Powered by CharityEZ

CharityEZ

Charity report ready

BOOK EM

We found this organization. Review its mission, finances, leadership, and ways to help below.

Back to search results

This takes you back to the exact search that opened this report.

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

BOOK EM

EIN 58-2000621 · Education (B92Z)

What they do

BOOKEM CREATES A MORE LITERATE NASHVILLE and IGNITES CHILDRENS PASSION for READING THROUGH BOOK OWNERSHIP and ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEERS. SEE SCHEDULE O. BOOKEM ENVISIONS A FUTURE IN NASHVILLE WHERE ALL CHILDREN OWN BOOKS and KNOW FIRST-HAND THE JOY and VALUE of READING.OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY is SERVING NASHVILLES ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN DURING THEIR PRESCHOOL and ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YEARS. WE BELIEVE THAT DEVELOPING STRONG LITERACY SKILLS FROM AN EARLY AGE is ESSENTIAL for ACADEMIC and LIFELONG SUCCESS. BOOKEM PROVIDES VITAL LITERACY SUPPORT IN THE FORM of BOOKS and READING ROLE MODELS, SO THAT NASHVILLES UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN CAN BUILD THEIR LITERACY SKILLS.-A SINGLE BOOK for A CHILD MAKES A DIFFERENCE.-OUR BOARD and STAFF ARE ACTIVELY COMMITTED to OUR MISSION.-DONORS of BOOKS, TIME and MONEY ARE ESSENTIAL to OUR MISSION.-EFFICIENCY WILL BEST MEET OUR MISSION.-WORKING WITH OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY MAKES US BETTER.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check
Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $80.70 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders25 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

93.44%of revenue went to mission work80.7% of expenses · Program services
5.13%of revenue went to fundraising4.4% of expenses
$101.03spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.
17.15%of revenue went to management and office costs14.8% of expenses
$0.78in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.
83.1%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

  1. Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
  2. What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
  3. Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $8,567 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $71,960 for MELISSA SPRADLIN (EXECUTIVE DIR.). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$729,485
Mission workProgram services$681,63893.44% of revenue80.7% of expenses
ManagementOffice and general costs$125,08917.15% of revenue14.8% of expenses
FundraisingAsking for donations$37,4165.13% of revenue4.4% of expenses
Total expenses$844,143115.72% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails
2024CurrentExpense mix: 80.7% mission · 14.8% management · 4.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 115.72% of revenue
2023Expense mix: 81.3% mission · 11.3% management · 7.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 94.86% of revenue
2022Expense mix: 85.2% mission · 10.5% management · 4.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.53% of revenue
2021Expense mix: 90.9% mission · 4.8% management · 4.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 78.26% of revenue
2020Expense mix: 92.6% mission · 3.6% management · 3.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 84.44% of revenue
2019Expense mix: 90.7% mission · 4.3% management · 5.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 93.75% of revenue
2018Expense mix: 88.5% mission · 5.6% management · 6.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.36% of revenue
2017Expense mix: 88.9% mission · 7.5% management · 3.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.87% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$835,576
Expenses$844,143
Annual shortfall $8,567 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$681,638 · 80.7% of expenses
Management and office costs$125,089 · 14.8% of expenses
Fundraising$37,416 · 4.4% of expenses
See all reported dollar amounts
Revenue$835,576
Expenses$844,143
Assets$660,216
Income$847,348
Contributions$694,052
Mission work (program services)$681,638
Fundraising$37,416
Grants given$2,299,801
Average grant$13,771
Management and general$125,089
Accounting fees$16,096
People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation
MELISSA SPRADLINEXECUTIVE DIR. · 50 hrs/week $71,960

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (25)

MELISSA SPRADLINEXECUTIVE DIR.

JENNIFER CHALOSPRESIDENT

TIM THOMPSONBOARD MEMBER

SCOTT CRADDOCKPAST PRESIDENT

ROBERT MARTINBOARD MEMBER

MICHAEL SHERIDANPAST PRESIDENT

MATT GORNICKSECRETARY

MARIECHELLE BONIFACIOBOARD MEMBER

MARA HARRISBOARD MEMBER

LONNELL MATTHEWSBOARD MEMBER

LISA SPENCERBOARD MEMBER

LINDSAY BRYANTBOARD MEMBER

KATLIN PENDLETONTREASURER

ABIGAIL SIGLERBOARD MEMBER

JAMES WILDMANBOARD MEMBER

HUY TRANBOARD MEMBER

HUNTER HILLENMEYERBOARD MEMBER

HEATHER PATCHETTBOARD MEMBER

EMMA HICKSBOARD MEMBER

ELIZABETH ATACKVICE PRESIDENT

CHRISTINE KADDARASBOARD MEMBER

CHRISTIE LAIRDBOARD MEMBER

CHARLES HANNON JRBOARD MEMBER

CAROLYN MORRISBOARD MEMBER

ANDREI JAVIERBOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since
January 1992
Location
161 RAINS AVE, NASHVILLE, TN 37203-5330
County
Davidson
In care of
Melissa Spradlin
Primary officer
Melissa Spradlin, Executive Director

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(615) 255-1820

Filing and classification

Latest tax year
2024
Tax period began
January 1, 2024
Return type
990
Tax preparer
COOPER TRAVIS & COMPANY PLC
NTEE classification
Education (B92Z)
Grant-giving organization
Yes

Thanks for caring! Learning about a charity is a great first step toward giving back.

About this report: Information comes from public nonprofit records and may show the latest filing available.

Back to search results
Want to go deeper?

Full charity research is waiting at CharityEZ

Explore complete charity searches, information, reports, and research tools.

For Full Charity Searches and Information — Try CharityEZ
Are you this charity?Keep your current needs updated free with CharityEZ.
Post your needs free