named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Author in-School Visits
Organizes and facilitates visits by diverse children's and young adult authors to NYC public schools, aligned with curriculum and student needs
Books for Students
Distributes signed books by visiting authors to students at no cost, fostering personal connections to reading
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Children's Book Distribution Programs 1 activity
- Distributes signed books to students during author visitsProvides free signed books to students participating in author visit programs, enhancing engagement and encouraging continued reading. This activity reached 65,000 students citywide according to available evidence.
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Student Progress Assessment & Program Evaluation 1 activity
- Measures and reports reading outcomes from program participationTracks student reading growth using assessments such as the Degrees of Reading Power. For example, students at Highbridge Green School showed measurable reading gains over one to three years following program participation.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Organizes author and illustrator visits to NYC schoolsProvides curriculum-aligned author and artist visit programs to schools across New York City, including customized promotional support, on-site coordination, and post-visit evaluation. The program emphasizes diverse children's and young adult authors and aims to promote literacy and a love of reading.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$150K
Contributions & grants$45K30%
Program service revenue$105K70%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$149K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$25K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$25K
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +24.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELE T WEISMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $54K |
relationships · 51
Who they work with
- 1001 Diverse Books Partner — Supporting organization
- APG Asset Management US, Inc. Partner — Supporting organization
- Alysa Law Partner — Teacher who provided testimonial about author selection and student engagement
- Amalgamated Foundation Funder — Supporting foundation
- AmazonSmile Partner — Supporting organization
- Areté Education, Inc. Partner — Supporting organization
- Barnes & Noble Inc. Partner — Supporting organization
- Benevity Inc. Partner — Supporting organization
- Bloomsbury Publishing Partner — Supporting organization
- Books Are Magic Partner — Supporting bookstore
- Boyds Mills & Kane Partner — Supporting publisher
- Brooklyn Public Library Partner — Supporting public library
- Bryant Park Toastmasters Partner — Supporting organization
- Change For Kids Partner — Supporting nonprofit
- Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival Partner — Supporting literary event organization
- Community Bookstore Partner — Supporting bookstore
- DonorsChoose Partner — Supporting crowdfunding platform for education
- Finkelstein Family Charitable Trust Funder — Supporting charitable trust
- HarperCollins Publishers Partner — Supporting publisher
- Highbridge Green School Partner — Collaborating school where the program was implemented starting in 2015
- IQVIA Partner — Supporting corporation
- Kirkus Reviews Partner — Supporting literary review organization
- La Borinqueña Partner — Supporting cultural organization
- Long Island Computers + Technology Partner — Supporting technology provider
- M&T Charitable Foundation Funder — Supporting foundation
- Mackenzie Grate Partner — Assistant Principal who provided testimonial about the impact of author visits on student reading culture
- Mad for Reading Partner — Supporting literacy organization
- Mary Duke Biddle Foundation Funder — Supporting foundation
- Middle School Quality Initiative Partner — Supporting education initiative
- Network for Good Partner — Supporting nonprofit technology and fundraising platform
+ 21 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Author Engagement to Boost Reading Motivationmethodology: author-engagementBy facilitating direct interaction between students and authors, we increase excitement about reading and writing because personal connection makes literature more relatable and inspiring.
- Culturally Responsive Representationmethodology: culturally responsive representationBy selecting authors who share lived experiences and identities with students, we increase engagement because students are more likely to connect with stories and role models that reflect their own backgrounds.
- Equity-Driven Program Accessmethodology: equity-focused outreachBy prioritizing literacy programming in Title I and underserved schools, we increase access to transformative reading and writing experiences for students who face systemic barriers, because proximity and representation are critical to engagement.
- Sustained, Curriculum-Integrated Programmingmethodology: curriculum-integrated author engagementBy embedding author visits and literacy activities into the curriculum and providing ongoing support, we foster a lasting culture of literacy because integration increases relevance and institutional buy-in.