Read by 4th
Read by 4th is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit collective impact initiative, managed with the Free Library of Philadelphia, that coordinates 100+ partner organizations to deliver family literacy programs, volunteer advocacy through Reading Captains, diverse book distribution, and science-of-reading policy reform for Philadelphia children from birth through 4th grade.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Read by 4th does
Read by 4th is a nonprofit collective impact initiative founded in 2015 and based at 2000 Hamilton St., Ste 201, Philadelphia, focused on ensuring that all Philadelphia children read at grade level by the end of 4th grade. It is managed in partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia, which provides administrative backbone, email infrastructure ([email protected]), and access to a 54-branch library distribution system. The organization coordinates a coalition of more than 100 partner organizations — including the School District of Philadelphia, William Penn Foundation, First Book, Tree House Books, Philly Book Bank, Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, Temple University, and Children First — to deliver family engagement, community mobilization, and policy advocacy programming across Philadelphia neighborhoods.
The platform consists of an interconnected suite of programs rather than a single product. Core offerings include Reading Captains (1,000+ trained neighborhood volunteers), the Parent Workshop on Early Reading Skills (K-3), Philly ABCs (alphabet-equipped playgrounds in partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation), the Neighborhood Literacy Fund ($81,040 awarded across 44 projects), Philly Book Wish (diverse book grants of $500-$5,000 with 54,000+ books distributed to 143+ organizations reaching 200,000+ children), Lunch & Learn (virtual literacy series), free bilingual advocacy posters, an annual Partner Network Meeting, and the Reading Promise daily-reading campaign. The organization has influenced Pennsylvania legislation including Chapter 49 requiring structured literacy training for future teachers and supports science of reading implementation across the School District of Philadelphia.
The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than revenue-generating: all programs, books, and training are provided at no cost to participants. Funding flows from foundation grants (William Penn Foundation as a major named funder), corporate and nonprofit partnerships, and government/policy channels. A small core team (1-10 employees) operates the initiative, supported by the 1,000+ volunteer Reading Captains network and the institutional capacity of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Read by 4th received a 2024 Silver Anthem Award for the Philly ABCs initiative and is regularly covered by Chalkbeat, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and other regional media.
Read by 4th firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Read by 4th
- Legal name
- Read by 4th
- Website
- https://readby4th.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Read by 4th is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit collective impact initiative, managed with the Free Library of Philadelphia, that coordinates 100+ partner organizations to deliver family literacy programs, volunteer advocacy through Reading Captains, diverse book distribution, and science-of-reading policy reform for Philadelphia children from birth through 4th grade.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Read by 4th industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early Literacy Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family Literacy (Parent/Child & Intergenerational) (EDAAAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO), Early Literacy & Reading Intervention Programs (EDAGAAAD)
Keywords
Where Read by 4th is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Read by 4th business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Read by 4th product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Read by 4th is a collective impact early literacy initiative that coordinates family literacy programs, volunteer-driven community advocacy (Reading Captains), parent workshops, diverse children's book distribution (Philly Book Wish), neighborhood literacy grants, and policy advocacy campaigns aimed at ensuring Philadelphia children read at grade level by 4th grade. All programs are delivered free of charge through a network of 100+ partner organizations and funded by grants, donations, and philanthropic support.
Product overview
Read by 4th is a collective impact early literacy initiative operating as a platform of interconnected programs rather than a single product. The core offerings include: Reading Captains (volunteer neighborhood advocates), Parent Workshop on Early Reading Skills (family education), Philly ABCs (playground-based literacy), Neighborhood Literacy Fund (community grants), Philly Book Wish (diverse book grants), Lunch & Learn Series (virtual education), Free Advocacy Posters, annual Partner Network Meeting, literacy advocacy campaigns, and the Reading Promise initiative. These programs work together as an ecosystem supporting family engagement, community mobilization, and systems change to ensure Philadelphia's children become strong readers by 4th grade.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Reading Captains: A volunteer program where community members become the go-to early literacy person for their neighborhood, sharing reading resources with families.
