in RTMI's founding in 1996 (alongside the Governor's Council for Literacy and Lifelong Learning). The partnership is long-standing and foundational to the organization's origins.
• Keiki O Ka'AinacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKeiki O Ka'Aina is a community partner and co-sponsor of RTMI's annual literacy conferences. The partnership helps create community spaces for read-aloud events and supports RTMI's mission at the grassroots level.
• Anthology Marketing GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnthology Marketing Group is a conference co-sponsor providing marketing and communications support for RTMI's annual literacy conferences.
• Hawaii Public Library SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTMI partners with the Hawaii State Public Library System (statewide) to co-host Family Literacy Nights at public libraries across multiple islands including Molokai, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island. These events are collaborative community literacy programs.
• Amazon / AmazonSmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRTMI participates in the AmazonSmile program where Amazon donates up to 5% of qualifying purchases made through RTMI's curated book lists. RTMI also leverages Amazon affiliate links to earn donations from book purchases.
• Raising Cane'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRaising Cane's is a key community partner for RTMI's summer reading program. RTMI conducts regular Read To Me at Raising Cane's events at multiple Hawaii locations (Pearl City, Kapolei, Mililani, Hawaii Kai, Waikiki), bringing story time to restaurant environments.
• Women's Community Correctional CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTMI runs its Read, Revive, Restore program at the Women's Community Correctional Center, where incarcerated mothers are coached to read aloud and record children's storybooks that are mailed home to their families.
• Governor’s Council for Literacy and Lifelong LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Governor's Council for Literacy and Lifelong Learning co-founded RTMI in 1996 alongside the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise, establishing the organization as a statewide literacy initiative.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Raising A Reader: National nonprofit focused on early literacy through parent engagement and book rotation programs. Closely comparable model combining parent education, library partnerships, and community-based delivery, though operating at larger geographic scale.
• LitWorld: Global literacy nonprofit advancing read-aloud and storytelling practices in under-resourced communities. Closely comparable focus on the power of reading aloud and parent-child engagement, though operating globally rather than single-state.
• 826 National: Network of writing and tutoring centers supporting students ages 6-18 with creative writing and literacy support. Comparable nonprofit literacy intervention mission with community-center-based delivery model, though serving older students.
• Parents as Teachers: National nonprofit providing parent education and family support through home visits and parent coaching. Comparable parent-coaching model and early-childhood focus, though broader in scope beyond literacy.

Regional players

• Hawaii Literacy: Hawaii-based nonprofit addressing adult and family literacy. Most direct geographic peer; comparable community-based literacy mission but focuses more on adult literacy and English language learners than early-childhood read-aloud.

Broad incumbents

• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): The largest U.S. children's literacy nonprofit, providing books and literacy resources to children nationwide. Directly comparable mission (promoting childhood literacy) but operates at vastly larger national scale with broader geographic reach and funding base.
• First Book: National nonprofit providing books and educational resources to children in low-income communities. Comparable mission around equitable access to books and literacy, but operates at national scale with corporate partnership model.
• Room to Read: Global nonprofit focused on literacy and gender equality in education, operating in multiple countries. Comparable literacy mission at much larger international scale, with similar emphasis on early-grade reading and book publishing.
• Reach Out and Read: National nonprofit that partners with pediatricians to promote literacy during well-child visits. Comparable parent-coaching and early-literacy intervention approach, but anchored in healthcare provider partnerships rather than community venues.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: National book-gifting program that mails free books to children from birth to age five. Comparable early-childhood literacy focus and free-distribution model, but operates at national scale with celebrity-driven brand and massive funder support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/readtomeintl
• Xx.com/readtomeintl
• Facebookfacebook.com/readtomeintl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/read-to-me-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Me International