Impact Report

2022

reenvisioning literacy
sowing seeds of change

letter from ceo and board chair >>

our vision >>

letter from ceo
and board chair

CLI is grateful to our community—school partners, philanthropic investors, and the wide body of stakeholders and volunteers who support our work. Because of your contributions, we continue to have profound impact on the literacy and educational experience of children, particularly the Black and Latinx children we serve.

The report that follows is a testament to the tremendous power of early literacy instruction, support, and advocacy that centers and celebrates children in the classroom. With this year’s report we have transitioned from the traditional format to an impact report that focuses on outcomes, and the stories behind those outcomes.

Read the full letter here >>

our
vision

Children’s Literacy Initiative seeks to dismantle structural racism by providing Black and Latinx children with the anti-racist early literacy instruction, support, and advocacy needed to create equity in education.

We are working towards creating a more equitable education system, one that promotes early literacy, cultural competency, and equitable outcomes for all students, particularly Black and Latinx students who have long been disproportionately isolated from the resources to obtain the education they deserve. CLI believes that literacy is a vital pathway to create lasting social change and foster a just and equitable society.

Learn more about our mission >>

impact

im · pact | \ im-˙pakt

verb

to have a direct effect or impact on

synonyms: effect, influence, mark

Learn how you can have an impact >>

by the numbers

Children’s Literacy Initiative, in working with pre-kindergarten through fifth grade teachers, is transforming literacy instruction and early childhood education so that children learn to read as a powerful act of identity, agency, and cultural joy.

We accomplish this by providing (virtually or in-person):

One-on-one embedded teacher coaching
Trainings in the best practices in early literacy instruction
Leadership development to support sustainable change
High-quality classroom books and materials

By helping educators learn high-impact instructional strategies and nurturing dynamic professional learning communities, CLI builds lasting capacity in teachers and principals that endures over time.

See more impact >>

3171

Educators Served

2408

Classrooms Served

57469

Students Served

46777

Books Distributed

570 Books Reviewed

regional impact

In the 2021-22 school year, CLI began integrating its new literacy framework and coaching model into its coaching content, leading to major impact in children’s reading attainment across every program offering. The impact data below tells a powerful story about the effectiveness of CLI’s enriched approach.

philadelphia

Increases in schools’ growth rates reflect the high collaboration between CLI’s Early Literacy Coaches and school-based Literacy leads and principals. See how CLI moved a cohort of Philadelphia schools.

chicago

Despite the unpredictable disruptions to our children’s learning, CLI has continued to support amplified reading outcomes. See how our Chicago partnership has sustained growth in reading attainment.

broward

Although COVID-19 continued to disrupt in-person literacy instruction, CLI coaches are helping teachers apply backwards planning to advance progressive and strong child learning outcomes. See Broward's impact.

storytelling

CLI's community of supporters work and give to empower and amplify reading outcomes for Black and Latinx children. Together, we are committed to providing Black and Latinx children access to high-quality, identity-affirming books and teachers with best-in-class early literacy instructional resources.

Sowing a Love of Literacy in Chicago >>

Reenvisioning the Joy of Learning in Philadelphia >>

Transforming Coaching with Compassion in Massachusetts >>

CLI has strengthened my confidence and knowledge in the world of reading and writing. I am so thankful to have the coaching and training they have given me. I am a true believer in this program.

– Teacher at a CLI-supported school

CLI Annual Report 2022 - Teacher Impact Quote

raise a glass for reading

Raise a Glass for Reading has been CLI’s signature event, starting in 2017, bringing together supporters to raise funds for programs that help teachers and students succeed and renew our commitment to creating equity in education.

In 2021, CLI began hosting the event virtually, sharing regional impact stories with a national audience. This year CLI expanded the celebration across an entire week coined Spirit Week. During RGR Spirit Week (May 16 – 19), CLI hosted three virtual events: an interactive Read Aloud, a fun Family Game Night, and the main fundraising event featuring a fireside chat.

See the full recap here >>

CLI Annual Report 2022 - Jason Reynolds CLI's Literacy Champion

CLI's Literacy Champion, Jason Reynolds

NYT Bestselling author and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Jason Reynolds, was this year's special guest. CLI announced Mr. Reynolds as Literacy Champion of the Literacy to Liberation campaign. CLI is grateful to Jason for his advocacy for our mission and work with educators and Black and Latinx children.

