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Nonprofit · EIN 58-2000621

BOOK EM

Tax-exempt · NASHVILLE, TN 37203

Financials

$971K$937K2022$918K$871K2023$729K$844K2024$836K$788K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of BOOK EM by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$835,576$787,713$47,863$660,216$33,902$626,314
December 31, 2024990$729,485$844,143-$114,658$595,087$24,785$570,302
December 31, 2023990$917,945$870,803$47,142$686,231$8,715$677,516
December 31, 2022990$970,966$937,234$33,732$627,444$5,097$622,347
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$761,898
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$4,277
Net income from fundraising events
$69,401
Other revenue
$69,401

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$206,270
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$75,448
Other salaries and wages
$217,061
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$318,648
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$31,036
Occupancy
$39,906
Travel
$3,174
Depreciation
$3,490
Program services (functional)
$578,956
Management and general (functional)
$157,504
Fundraising (functional)
$51,253

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$595,087
Total assets, end of year
$660,216
Total liabilities, end of year
$33,902
Net assets, end of year
$626,314
Net assets without donor restrictions
$521,415
Net assets with donor restrictions
$104,899
Gross receipts
$847,348
Employees
11
Volunteers
275
Year formed
1991
State of legal domicile
TN

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Melissa SpradlinExecutive Dir.
Officer
50$75,448
Jennifer ForsythTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Jennifer ChalosPast President
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Justin HoltBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Shoira ShamsievaBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Carolyn MorrisBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Elizabeth AtackPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Lindsay BryantVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Charles Hannon JrBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Mara HarrisBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Andrei JavierBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Christine KaddarasBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Lonnell MatthewsBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Heather PatchettBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Tim ThompsonBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
6 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Matt GornickSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Lisa SpencerBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Abigail SiglerBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Christie LairdBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Hunter HillenmeyerBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Mariechelle BonifacioBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 25 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Melissa SpradlinExecutive Dir.
Officer
50$71,960
Michael SheridanPast President
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Jennifer ChalosPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Robert MartinBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Katlin PendletonTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Scott CraddockPast President
Trustee or director
2$0
Carolyn MorrisBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Elizabeth AtackVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Lindsay BryantBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Charles Hannon JrBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Mara HarrisBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Andrei JavierBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Christine KaddarasBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Lonnell MatthewsBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Heather PatchettBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Emma HicksBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Tim ThompsonBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Huy TranBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Matt GornickSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
James WildmanBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Lisa SpencerBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Abigail SiglerBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Christie LairdBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Hunter HillenmeyerBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
Mariechelle BonifacioBoard Member
Trustee or director
2$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 20 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Melissa SpradlinExecutive Dir.
Officer
50$67,693
Michael SheridanPast President
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Jennifer ChalosPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Robert MartinSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Katlin PendletonTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Scott CraddockPast President
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Carolyn MorrisBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
Elizabeth AtackBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
Lindsay BryantBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
Charles Hannon JrBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
Mara HarrisBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
Andrei JavierBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
Christine KaddarasBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
Lonnell MatthewsBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
Heather PatchettBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
Sanju PratapBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
Tim ThompsonBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
Huy TranBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
James WildmanBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
Lani WilliamsBoard Member
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2022: 24 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
MELISSA SPRADLINEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
50$64,407
MICHAEL SHERIDANPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
JENNIFER CHALOSVICE - PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
ROBERT MARTINSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
LYNSEY ROBERTSTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
KATLIN PENDLETONASSISTANT TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
SCOTT CRADDOCKPAST PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
ELIZABETH ATACKBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
LINDSAY BRYANTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
SHARON CHEEKBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MARA HARRISBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
ANDREI JAVIERBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
CHRISTINE KADDARASBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MEREDITH MCKINNEYBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
HEATHER PATCHETTBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
SANJU PRATAPBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
TIM THOMPSONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
HUY TRANBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
NATHAN WEBBBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JAMES WILDMANBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
LANI WILLIAMSBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
DESTINY BROWNNON VOTING BOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
0$0
THOMASA ROSSNON VOTING BOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
0$0
KATIE WANZILAKNON VOTING BOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
161 RAINS AVE, NASHVILLE, TN 37203-5330
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
Melissa Spradlin, 161 Rains Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203
Signed the 990
Melissa Spradlin, Executive Director
Phone
(615) 255-1820
Return prepared by
Cooper Travis & Company PLC

