About Us

We Believe that World Change Starts with Educated Children.®

We envision a world in which all children can pursue a quality education that prepares them to lead fulfilled lives and make positive change — in their families, communities and the world.

Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. We are achieving this goal by helping children in historically low-income communities develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, and by supporting girls as they build skills to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions. We collaborate with governments and other partner organizations to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale.

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Vision 2025

"Room to Read has outstripped its spiritual mentor…by combining the determination of a Carnegie with the can-do attitudes of corporate giants."

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Private Sector Brain, Nonprofit Heart

We’re people from around the world, from diverse industries, who are passionate about education. Room to Read employs more than 1,600 staff across 24 countries. Of those staff, 87% are employed in our program countries. We hire local nationals to lead our community-based operations in countries where we operate and have visibility from program design through to the communities where our programs are contextualized and implemented.

Leadership & Board

Efficient Financially, Effective Globally

We maximize our resources and hold ourselves accountable to our partner communities, investors, and internal stakeholders. We set ambitious, measurable goals and track them. Ever a learning organization, we take calculated risks and use creativity to accomplish goals. And we build upon our partnerships to grow sustainably and create systemic change around the world.

Impact and Reach

Best In Class

Our programs and fiscal efficiency have earned consistently positive recognition from the media, as well as from leaders in the nonprofit and corporate sectors. We are proud to have a reputation that is strong and authentic as an innovative leader in global education. Our work and impact is validated by respected journalists, academics, policy makers and our peers.

Financials