See CLI's Literacy Champion Announcement >>

CLI Annual Report 2022 - RGR22 Child Image

CLI Annual Report 2022 - Jason Reynolds Read Aloud

3 Events Hosted

100+

Total Attendees

$50K+

Dollars Raised

thank you

We thank you all—individuals, families, foundations, corporations and government entities—for your generosity and your commitment to transforming instructional practice and amplifying reading outcomes for the children CLI serves. You play a pivotal role in the continued innovation and growth of Children’s Literacy Initiative.

Welcome to all new donors. CLI celebrates everyone who made the decision this past year to direct their charitable giving—whether as a first gift, annual contribution, monthly recurring donations, or major gift—in support of its mission, work, and impact.

A special thank you to CLI volunteer leaders across the country, especially advisory board members in Broward County, FL and Chicago who have committed their time, talent, treasure and ties to promoting CLI’s mission and elevating its visibility.

$3.62M

Philanthropic Dollars Raised

537 New Donors

28 LIT Society Members

fueling a movement:

the power of collective philanthropy

Philanthropy as a practice is as old as humankind itself. For millennia people have given to others with the aim of providing resources to meet a wide spectrum of human needs – spanning the physiological (food, shelter, clothing) to the psychological (love, belonging, care).

Individual acts of philanthropy are powerful, each one making a profound difference and strengthening the social fabric which binds us all. But philanthropic action takes on transformative meaning when many individual altruistic acts converge around a shared goal and vision for change, shifting the deed of giving from an individual phenomenon to a collective fueling a movement.

Read the full Message of Gratitude here >>

supporter spotlight

strong belief and loyal support

Richard Gluck has had a lifelong interest in childhood reading education. His strong belief in the value of reading for personal growth and economic success has inspired his loyal support of Children’s Literacy Initiative for over 10 years.

See Richard's full story here >>

gates foundation and improving pre-k

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded CLI a grant to develop and refine a culturally responsive pre-kindergarten curriculum audit tool in partnership with the Center on the Ecology of Early Development (CEED). 

Learn more about the partnership >>

music, literacy and a passion for change

The collaboration between Jeff Coffin (saxophonist of Dave Matthews Band) and NYC trumpeter Augie Haas happened quite organically. And so the children’s book, The Rabbit, The Carrot, The Crow, And The Quarry was born, and their relationship with Children’s Literacy Initiative began not long after.

See Jeff's full story here >>

the framework and diagnostic
tool for teaching and learning

Children’s Literacy Initiative’s culture of innovation and continuous improvement is reflected in the methods by which technology has empowered our mission. During the pandemic, that technology was evidenced in how CLI seamlessly pivoted to serve the needs of partners, educators, and children as classrooms closed and learning transitioned online.

Today, CLI is pioneering new territory as we aim to tell new evidence-based stories about the impact of high-quality culturally responsive teaching on a child’s literacy journey. To enable this journey and measure success, we are creating durable data-driven systems powered by technology that will help us track, accelerate and drive improvements in both CLI coaching and teacher practice and child reading outcomes across CLI partnerships.

Learn more CLI's Framework >>

With all the resources and coaching presented by my CLI coach, I was able to use different strategies and modalities to teach my students strategies to become fluent readers, and their comprehension enhanced. It has been an awesome experience to see my children blossom into reading, enhance their reading, and with guided reading lessons, close reading gaps.

– Teacher at a CLI-supported school

leadership

The CLI team brings an interdisciplinary lens to every aspect of our work. From senior leadership to regional advisory boards, we are passionate about our mission and commitment to dismantle structural racism through antiracist early literacy instruction and create equity in education. Get to know our leadership team, advisory board, and board of directors.

Meet the CLI Leadership team >>

Learn more about CLI Advisory Boards >>

financials

Children’s Literacy Initiative’s sound fiscal practices and commitment to accountability and transparency have continued to earn it a Gold Participant rating from GuideStar, the world’s largest source of information on non-profit organizations.

Additionally, CLI has maintained its 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. A 4-star rating is given to organizations that score a 90 or above in Charity Navigator’s review and is considered “Exceptional.” It demonstrates an organization’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

With only 17% of expenditures going to administration and fundraising costs, in 2021-22 83% of all expenses were dedicated solely to CLI programming. In turn, unrestricted philanthropic funding has enabled CLI to invest in organizational capacity, technology, and innovation--all critical to its sustainability and strategic growth.

connect with us

Inspired by what you've seen and want to support CLI? You can contact a member of our Development Team to learn more about how your philanthropic investment can advance our literacy mission. Click here to connect with us.

Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter, The Read. Each edition we share insights on all things literacy, share stories of impact and helpful literacy tools, along with book lists to expand your classroom and at-home libraries!

CLI Annual Report 2022 - Report Download

Download the print-version >>