Mission

BOOK'EM CREATES A MORE LITERATE NASHVILLE AND IGNITES CHILDREN'S PASSION FOR READING THROUGH BOOK OWNERSHIP AND ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEERS. SEE SCHEDULE O. 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.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • BOOKS FOR NASHVILLE'S KIDS (BFNK)- THROUGH OUR BOOKS FOR NASHVILLE'S KIDS PROGRAM, BOOK'EM PROVIDED 84,000 BOOKS TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH AGES 0-18 LIVING IN DAVIDSON COUNTY IN 2025. WE PARTNERED WITH 180 DIFFERENT GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY TO GET BOOKS INTO THE HANDS OF YOUTH WHO NEEDED AND WANTED THEM. BOOK'EM IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF FREE BOOKS FOR YOUTH AGES 0-18 IN DAVIDSON COUNTY.
    Expenses $356,180 · grants $207,635 · revenue $27,435
  • READING IS FUNDAMENTAL (RIF) PROGRAM- RIF BUILDS UNDER-SERVED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN'S LITERACY SKILLS, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. ELEMENTARY CHILDREN SELECT BOOKS FOR THEMSELVES TO CHERISH, ENJOY AND BUILD THEIR HOME LIBRARIES. THEY ARE ALSO EXPOSED TO RIF VOLUNTEERS AS POSITIVE COMMUNITY ROLE MODELS, WHO HELP MOTIVATE THEM TO LOVE READING AND BOOKS.DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, BOOK'EM PROVIDED 29,000 BOOKS TO APPROXIMATELY 6,700 ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHO ATTENDED 16 TITLE I METRO NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH OUR RIF PROGRAM. AN AVERAGE OF 80% OF THESE STUDENTS ARE CONSIDERED ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, 72% ARE BELOW BASIC READING LEVEL, AND 30% ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.APPROXIMATELY 250 VOLUNTEERS VISITED THEIR ASSIGNED CLASSROOMS TO READ ALOUD AND ENGAGE WITH THE STUDENTS ABOUT 5 TIMES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.EVERY CHILD RECEIVED ABOUT 5 BOOKS WITH A TOTAL OF 31,000 BOOKS DISTRIBUTED.
    Expenses $112,841 · revenue $20,500
  • READ ME DAY CELEBRATIONS- BOOK'EM HELD TWO READ ME DAY CELEBRATIONS AT MNPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN 2025. SEVERAL HUNDRED COMMUNITY GUESTS HELPED US CELEBRATE READING AT THESE SCHOOLS WITH AN ASSEMBLY PROGRAM FOLLOWED BY GUESTS READING ALOUD AND ENGAGING WITH EACH CLASSROOM. STUDENTS GOT TO SELECT TWO BOOKS TO TAKE HOME AS THEIR FOREVER BOOKS.
    Expenses $47,597
  • BOOK BUS - IN 2022, PARNASSUS BOOKS DONATED THEIR SMALL BOOK BUS TO BOOK'EM. WE RENOVATED AND UPDATED THE BUS AND DEVELOPED A NEW BOOK BUS PROGRAM WHICH LAUNCHED LATE 2023. THIS PROVIDES THE MEANS TO REACH MORE YOUTH BY GOING TO WHERE THEY ARE AND ALLOWING THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SPECIAL PROGRAMMING AND SELECTED BOOKS THROUGH A NOVEL VENUE.
    Expenses $39,350 · revenue $9,000
  • READY FOR READING- READY FOR READING PROVIDES CLASSROOM READING ROLE MODEL VOLUNTEERS FOR 15 PRE-K CLASSROOMS AT EARLY LEARNING CENTERS IN METRO NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THESE VOLUNTEERS READ ALOUD AND ENGAGE WITH THESE 4 YEAR OLDS ONCE A WEEK FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO HELP THEM GET READY FOR KINDERGARTEN.
    Expenses $22,988

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
58-2000621
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1992
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Education (B92Z)
Assets (IRS master file)
$660,216
Income (IRS master file)
$847,348

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$835,576$787,713$660,216XML
990December 2024$729,485$844,143$595,087XML
990December 2023$917,945$870,803$686,231XML
990December 2022$970,966$937,234$627,444XML
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 2018–––IRS
990December 2017–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 58-2000621).

Questions about BOOK EM

What is the EIN of BOOK EM?
The employer identification number (EIN) of BOOK EM is 58-2000621.
Is BOOK EM tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1992.
Are donations to BOOK EM tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does BOOK EM file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of BOOK EM due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did BOOK EM last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of BOOK EM?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Melissa Spradlin.
Who are the officers and directors of BOOK EM?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 21 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $75,448 (Melissa Spradlin, Executive Dir.).
How much revenue does BOOK EM have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $835,576, expenses of $787,713 and total assets of $660,216 at year end.

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