- Philly ABCs
- Neighborhood Literacy Fund
- Philly Book Wish
- Lunch & Learn
Products and services
- Reading Captains Volunteer program where Philadelphia neighbors aged 18+ are trained to become early literacy advocates for their community, sharing literacy resources and reading tips with families in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and community spaces.
- Parent Workshop on Early Reading Skills Ready-made workshop teaching families of children in grades K-3 fundamental reading skills, delivered by community leaders across Philadelphia.
- Philly ABCs Early literacy initiative that transforms public playgrounds with colorful alphabet displays and reading materials, making early reading accessible in community spaces to mitigate summer learning loss.
- Neighborhood Literacy Fund Community-driven grant program supporting grassroots literacy solutions by awarding funding to neighborhood-based literacy projects across Philadelphia.
- Philly Book Wish Partnership initiative offering grants of $500-$5,000 for diverse children's books to schools and organizations serving low-income families across Philadelphia; has distributed over 54,000 diverse children's books to 143+ organizations reaching 200,000+ children.
- Lunch & Learn Series Virtual series bringing local and national literacy thought leaders to share ideas, best practices, and conversations about growing strong readers, open to public registration.
- Literacy Advocacy Campaigns Policy-focused advocacy initiatives supporting science of reading instruction, fair school funding, school librarian restoration, protection against book bans, and local library support.
Quantifiable outcome
- Distributed over 54,000 diverse children's books to 143+ organizations reaching 200,000+ children through Philly Book Wish
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Read by 4th
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Read by 4th technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Read by 4th partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Free Library of PhiladelphiacoreFree Library of Philadelphia is the managing partner of Read by 4th. The partnership provides administrative infrastructure, staff support, and access to the library system's 54 branches for programming and book distribution. The Free Library's President and Director Kelly Richards actively participates in literacy initiatives like Philly ABCs.
- School District of PhiladelphiacorePrimary education system partner for implementing literacy programs and policy changes. Read by 4th works with district leadership including Dr. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson (Chief of Curriculum and Instruction) on science of reading curriculum adoption and strategic planning (Accelerate Philly).
- First BookcoreNational nonprofit partner in the Philly Book Wish initiative, providing access to their marketplace of diverse children's books and administering book grants to eligible organizations.
- PA Literacy CoalitionmajorStatewide literacy advocacy coalition working with Read by 4th on science of reading policy advocacy and legislative efforts including Chapter 49 implementation.
- Children First (formerly Public Citizens for Children and Youth)majorPolicy advocacy partner collaborating on school funding reform, early childhood education, and children's wellness initiatives. Donna Cooper (Executive Director) participates in Read by 4th events and working groups.
- Philadelphia Alliance to Restore School Librarians (PARSL)majorCoalition founded in 2022 to restore certified school librarians to Philadelphia public schools. Read by 4th partners with PARSL on advocacy campaigns and policy efforts to address the crisis of having only 5 librarians for 116,000+ students.
- Tree House BooksmajorNorth Philadelphia giving library and literacy center providing free books through the Traveling Tree House bookmobile. Partners with Read by 4th on community book distribution and neighborhood literacy programming.
- Philly Book BankmajorMajor book distribution partner providing donated children's books to families, shelters, schools, and community organizations across Philadelphia. Co-partner in Philly Book Wish initiative.
- Global CitizenminorGlobal citizenship organization that supports and powers Read by 4th's Reading Captains volunteer program, providing organizational backing and resources.
- Campaign for Grade-Level ReadingmajorNational network of literacy campaigns that Read by 4th participates in, sharing best practices and strategies with other community-based literacy initiatives across the country.
- Philadelphia Parks and RecreationminorCity agency partner in the Philly ABCs initiative, bringing early literacy materials to 14 playgrounds in North Philadelphia through colorful alphabet banners and displays.
