Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc.
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy (dba Ferst Readers) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 and based in Madison, Georgia, providing free monthly age-appropriate books to children birth through age five via volunteer Community Action Teams across 11 states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. does
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc., doing business as Ferst Readers, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 and headquartered in Madison, Georgia. The organization's core service is providing free, age-appropriate books on a monthly cadence to children from birth through age five, delivered directly to enrolled families' homes. Recipients are typically enrolled through local partner organizations such as libraries, schools, pediatricians, and daycare providers, and participation is fully subsidized for families.
Operations are executed through a decentralized network of volunteer Community Action Teams (CATs), each functioning as a local chapter responsible for family enrollment, local fundraising, and coordination of monthly mailings. The foundation reports active program presence in 11 states and 100+ counties/communities. Standardized volunteer onboarding and execution is supported by a CAT Toolkit, and supplementary programs include the Adopt A Reader individual-sponsorship program and a Mayor's Book Club municipal-partnership format observed in Natchez, Mississippi.
Revenue is sourced from a mix of individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants, and a structured giving product — the Ferst Gift Subscription priced at $42 per child per year. The organization operates with a lean staff of 1–10 employees, and the 2024 Annual Report represents its primary formal disclosure vehicle for impact and financial reporting. There is no evidence of a proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capability in the input data; the competitive basis is the volunteer chapter network, the home-delivery logistics chain, and accumulated mission credibility.
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc.
- Legal name
- Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc.
- Website
- https://ferstreaders.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy (dba Ferst Readers) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 and based in Madison, Georgia, providing free monthly age-appropriate books to children birth through age five via volunteer Community Action Teams across 11 states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Childhood Literacy Programs
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Libraries and Archives (51921)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early Literacy & Pre-Reading (Phonics, Letter Knowledge) (EDAGACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO), Foundational Literacy & Early Reading Apps (EDACANAA)
Keywords
Where Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations: Ferst Readers is a 501C3 nonprofit organization that receives funding through private donations from individuals. Donors can contribute through the organization's Network for Good donation page.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide funding and support for the childhood literacy program.
- Grants: Ferst Readers receives grant funding to support operations and book distribution programs.
- Ferst Gift Subscription: For $42, a child receives an age-appropriate book each month for one year through the Ferst Gift program, allowing individuals to send books to children in non-participating communities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free program for families in participating communities |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. (doing business as Ferst Readers) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mails age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth through age five at no cost to families in participating communities. Programs are operated through local all-volunteer Community Action Teams (CATs) that register children, while the national office in Madison, Georgia handles book procurement and mail distribution across 11 states.
Product overview
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. operates the Ferst Readers Program as its core product, a nationwide childhood literacy initiative that provides free monthly book deliveries to children from birth until age 5 in participating communities. The organization partners with local all-volunteer Community Action Teams (CATs) to register children and manage local operations, while the national office handles book procurement and mailing logistics. Additional offerings include the Ferst Gift Subscription Program for non-participating areas, the Read To Me Library digital resource, and Mayor's Book Club city partnerships. The CAT Toolkit provides the operational platform for volunteer teams.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ferst Readers Program A childhood literacy program that mails a new age-appropriate book every month to enrolled children from birth until their 5th birthday, at no cost to families residing in participating communities served by local Community Action Teams.
- Ferst Gift Subscription Program A subscription offering priced at $42 per child per year that allows individuals to send a Ferst Readers book each month to a specific child who does not live in a participating community.
- Adopt A Reader A donor sponsorship program at $42 per year enabling individuals or organizations to fund a child's monthly book deliveries through the Ferst Readers Program.
- Mayor's Book Club A city partnership initiative, currently operating in Natchez, Mississippi, that delivers free Ferst Readers books to children from birth to age 5 in collaboration with the mayor's office and local coalition partners.
- Business and Civic Partnership Program An offering through which business, civic, and school partners fund groups of children to receive free monthly books via the national office.
Companies that use Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Engineered FloorsminorSpecial partnership providing book funding for children in specific communities.
- Friends of the Library Clayton CountyminorPartnership supporting early literacy initiatives in Clayton County through library collaboration.
- NAACP Cherokee CountyminorPartnership supporting childhood literacy in Cherokee County through NAACP community engagement.
- Northeast Florida Early Learning CoalitionminorCoalition partnership supporting early learning literacy programs in Northeast Florida communities.
- LIV DevelopmentminorDevelopment partner supporting childhood literacy initiatives through corporate funding.
- United AlloyminorCorporate partner providing funding support for childhood literacy programs.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Reach Out and Read: National nonprofit that gives free books to children at pediatric well-child visits from birth through age 5, with a heavy emphasis on parent coaching during visits. Direct peer in early childhood literacy, with a different (clinical) distribution channel.
- BookSpring: Texas-based nonprofit focused on childhood literacy, providing books and reading resources to children and families in low-income communities. Geographic and demographic overlap with Ferst Readers' participating states.
- First Book: National nonprofit that provides new books and educational resources to programs and educators serving children in low-income communities. Shares the books-to-children-in-need mission with a bulk-distribution model rather than household mail.
- ParentChild+: National early childhood organization providing books and home visits to families with children ages 16 months to 4 years. Focused on early literacy and school readiness in under-resourced communities.
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Affiliated with The Dollywood Foundation, this is the most direct comparable: mails a free, age-appropriate book every month to registered children from birth to age 5, funded by local community affiliates and donations. Same product, target age range, and delivery model as Ferst Readers.
- Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): Long-running national nonprofit focused on providing books and literacy resources to children in underserved communities. Shares Ferst Readers' mission of book access, with a more school-based distribution model.
- Books for Kids: Nonprofit that builds literacy-focused libraries and book distributions in underserved communities for children from birth through elementary age. Overlapping mission and target population.
- Raising A Reader: National early literacy nonprofit that partners with local affiliates to provide book bags and parent engagement to children birth through age 5 in community settings. Closely aligned population and program structure.
Emerging players
- Too Small to Fail: Clinton Foundation initiative focused on early brain and language development for children from birth to age 5, including campaigns and partnerships promoting talking, reading, and singing. Adjacent to book distribution but broader in scope.
Broad incumbents
- United Way: Large national nonprofit that funds and convenes local programs across health, education, and financial stability, often including early literacy. United Way is a common funding intermediary for programs like Ferst Readers and serves as a corporate donation channel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceFerst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. 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 Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc.
What does Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. do?
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. (doing business as Ferst Readers) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mails age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth through age five at no cost to families in participating communities. Programs are operated through local all-volunteer Community Action Teams (CATs) that register children, while the national office in Madison, Georgia handles book procurement and mail distribution across 11 states.
Is Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. a public or private company?
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. founded?
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. based?
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, grants and ferst Gift Subscription.
Who are Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Reach Out and Read, BookSpring, First Book, ParentChild+, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), Books for Kids and Raising A Reader. Too Small to Fail is listed as an emerging player. United Way is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc..
What industry is Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc. in?
Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy, Inc.'s product category is Childhood Literacy Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGACAA, Early Literacy & Pre-Reading (Phonics, Letter Knowledge), with a secondary code of EDAMAJAO, Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.