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Literacy Assistance Center

EIN 13-3179618 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE LITERACY ASSISTANCE CENTER (LAC) IS TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE ADULT EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND TO ADVANCE ADULT LITERACY AS A CORE VALUE IN OUR SOCIETY AND A FOUNDATION FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. SINCE 1983, THE LAC HAS BEEN WORKING TO BUILD THE CAPACITY AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE ADULT BASIC EDUCATION (ABE), ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL), AND HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY (HSE) PROGRAMS THAT SERVE NEW YORK'S MOST EDUCATIONALLY AND ECONOMICALLY MARGINALIZED ADULTS AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 89%
Employees
15
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$155,114, executive di

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

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 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 (4)
  1. $910,744 spent. LITERACY DATA SERVICES IN FY 2025, THE LAC COMPLETED THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF THE SECOND YEAR AND THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE THIRD YEAR OF ITS CY2023-2027 CONTRACT TO MANAGE AND MAINTAIN THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S (NYSED'S) ADULT STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT (ASISTS), THE ONLINE SYSTEM WHICH COLLECTS AND ANALYZES DATA ON APPROXIMATELY 80,000 ADULT LITERACY STUDENTS IN NEW YORK STATE EACH YEAR. ASISTS IS THE BACKBONE OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM EMPLOYED BY THE NYSED TO EVALUATE AND FUND OVER 130 ADULT LITERACY PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. IN ADDITION, AS PART OF THE LAC'S CONTRACT THROUGH THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL ADULT LITERACY PILOT PROJECT, THE LAC BUILT A NEW, ONLINE DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR ALL PARTICIPATING CITY COUNCIL PILOT-FUNDED ADULT LITERACY PROGRAMS. LITERACY DATA SERVICES IN FY 2025, THE LAC COMPLETED THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF THE SECOND YEAR AND THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE THIRD YEAR OF ITS CY2023-2027 CONTRACT TO MANAGE AND MAINTAIN THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S (NYSED'S) ADULT STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT (ASISTS), THE ONLINE SYSTEM WHICH COLLECTS AND ANALYZES DATA ON APPROXIMATELY 80,000 ADULT LITERACY STUDENTS IN NEW YORK STATE EACH YEAR. ASISTS IS THE BACKBONE OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM EMPLOYED BY THE NYSED TO EVALUATE AND FUND OVER 130 ADULT LITERACY PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. IN ADDITION, AS PART OF THE LAC'S CONTRACT THROUGH THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL ADULT LITERACY PILOT PROJECT, THE LAC BUILT A NEW, ONLINE DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR ALL PARTICIPATING CITY COUNCIL PILOT-FUNDED ADULT LITERACY PROGRAMS.
  2. $547,701 spent. RESOURCE CENTER IN FY 2025, THE LAC COMPLETED THE FOURTH YEAR OF SERVING AS THE COORDINATOR, DATA ANALYST, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER FOR THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL'S ADULT LITERACY PILOT PROJECT, WHICH FUNDS 42 COMMUNITY-BASED ADULT LITERACY PROGRAMS IN NYC. THE LAC SERVED AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE PROGRAMS, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT; COLLECTED AND ANALYZED DATA AND REPORTED ON IMPACTS AND OUTCOMES; PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO INSTRUCTORS IN PARTICIPATING PORGRAMS; AND COMPLETED A 10-MONTH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE FOR EMERGING ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM LEADERS IN NYC. IN FY 2025, THE LAC ALSO COMPLETED THE FIFTH YEAR OF A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT TO SERVE AS THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM AND POLICY TEAM'S SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER (STAC) FOR NEW YORK CITY. UNDER THE STAC, THE LAC PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 21 NYSED-FUNDED ADULT LITERACY EDUCATION (ALE) PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT NYC. RESOURCE CENTER IN FY 2025, THE LAC COMPLETED THE FOURTH YEAR OF SERVING AS THE COORDINATOR, DATA ANALYST, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER FOR THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL'S ADULT LITERACY PILOT PROJECT, WHICH FUNDS 42 COMMUNITY-BASED ADULT LITERACY PROGRAMS IN NYC. THE LAC SERVED AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE PROGRAMS, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT; COLLECTED AND ANALYZED DATA AND REPORTED ON IMPACTS AND OUTCOMES; PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO INSTRUCTORS IN PARTICIPATING PORGRAMS; AND COMPLETED A 10-MONTH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE FOR EMERGING ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM LEADERS IN NYC. IN FY 2025, THE LAC ALSO COMPLETED THE FIFTH YEAR OF A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT TO SERVE AS THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM AND POLICY TEAM'S SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER (STAC) FOR NEW YORK CITY. UNDER THE STAC, THE LAC PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 21 NYSED-FUNDED ADULT LITERACY EDUCATION (ALE) PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT NYC.
  3. $531,646 spent. EDUCATIONAL ENTERPRISES IN FY 2025, THE LAC COMPLETED THE SECOND YEAR OF ITS THREE TO SIX YEAR CONTRACT TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO OVER 90 COMMUNITY-BASED ADULT AND ADOLESCENT LITERACY PROGRAMS AND OVER 30 OUT-OF-SCHOOL AND IN-SCHOOL YOUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FUNDED THROUGH THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (DYCD). THE LAC ALSO CONTINUED TO OFFER TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES ON A FEE-FOR-SERVICES BASIS TO ADULT LITERACY, HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY, AND ADULT ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
  4. $114,311 spent. PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Source: Form 990 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1988.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.