- Friends of the Free Library of PhiladelphiaminorAdvocacy organization supporting library funding and services. Co-creator of Read by 4th's free advocacy poster series alongside PA Literacy Coalition, Children First, and PARSL.
- Temple UniversityminorAcademic partner providing research expertise through faculty like Dr. Annemarie Hindman and Dr. Barbara A. Wasik who present at Read by 4th Lunch & Learn series on science of reading.
- West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC)minorNonprofit operating volunteer-staffed libraries in West Philadelphia schools. Longtime Read by 4th partner organization working to restore library services to underserved schools.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Read by 4th competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- First Book: National nonprofit that distributes diverse, low-cost children's books to programs serving low-income families and operates the Philly Book Wish grant program together with Read by 4th. Direct co-delivery partner on a flagship Read by 4th initiative.
- Raising A Reader: Family-focused early literacy and book rotation nonprofit that partners with libraries, schools, and community organizations. Closely aligned with Read by 4th's Reading Captains and Parent Workshops model of equipping families with reading routines and book access.
- Free Library of Philadelphia: Parent/managing partner of Read by 4th and operator of 54 library branches delivering literacy programming. Most directly comparable institutionally, sharing the Philadelphia geography and explicit programmatic overlap with Read by 4th family and community literacy work.
Broad incumbents
- Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): Long-standing national nonprofit focused on children's literacy and book access, especially for underserved kids. Highly comparable to Read by 4th's Philly Book Wish book-distribution mission and family literacy orientation, but operating at national scale.
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: High-profile national book-gifting program mailing free age-appropriate books to children from birth through age five. Closely comparable to Read by 4th's emphasis on early book access, though operating as a founder-led national brand.
- Campaign for Grade-Level Reading: National collective-impact network of community literacy campaigns. Read by 4th is a member network site, making Campaign for Grade-Level Reading the closest wide-incumbent peer operating the same collaborative playbook at scale.
Regional players
- BookSpring: Texas-based early literacy nonprofit focused on family literacy and book access for low-income children. Mirrors Read by 4th's combination of book distribution and parent engagement, but operates regionally in Central Texas rather than Philadelphia.
- Reach Out and Read: National early literacy nonprofit that leverages pediatricians to promote family reading. Comparable to Read by 4th's family literacy and parent-engagement work, but delivered through healthcare touchpoints rather than community volunteer networks.
Emerging players
- Reading Partners: Nonprofit mobilizing community volunteers for one-on-one literacy tutoring in K-5 classrooms. Comparable intervention focus on early grade reading and volunteer-driven delivery, though centered on tutoring rather than family/community systems change.
- LitWorld: Global literacy nonprofit advancing childrens reading and writing through community-based storytelling programs. Shares Read by 4th's community mobilization and family engagement approach, with more international (rather than single-city) reach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Read by 4th social profiles
Digital presenceRead by 4th financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Read by 4th leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Read by 4th funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Read by 4th M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Read by 4th
What does Read by 4th do?
Read by 4th is a collective impact early literacy initiative that coordinates family literacy programs, volunteer-driven community advocacy (Reading Captains), parent workshops, diverse children's book distribution (Philly Book Wish), neighborhood literacy grants, and policy advocacy campaigns aimed at ensuring Philadelphia children read at grade level by 4th grade. All programs are delivered free of charge through a network of 100+ partner organizations and funded by grants, donations, and philanthropic support.
Is Read by 4th a public or private company?
Read by 4th is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Read by 4th founded?
Read by 4th was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Read by 4th based?
Read by 4th is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Read by 4th's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are First Book, Raising A Reader and Free Library of Philadelphia. Broad incumbents are Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. Regional players are BookSpring and Reach Out and Read. Emerging players are Reading Partners and LitWorld.
Does Read by 4th have an API?
No public API is recorded for Read by 4th.
What industry is Read by 4th in?
Read by 4th's product category is Early Literacy Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAAAE, Family Literacy (Parent/Child & Intergenerational), with a secondary code of EDAMAJAO, Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.