WORLDREADER
Worldreader champions digital reading in underserved communities to create a world where everyone can be a reader. With low-cost technology, culturally-relevant digital books, and a network of corporate and nonprofit partners, we're helping millions of people read more and read better.
Objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE (I) TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC, AND (II) THE PREVENTION AND RELIEF OF POVERTY OR HARDSHIP, IN EACH CASE IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY:(1) MAKING DIGITAL BOOKS AND MATERIALS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES; AND(2) PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING INITIATIVES THAT USE NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO WRITTEN MATERIALS.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that unrestricted reserves of £11,372 significantly exceed the charity's stated policy target of three months' expenditure (£3,000). The charity reported a net income of £62,623 for the year, driven by a £100,000 donation, while total expenditure was £37,377. The trustees confirm the charity is a going concern with adequate resources to meet its limited annual expenditure.
What the accounts disclose
“It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds should be maintained at a level equivalent to three month’s expenditure excluding restricted grants. As of April 2026, three months’ recurring expenditure, based on the prior three-year average is £3,000.” — page 6
“During the year, £100,000 of restricted income was from a trustee (P Malinson) to support activities in Kenya. £34,000 of this income was received in 2025 and there was a debtor balance at year end of £66,000 to be paid in 2026-2027. A resulting £30,000 (2024: £55,000) grant was awarded to Worldreader Kenya.” — page 16
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Paying staff
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025
- Grant-making is its main activity
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024
- Grant-making is its main activity
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023
- Grant-making is its main activity
Trustees
- HERMIONE LUCY IRELANDchair
- DAVID RISHER
- Lucia Veronica Halpern
- Martin John Nye
- PETER GLYN CHARTERIS MALLINSON
- Rebecca Chandler Leege
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £100k | £37k |
| 31/12/2024 | £9k | £66k |
| 31/12/2023 | £68k | £32k |
| 31/12/2022 | £117k | £164k |
| 31/12/2021 | £36k | £224k |
Common questions
Is WORLDREADER financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted reserves of £11,372 significantly exceed the charity's stated policy target of three months' expenditure (£3,000). The charity reported a net income of £62,623 for the year, driven by a £100,000 donation, while total expenditure was £37,377. The trustees confirm the charity is a going concern with adequate resources to meet its limited annual expenditure. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds WORLDREADER?
Funders whose own accounts filings name WORLDREADER as a grant recipient include THE GSR FOUNDATION, THE WILBUR AND NISO SMITH FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE GSR FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £74k | |
| THE GSR FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £31k | |
| THE WILBUR AND NISO SMITH FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £5k | Grant funding of activities / Author of Tomorrow partnership |
| THE WILBUR AND NISO SMITH FOUNDATION | FY2021 | £5k | Grant funding of activities |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| CHARITY OF SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON | 3 | £311k |
| THE ALICE ELLEN COOPER-DEAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 2 | £40k |
| THE JULIA RAUSING TRUST | 1 | £1.2m |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £265k |
| CLARA E BURGESS CHARITY | 1 | £209k |
| THE TOLKIEN TRUST | 1 | £193k |
| THE DULVERTON TRUST | 1 | £190k |
| THE J J CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £120k |
Charities like this
- THE READER ORGANISATION
- SCHOOLREADERS
- READ - THE READING AGENCY
- UNITED KINGDOM & EUROPE WORLD LITERACY FOUNDATION
- WORLD BOOK DAY LIMITED
- WORLDWRITE
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WORLDREADER | £100k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE READER ORGANISATION | £4.6m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| SCHOOLREADERS | £940k | more than £60,000 | 1 | within | — | no doubt |
| READ - THE READING AGENCY | £2.8m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| UNITED KINGDOM & EUROPE WORLD LITERACY FOUNDATION | £229k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| WORLD BOOK DAY LIMITED | £1.3m | — | — | below | 12.6% | no doubt |