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The Literacy Project

EIN 20-5485155 · Mount Rainier, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE PROMOTE THAT LITERACY IS POSSIBLE FOR ALL, THROUGH MULTIMEDIA ORAL HISTORY AND DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS THAT ARCHIVE AND SHARE STORIES OF LITERACY, EMPHASIZING THE ROLES OF LITERACY PROGRAMS IN SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAS.

Income
$332,958
Spending
$272,607
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$48,000, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 90% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $193,656 spent. IN 2024, THE LITERACY PROJECT ADVANCED RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT DOCUMENTARY FILMS, FOR WHICH WE CONTRACTED WITH MULTIPLE FILM PROFESSIONALS IN DIVERSE CAPACITIES AND GEOGRAPHIES. WE FINISHED A 26-MINUTE DOCUMENTARY FILM IN BRAZIL CALLED SEMEAR & CONCIENTIZAR AND ANOTHER 13 MINUTE VIDEO ART PIECE CALLED KAREN HAMPTON: TIME TRAVELER WHICH HAVE BOTH NOW BEEN MADE PUBLIC AND WILL GO TO SOME KEY ACADEMIC CONFERENCES. WE MADE TRIPS TO LOS ANGELES TO WORK ON THE MENDEZ ET AL DOCUMENTARY AND ADVANCED THE EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE EARLY WORK OF PAULO FREIRE, CURRENTLY TITLED READING THE WORLD. WHICH WILL THEN GO OUT ON THE FILM FESTIVAL CIRCUIT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND HEAD TO UNIVERSITY SCREENINGS. OUR WORK LIFTS UP THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO ARE TEACHING LITERACY TO OTHERS OR ARE STRUGGLING TO ACHIEVE LITERACY THEMSELVES. WE USE DOCUMENTARY STORYTELLING TO CONNECT WITH AND STRENGTHEN PRESENT-DAY MOVEMENTS FOR LITERACY AND EDUCATION JUSTICE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 2020.

    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.