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Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County

EIN 04-3244191 · Pittsfield, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY, INC. IS TO EMPOWER ADULTS IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY TO REALIZE THEIR GOALS AND BECOME STRONGER CONTRIBUTORS TO THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH LITERACY EDUCATION. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY RECRUITING, TRAINING AND SUPPORTING A DEDICATED GROUP OF VOLUNTEER TUTORS WHO PROVIDE FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION.

Income
$65,859
Spending
$62,907
Reserves
14.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Highest pay
$39,996, executive di

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $46,609 spent. BUILDING COMMUNITY. TRANSFORMING LIVES. SINCE 1980. FOR 45 YEARS, LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY (LVBC) HAVE BEEN A BEACON OF HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY PROVIDING FREE, INDIVIDUAL ENGLISH LITERACY INSTRUCTION TO ADULTS SEEKING TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES THROUGH LANGUAGE. FROM OUR HOME IN THE BERKSHIRE ATHENAEUM, WE PROUDLY SERVE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS THROUGH ESOL (ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES)AND ABE (ADULT BASIC EDUCATION)PROGRAMMING. WE ARE PROUD AFFILIATES OF LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF MASSACHUSETTS, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH 11 OTHER SITES ACROSS THE STATE. AT THE HEART OF OUR MISSION IS A DEDICATED NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER TUTORS. WE RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND SUPPORT THESE COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH STUDENTS EMPOWERING THEM TO SUCCEED AT WORK, NAVIGATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, PARTICIPATE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, AND CONTRIBUTE MORE FULLY TO THEIR COMMUNITY. IN JUST THE PAST THREE YEARS, WE DOUBLED THE NUMER OF ACTIVE STUDENT-TUTOR PAIRS. DURING FY25, LVBC PROUDLY CELEBRATED ITS 45TH YEAR AT THE BERKSHIRE ATHENAEUM, PITTSFIELD'S PUBLIC LIBRARY. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, AND PERSONALIZED ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION. IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING LEARNERS, WE OFFER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND FREE TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF MASSACHUSETTS (LVM) CERTIFICATION IN ESOL (ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES) AND ABL (ADULT BASIC LITERACY). THIS YEAR, OUR PROGRAM SERVED 30% MORE STUDENTS AND HAS EXPANDED ITS CAPACITY TO GROW EVEN FURTHER. WE HAVE ENHANCED OUR BERKSHIRE GAS TUTOR RESOURCE CENTER AND ADDED A DEDICATED TUTOR SUPPORT SPECIALIST TO ASSIST TUTORS WITH LESSON PLANNING. TO STRENGTHEN STUDENT OUTREACH, OUR OFFICE NOW EMPLOYS TWO BILINGUAL STAFF MEMBERS. WITH THREE LVBC TRAINING SESSIONS SCHEDULED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, TWO IN PITTSFIELD AND ONE IN WILLIAMSTOWN, WE ARE NOW ON TRACK TO SUPPORT EVEN MORE STUDENTS AND TUTORS.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.