The Great Books Foundation

Learn about this cause: What are the reviews? Is it Legit? Do I like the mission? What is the CEO's salary?

EIN: 362182034 ✦ Streamwood, IL ✦ Designated as a 501(c)(3)

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Overview

What is The Great Books Foundation?

The Great Books Foundation, situated in Streamwood, Illinois, is a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving literacy and critical thinking skills among students from grades K-12. Their mission involves fostering critical, reflective thinking and social and civic engagement through shared inquiry discussions of enduring works and ideas. They provide strong, inquiry-based language arts programs that enhance students' reading comprehension, literacy, critical thinking, writing, speaking, and listening abilities, as well as civic discourse. The foundation has also developed digital experiences, such as Great Books Plus and the JGB Digital Classroom, to make their content more accessible and relevant in the 21st century, enabling them to reach a wider, more diverse audience. With a workforce of around 30 individuals, The Great Books Foundation aims to empower readers of all ages.


Official website here: www.greatbooks.org

What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?

Charity Navigator Rating: 74% (Two-Star out of Four Star rating)

The Great Books Foundation holds a Two-Star rating from Charity Navigator, indicating a moderate level of accountability and financial stability. The rating is primarily based on their Accountability & Finance score of 74%, which reflects the organization's efforts in transparency and governance. The foundation scores well in several areas, including having a fully independent board, a comprehensive audit and oversight committee, and robust conflict of interest and whistleblower policies.

Despite these strengths, the organization's program expense ratio of 52.74% suggests that a significant portion of its expenses may not be directed towards its programs, which is a common area of concern for potential donors. While the organization maintains a low liabilities to assets ratio, indicating financial health, the program expense ratio raises questions about the effectiveness of resource allocation. Overall, while The Great Books Foundation demonstrates strong governance practices, there may be room for improvement in how funds are utilized for its mission.


This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.

What do the Facebook reviews say about The Great Books Foundation?

94% of reviewers on Facebook recommend The Great Books Foundation. Here's a summary of their experiences:

Enthusiastic support characterizes the feedback, with one educator expressing excitement about teaching Great Books in South Korea. The positive sentiment suggests that individuals appreciate the Foundation's mission and the value of its resources.

Overall, people seem satisfied with the educational programs and the engaging nature of the content offered by the nonprofit. This indicates a strong alignment between the Foundation's objectives and the experiences of those involved with it.


This AI summary has been generated from reviews found on Facebook.

Is The Great Books Foundation legitimate?

The Great Books Foundation is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. The Great Books Foundation submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.


Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:

Executive Compensation: $333,181
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $1,760,458

For more financial information, click here


Official website here: www.greatbooks.org

What is the mission statement of The Great Books Foundation?

The Great Books Foundation's mission is centered around fostering critical thinking, reflective abilities, and social and civic engagement among readers of all ages. This is accomplished through shared inquiry discussions of enduring works and ideas. The foundation's K-12 programs aim to enhance students' reading comprehension, literacy, critical thinking, writing, speaking, civic discourse, and listening skills, aligning with Common Core and other state standards for English Language Arts. To remain relevant in the 21st century, the foundation has developed digital experiences, such as Great Books Plus and JGB Digital Classroom, to improve access to content and expand its reach to a wider, more diverse audience.


Official website here: www.greatbooks.org

Who is the CEO of The Great Books Foundation?

Valentina Texera Parissi is the CEO of The Great Books Foundation The CEO's salary of The Great Books Foundation is $146,510 and their total compensation is $172,494.


Official website here: www.greatbooks.org

What is the revenue of The Great Books Foundation?

The Great Books Foundation's revenue in 2023 was $4,423,932.


Official website here: www.greatbooks.org

Who are the executives of The Great Books Foundation and what are their salaries?

The average compensation at The Great Books Foundation during 2023 was $69,788. There are 30 employees and 14 volunteers at The Great Books Foundation.

Here are 20 key members and their salaries (The Great Books Foundation's CEO's salary is $146,510 and their total compensation is $172,494):


Charles Brummell Jr (Chairman)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Paul Barton (Vice-Chairman)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Barbara Bowman (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Lindsey Ciochina (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Marcia Wachs Dam (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Karen Macgilvray (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Alex J Pollock (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
James M Reum (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
George Schueppert (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
David Ward (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
James W Haugh (Life Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Michael Igoe (Life Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Jane C Hunt (Life Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
William Lawlor (Life Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Valentina Texera Parissi (President & Ceo)
  • Compensation: $146,510
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $25,984
Peter Walton (Vice-President & Cfo)
  • Compensation: $119,851
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $29,563
Matthew Lemen (Director Of K-12 Partnersh)
  • Compensation: $148,284
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $8,056
Sarah Claypool Friedland (Executive Director Of Oper)
  • Compensation: $114,222
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $29,342
Charles Adam (National Sales Representative)
  • Compensation: $113,336
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $22,450
Roberta Fleming (K-12 Partnership Manager)
  • Compensation: $107,463
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $922


Official website here: www.greatbooks.org

Where can I find the form 990 for The Great Books Foundation?

The Great Books Foundation's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2023 and can be accessed here.


Official website here: www.greatbooks.org

Learn more at the official website: www.greatbooks.org

Mission Statement of The Great Books Foundation

The Great Books Foundation, as a nonprofit organization, is committed to fostering critical thinking, reflective abilities, and social and civic engagement among readers of all ages. This is achieved through the shared inquiry discussion of enduring works and ideas. By following this method, the foundation aims to enhance students' reading comprehension, literacy, critical thinking, writing and speaking skills, civic discourse, and listening abilities in K-12 education. The Great Books Foundation's K-12 programs incorporate inquiry-based language arts programs that improve students' performance and commitment to learning, aligning with the goals of the Common Core and other state standards for English Language Arts.

In the digital age, The Great Books Foundation continues to adapt and remain relevant by offering digital publications and products. Initially, this was through Great Books Plus, a digital platform providing electronic versions of anthologies. In 2021 and 2022, the foundation launched versions 1 and 2 of JGB Digital Classroom, transitioning from an e-reader platform to a more flexible digital platform. These digital experiences update and enhance the Great Books learning model, enabling the organization to reach a broader, more diverse audience.

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Impact




October, 2024

The Great Books Foundation significantly impacts education by fostering critical thinking and civic engagement among readers of all ages through its inquiry-based programs. Its K-12 initiatives are specifically designed to enhance reading comprehension, literacy, and communication skills. By integrating the shared inquiry method, these programs not only meet but often exceed Common Core and state standards for English Language Arts.

Moreover, the Great Books Foundation has embraced the digital landscape by developing platforms like Great Books Plus and JGB Digital Classroom. These innovations expand access to literary content, enabling a wider and more diverse audience to engage with transformative texts. Collectively, these efforts nurture a culture of reflective thought and meaningful discourse, equipping students with essential skills for academic and civic success.




This information is meant to be a general summary of The Great Books Foundation. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.


Financials

This financial information is from Propublica.

Revenue
$4,423,932 (2023)
Expenses
$3,518,488 (2023)
Efficiency

Other financial information:

This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2023.

  • Investment Income: $29,587
  • Program Service Revenue: $418,525
  • Gross Receipts: $5,551,671

Assets and Liabilities:

  • Total Assets: $2,884,980
  • Total Liabilities: $1,836,463
  • Net Assets: $1,048,517

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Programs

Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.

TRAINING CONSULTATION

Revenue

$417,731

OTHER REVENUE

Revenue

$794

Organization Details

Founding Year

1947

Principal Officer

Valentina Texera Parissi

NTEE Category

Code: A70 - Arts

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