WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS INC

EIN 36-3891846 · Education (B90Z)

What they do

WITS BELIEVES THAT LITERACY is THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH ALL OTHER LEARNING DEVELOPS. OUR MISSION is to EMPOWER CHICAGO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS to DISCOVER THEMSELVES THROUGH READING WHILE DEVELOPING FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY SKILLS. WE DO THIS BY CREATING COMMUNITY THROUGH LITERACY-BASED MENTORSHIP, ENABLING TEACHERS to BUILD DIVERSE CLASSROOM LIBRARIES, and PROMOTING BOOK OWNERSHIP AT HOME.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $63.50 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders26 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

57.71%of revenue went to mission work63.5% of expenses · Program services

14.23%of revenue went to fundraising15.7% of expenses

$90.88spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

18.94%of revenue went to management and office costs20.8% of expenses

$0.92in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

109.8%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $168,356 for TENA LATONA (EX-OFFICIO CEO). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$1,908,070

Mission workProgram services$1,101,10757.71% of revenue63.5% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$361,40518.94% of revenue20.8% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$271,45814.23% of revenue15.7% of expenses

Total expenses$1,733,97090.88% of revenue

The uncolored part of the ring is revenue above these reported expenses.

Has the pattern changed?

Each bar shows the share of annual spending reported for mission work, management, and fundraising.

202463.5% mission

202360.2% mission

202265.2% mission

202167.4% mission

202072.1% mission

201974.8% mission

201876.4% mission

201774.5% mission

Money in and money out

Revenue$1,908,070

Expenses$1,733,970

Annual surplus $174,100 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$1,101,107 · 63.5% of expenses

Management and office costs$361,405 · 20.8% of expenses

Fundraising$271,458 · 15.7% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$1,908,070

Expenses$1,733,970

Assets$1,602,393

Income$2,208,054

Contributions$2,094,430

Mission work (program services)$1,101,107

Fundraising$271,458

Management and general$361,405

Stocks and bonds$832,486

Accounting fees$45,677

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

TENA LATONAEX-OFFICIO CEO · 50 hrs/week $168,356Base $160,714 · Other $7,642

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (26)

TENA LATONAEX-OFFICIO CEO

KWEKU OBEDDIRECTOR

SYDNEY MORRISDIRECTOR

STEPHANIE BRAMINGDIRECTOR

SANA HAKIMSECRETARY

ROBERT STEINSDOERFERDIRECTOR

PHILIP HILDEBRANDTDIRECTOR

PATRICK HATTONVICE PRESIDENT

ORIN MURRAYVICE PRESIDENT

OLIMPIA BAHENADIRECTOR

MORRISON WARRENDIRECTOR

MARIA SEIMENISDIRECTOR

MARIA AROSTEGUYTREASURER

CAROLYN GOLDHABERDIRECTOR

KEVIN YAODIRECTOR

KAITLIN REIMANNDIRECTOR

JOHN MARTINVICE PRESIDENT

JOANNE FIRESTONE NEMEROVSKIDIRECTOR

JEREMY COLEDIRECTOR

JENNIFER ALTER WARDENCHAIRPERSON

DOUGLAS BUCHLERDIRECTOR

DIANE GRAHAM HENRYDIRECTOR

DEVEREAUX PETERSDIRECTOR

DEBRA LEVINDIRECTOR

CRYSTAL REYNOLDSDIRECTOR

CRAIG CLOSEDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1993
Location: 160 N FRANKLIN ST 201, CHICAGO, IL 60606
County: Cook
In care of: TENA LATONA
Primary officer: TENA LATONA, CEO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(312) 269-4514

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: WSDD CPAS LTD
NTEE classification: Education (B90Z)