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Seeds of Literacy

EIN 20-0884284 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEEDS OF LITERACY PROVIDES PERSONAL EDUCATION THAT EMPOWERS ADULTS TO SUCCEED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
38
Volunteers
376
Highest pay
$133,073, president & ceo

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 29 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 (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. SEEDS OF LITERACY PROVIDES FREE BASIC EDUCATION AND GED PREPARATION FOR ADULTS IN GREATER CLEVELAND. WITH A FLEXIBLE ONE-TO-ONE TUTORING MODEL SUPPORTED BY NEARLY 400 TRAINED VOLUNTEER TUTORS, STUDENTS RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION TAILORED TO THEIR ACADEMIC LEVEL AND PACE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, SEEDS EDUCATED 1,599 ADULT STUDENTS. AMONG THESE STUDENTS, 140 EARNED THEIR GED AND 270 PASSED AT LEAST ONE SECTION OF THE GED EXAM, DEMONSTRATING MEASURABLE PROGRESS TOWARD COMPLETION. NEARLY 60% OF INCOMING STUDENTS READ AT OR BELOW A 5TH-GRADE LEVEL, UNDERSCORING THE CRITICAL NEED FOR PERSONALIZED INSTRUCTION AND SUSTAINED SUPPORT. HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS ACHIEVE MEASURABLE ACADEMIC GAINS IN SEEDS' CLASSROOMS EACH YEAR. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)BEYOND ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, SEEDS HELPS STUDENTS TAKE THE NEXT STEP AFTER EARNING A GED. IN FY25, 177 STUDENTS RECEIVED INDIVIDUALIZED GUIDANCE RELATED TO CAREER EXPLORATION, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS. AS A RESULT, 22 ENROLLED IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, 15 ENTERED TRAINING OR CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, 45 SECURED EMPLOYMENT, AND MANY OTHERS CONNECTED WITH WORKFORCE PARTNERS OR RECEIVED ASSISTANCE ACCESSING FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS. THROUGH THIS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, SEEDS HELPS ADULTS EARN A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY CREDENTIAL AND PURSUE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND STABILITY.

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 March 2005.

    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.