What arise2read does

ARISE2Read is a Memphis-based nonprofit organization founded in 2013 by Donna Gaines that delivers volunteer-based literacy tutoring to elementary school students, primarily in 2nd grade, across Shelby County, Tennessee. The organization operates through trained community volunteers who deliver one-on-one weekly coaching sessions using a structured sight word protocol, supplemented by an annual distribution of 8-10 brand new books to every participating 2nd grader — totaling 37,000+ books annually in 2024-2025. As of the 2024-2025 school year, the program serves 43-44 schools with 817 active volunteers coaching 724 students, and reports a 614% increase in students reading on grade level (from 9% pre-test to 66% post-test). The business model is donor-funded: ARISE2Read does not charge students or schools for services, instead raising contributions through individual donations, corporate partners (including a relationship with the Memphis Grizzlies), and online giving platforms such as Network for Good. The organization holds a 15-person paid staff, institutionalizes annual Kickoff Training at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, TN, and operates with transparency certifications from Excellence in Giving and Candid. The technology footprint is intentionally minimal — a deliberately simple sight word methodology delivered by human coaches, with back-office tooling limited to Breezechms (event registration) and Network for Good (donations).

Name

arise2read

Legal name

ARISE2Read

Website

https://arise2read.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ARISE2Read is a Memphis-based nonprofit founded in 2013 by Donna Gaines that delivers volunteer-driven, one-on-one sight word literacy tutoring to elementary students across Shelby County Schools, supplemented by annual book distribution to 2nd graders and funded entirely by charitable donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Literacy Education Services

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Literacy & Reading Intervention (Phonics, Fluency, Comprehension) (EDAKADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Reading Comprehension & Close Reading Enrichment (EDAMAJAB)

Keywords

• Volunteer literacy tutoring
• Elementary reading programs
• After-school programs
• Nonprofit education services
• Community literacy initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ARISE2Read is a nonprofit organization that operates entirely on donations from individuals, corporations, and community partners. Donations are accepted through their Network for Good portal.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ARISE2Read is a nonprofit organization that delivers volunteer-based, one-on-one literacy tutoring to elementary students using a structured sight word approach. Each student is coached by trained community volunteers for one hour per week during school hours, and every 2nd grader in a partner school also receives 8-10 brand new books annually. The organization supplements its core tutoring service with volunteer training (annual Kickoff Training) and an optional Bible Club program.

Product overview

ARISE2Read is a non-profit literacy organization offering a unified volunteer-based tutoring service centered on its Literacy Tutoring Program, which uses a one-on-one sight word coaching approach. The organization supplements its core coaching service with Book Distribution (providing 8-10 books per student annually) and volunteer Training Programs. The portfolio also includes a Bible Club component. Together, these services form an integrated literacy support ecosystem designed to improve reading proficiency among students in partner schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ARISE2Read Literacy Tutoring Program A volunteer-based, one-on-one literacy coaching program where trained community volunteers tutor elementary students (primarily 2nd graders) for one hour per week using a structured sight word approach to help them read on grade level. Services are delivered free of charge to students in partner schools across Shelby County, TN.
• ARISE2Read Book Distribution Program An annual book distribution program that provides every 2nd grade student in a partner A2R school with 8-10 brand new books per year, totaling over 37,000 books annually, to enhance literacy skills outside the classroom.
• ARISE2Read Volunteer Training Program Volunteer training services, including annual Kickoff Training events that equip new and returning Literacy and Bible Club Coaches with the ARISE2Read protocol for serving students. Training is held at Bellevue Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Cordova, TN.
• Bible Club A volunteer-led faith-based after-school club program offered within ARISE2Read partner schools, complementing the literacy tutoring services with a faith-based component.

Quantifiable outcome

• 614% increase in students reading on sight word grade level (from 9% to 66%)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Bellevue Baptist ChurchminorOthersBellevue Baptist Church provides venue space for ARISE2Read's annual Kickoff Training events. The church's Fellowship Hall at 2000 Appling Rd., Cordova, TN 38106 is used for volunteer training sessions.
• Memphis GrizzliesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Memphis Grizzlies NBA team partners with ARISE2Read through their service programs. Josh Curtis, Sr. Coordinator, Service Programs, serves as a Guest Speaker at ARISE2Read events.
• Excellence in GivingcoreOthersARISE2Read has earned the Excellence in Giving Certificate of Transparency, demonstrating commitment to sharing detailed data on strategy, leadership, financials, and impact.
• CandidcoreOthersARISE2Read has earned the Candid Silver Seal of Transparency, recognizing nonprofit transparency in operations and reporting.
• LIVEGIVEMidsouthminorOthersARISE2Read is a proud member of LIVEGIVEMidsouth, a regional giving initiative in the Midsouth area.
• Network for GoodminorOthersNetwork for Good provides the donation processing platform for ARISE2Read, enabling online donations through their platform.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Reading Partners: National nonprofit that recruits and trains volunteer tutors to deliver one-on-one literacy coaching to elementary students in partner schools — directly comparable volunteer-led tutoring model serving the same grade levels and use case.
• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): National nonprofit focused on book distribution and literacy engagement for elementary children — highly comparable on the book-provision pillar of ARISE2Read's offering, though less focused on direct tutoring.
• Literacy Inc (LINC): Nonprofit coordinating volunteer-based literacy tutoring and book distribution to elementary students in underserved schools — closely aligned two-pillar model (tutoring + books) addressing the same problem space.
• BookSpring (Austin): Nonprofit delivering books and literacy enrichment to elementary students through school and community partnerships — comparable book-distribution-plus-literacy model for similar age groups.
• Everybody Wins USA: Nonprofit running volunteer-led reading mentorship programs in elementary schools — comparable volunteer-driven, school-embedded literacy model serving similar student populations.

Broad incumbents

• Reach Out and Read: Large national nonprofit integrating literacy into pediatric care by giving books to young children and coaching parents — overlaps in literacy and book-distribution but operates through a healthcare channel rather than schools.

Others

• United Way of the Mid-South: Regional funder and community partner that channels donations to local nonprofits including literacy initiatives — relevant as a funding ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.
• Memphis Grizzlies Foundation: NBA franchise community foundation that partners with ARISE2Read (guest speakers, service programs) — relevant as a corporate partner/funding channel rather than a competitor.

Regional players

• Literacy Mid-South: Regional literacy nonprofit serving the Memphis/Mid-South area — overlaps ARISE2Read's geography and mission, and could be either a partner or a local competitor for school-district engagement.

Emerging players

• Dyslexia Reading Intervention / LD Reading Programs (e.g., Neuhaus Education Center): Provider of structured literacy and reading intervention training for educators working with struggling readers — adjacent specialized literacy intervention space that shares the reading-outcomes mission with ARISE2Read.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@arise2read
• Facebookfacebook.com/ARISE2Read
• Instagraminstagram.com/arise2read
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arise2read

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 arise2read