Book Em
Book'em creates a more literate nashville and ignites children's passion for reading through book ownership and enthusiastic volunteers. Book'em 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 nashville's 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. Book'em provides vital literacy support in the form of books and reading role models, so that nashville's 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.
Book Em at a glance
In short: Book Em gave $64K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $64,263
- -40.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,180
- -31.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,597
- Total assets
- $660,216
- +10.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Book Em funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was MNPS Hero ($21K). Together the top 7 received $64K.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 71 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Book Em gives
- Giving fell 70% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $64K (2025) to $638K (2020). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $64K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MNPS Hero Nashville, TN | To promote reading | $20,993 |
| Haywood Elementary Nashville, TN | To promote reading | $10,661 |
| Cane Ridge Elementary Antioch, TN | To promote reading | $8,480 |
| Dodson Elementary Hermitage, TN | To promote reading | $6,597 |
| Glengarry Elementary Nashville, TN | To promote reading | $5,996 |
| Cole Elementary Antioch, TN | To promote reading | $5,796 |
| Shwab Elementary Nashville, TN | To promote reading | $5,740 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $660,216 | $835,576 | $787,713 | $64,263 | 7 | $4,277 |
| 2024 | $595,087 | $729,485 | $844,143 | $107,640 | 8 | $5,136 |
| 2023 | $686,231 | $917,945 | $870,803 | $144,493 | 16 | $3,839 |
| 2022 | $627,444 | $970,966 | $937,234 | $212,648 | 20 | $1,647 |
| 2021 | $633,279 | $1,103,877 | $863,894 | $213,177 | 20 | $7,023 |
| 2020 | $393,609 | $1,045,053 | $882,413 | $637,850 | 32 | $7,120 |
About Book Em
Based on IRS filings
Book Em is a public charity focused on Education, based in Nashville, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $660K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $64K. Net investment income was $4K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Book Em is led by Melissa Spradlin, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 21 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Melissa Spradlin
Executive Director
Executive Di → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$61K (2020) → $75K (2025)
Elizabeth Atack
President
Board Member → Vice President, 2024
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Chalos
Past President
Vice President → President, 2023
President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lindsay Bryant
Vice President
Director → Board Member, 2021
Board Member → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Kaddaras
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Thompson
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrei Javier
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Patchett
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mara Harris
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Morris
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Hannon Jr.
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lonnell Matthews
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abigail Sigler
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christie Laird
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hunter Hillenmeyer
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Spencer
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mariechelle Bonifacio
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Gornick
Secretary
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Forsyth
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin Holt
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shoira Shamsieva
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Katlin Pendleton (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Michael Sheridan (2020–2024) — Past President
- Former: Robert Martin (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Scott Craddock (2020–2024) — Past President
- Former: Huy Tran (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: James Wildman (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Emma Hicks (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Sanju Pratap (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Lani Williams (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Lynsey Roberts (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Meredith McKinney (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Nathan Webb (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Destiny Brown (2021–2022) — Non Voting Board Member
- Former: Sharon Cheek (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Thomasa Ross (2021–2022) — Non Voting Board Member
- Former: Katie Wanzilak (2022) — Non Voting Board Member
- Former: Amanda Reinbold (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jacquese Groves (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Ferrara (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Silva Doctor (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Allison Arata (2021) — Non-Voting B
- Former: Samantha Sanders (2021) — Non-Voting B
- Former: Tim Sears (2021) — Non-Voting B
- Former: Chris Boyd (2020) — Past President
- Former: Joyce Fox (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Mark Claypool (2020) — Director
- Former: Ralph Thompson (2020) — Director
- Former: Shannon Hunt (2020) — Director
- Former: Sharon Michie (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $75K, to Melissa Spradlin (Executive Dir.).
Frequently asked questions about Book Em
How much does Book Em give each year?
Book Em gave $64K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $108K across 8 grants.
What is Book Em's typical grant size?
Book Em's median grant in 2025 was $6,597, and its average grant was $9,180, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Book Em give grants?
Book Em gives mostly in Tennessee: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (4 grants) and Antioch, TN (2 grants).
Does Book Em give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Book Em's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To promote reading" (7 grants).
Who are Book Em's largest grantees?
Book Em's largest 2025 grantees include MNPS Hero ($20,993), Haywood Elementary ($10,661) and Cane Ridge Elementary ($8,480), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Book Em?
Book Em reported $660K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $836K.
What is Book Em?
Book Em is a public charity focused on Education, based in Nashville, TN. It holds $660K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Book Em's EIN?
Book Em's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2000621. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 12, 2026)
Live grants for the work Book Em funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Book Em's focus areas in our free grants database
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