Reading is Fundamental Matching Grant - Read for Success

Reading is Fundamental Matching Grant - Read for Success

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Reading Is Fundamental Inc
Last Updated: February 11, 2026

Summary

The Reading is Fundamental Matching Grant for Read for Success empowers local organizations to enhance literacy by providing matching funds for books and resources. Since 1966, RIF has partnered with communities to foster a culture of reading among children in need, offering diverse books that reflect their lives. This grant matches local investments dollar-for-dollar, maximizing the impact of funding for educational programs. Eligible applicants include schools and youth-serving organizations across the U.S., supporting children from birth through grade 12.

Overview

NOTE: You can only apply for funding to support one of the programs. Please See the additional opportunities related to this grant - Here is the Books for Ownership page.Here is the Skybrary page. Reading is Fundatmental Matching Grant Since our founding in 1966, RIF has fostered local partnerships to bring books and literacy materials to children in under-resourced communities to create a culture of literacy and foster opportunities for children to read, learn, and grow. RIF is committed to providing high-quality, diverse books in print and digital formats that provide opportunities for children to see themselves represented in the books they read and extend their worldview through diverse characters and experiences. Our matching grant program enables local literacy partners to double their impact by partnering with RIF to drive reading outcomes for children in their community. Through our matching grant program, RIF matches 100% of local dollars to bring books and literacy resources to children that need them most. The matching grant program empowers local innovation and long-term sustainability to create collective impact centered on providing critical access to diverse books and literacy resources. All educational institutions and youth-serving organizations are eligible to apply. Explore the Grantee Spotlights below to see how our program is making a difference in communities nationwide. The Matching Grant program is now open for applications for three RIF programs: Books for Ownership, Read for Success, and Skybrary. RIF’s matching grant program maximizes your impact by doubling your dollars through RIF’s support. The grant program can benefit your organization from two different perspectives: The RIF grant award doubles the amount of money you have to purchase RIF programs for the children you serve with RIF’s match equal to your local investment.The RIF grant award enables you to purchase high-quality RIF programs at just half the cost. For example, RIF books cost $4/book but with the matching funds, you’ll be able to obtain the books at just $2/book. Read for Success Read for Success is an interactive supplemental read-aloud program that uses high-quality, diverse, interdisciplinary books with evidence-based strategies and activities to engage children in the reading experience and encourage a passion for reading. Read for Success also provides books for students to build home libraries and is aligned with RIF’s philosophy that having access to books combined with an increased interest in reading can improve reading proficiency. When applying for the Read for Success grant, please note that a single Read for Success program provides resources to support up to 25 students with 6 books to take home and own, a student journal, and a tote bag. Program facilitators will also receive a collection of 15 read-aloud titles, a program guide with extension activities tied to the read-aloud books, and professional development resources. Funding The matching grant is provided in the form of a Read for Success program to serve 25 students. Each individual program costs $1,150 and supports a classroom of up to 25 students. For example, if you plan to serve 100 children in your community with Read for Success, your minimum grant request would be calculated as 4 Read for Success programs x $1,150 = $4600. RIF would award you a $2,300 program award and the other $2,300 would be matched from your organization’s local funds. RIF funds and local funds are combined for a final program award to cover the Read for Success program costs.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible applicants include school districts, individual schools, public libraries, community-based organizations, civic organizations, and other youth-serving entities that serve children in the United States from birth through grade 12.Read for Success Program Requirements:Incorporate read-alouds from the collection books (set of 15 read-aloud titles) and extension activities from the facilitator’s guide into your program throughout the grant period. Engage families by utilizing the family resources found within the facilitator's guide and aligned to support each read-aloud title. Order all student take-home books from RIF’s online Bookstore where you can select from thousands of high-quality, diverse titles that children can see themselves in as well as books that provide a window into the world around them. Distribute the books (6 per student) to children during at least 1 book celebration event during the program period.