The Literacy Council of Lancaster- Lebanon Lva Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS SUCCESS THROUGH LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEARNING FOR LIFE. OUR VISION IS FOR ADULTS TO HAVE THE SKILLS TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES, SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILIES AND STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 4.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 53%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 65
- Highest pay
- $107,215, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 39% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $820,166 spent. SINCE 1985, THE LITERACY COUNCIL OF LANCASTER-LEBANON HAS PROVIDED FREE ADULT EDUCATION SERVICES TO MORE THAN 18,000 ADULTS IN LANCASTER AND LEBANON COUNTIES. THROUGH OUR LITERACY AND LEARNING SUCCESS CENTERS, LEARNERS BUILD ESSENTIAL SKILLS IN READING, WRITING, MATH, AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE, PREPARE FOR THE GED OR HISET HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY EXAMS, AND STRENGTHEN DIGITAL LITERACY AND COMPUTER SKILLS. WE ALSO OFFER CAREER PATHWAYS ADVISING, WORKPLACE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND SPECIALIZED MENTORING FOR INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SEEKING TO RE-ENTER THEIR CAREERS. INSTRUCTION IS DELIVERED THROUGH ONE-TO-ONE TUTORING, SMALL GROUPS, AND LARGER CLASSES-BOTH IN-PERSON AND ONLINE. BEFORE PLACEMENT, EACH LEARNER COMPLETES AN INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENT THAT INCLUDES ACADEMIC TESTING, GOAL SETTING, AND BARRIER IDENTIFICATION. BASED ON RESULTS, STUDENTS RECEIVE A PERSONALIZED LEARNING PLAN AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN AT LEAST SIX INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS WEEKLY, WITH OPTIONS FOR MORE INTENSIVE STUDY. PROGRESS IS MEASURED EVERY 50 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION. IN THE 2024-2025 PROGRAM YEAR, 558 ADULTS WERE SERVED. OF THESE, 387 RECEIVED MORE THAN 12 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION. AMONG STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR PRE- AND POST-TESTING, 67% ADVANCED AT LEAST ONE EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONING LEVEL-EQUIVALENT TO ONE TO TWO YEARS OF SCHOOLING. FIVE STUDENTS PASSED AT LEAST ONE GED SUBTEST, TWO EARNED A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA, SEVEN TRANSITIONED TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, AND FOUR BECAME U.S. CITIZENS. ADDITIONALLY, 85% OF LEARNERS WITH EMPLOYMENT GOALS ACHIEVED AN EMPLOYMENT OUTCOME. OUR SUCCESS CENTERS ARE VITAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, HELPING ADULTS GAIN THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR LIFE-SUSTAINING JOBS. SINCE 1985, THE LITERACY COUNCIL OF LANCASTER-LEBANON HAS PROVIDED FREE ADULT EDUCATION SERVICES TO MORE THAN 18,000 ADULTS IN LANCASTER AND LEBANON COUNTIES. THROUGH OUR LITERACY AND LEARNING SUCCESS CENTERS, LEARNERS BUILD ESSENTIAL SKILLS IN READING, WRITING, MATH, AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE, PREPARE FOR THE GED OR HISET HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY EXAMS, AND STRENGTHEN DIGITAL LITERACY AND COMPUTER SKILLS. WE ALSO OFFER CAREER PATHWAYS ADVISING, WORKPLACE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND SPECIALIZED MENTORING FOR INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SEEKING TO RE-ENTER THEIR CAREERS. INSTRUCTION IS DELIVERED THROUGH ONE-TO-ONE TUTORING, SMALL GROUPS, AND LARGER CLASSES-BOTH IN-PERSON AND ONLINE. BEFORE PLACEMENT, EACH LEARNER COMPLETES AN INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENT THAT INCLUDES ACADEMIC TESTING, GOAL SETTING, AND BARRIER IDENTIFICATION. BASED ON RESULTS, STUDENTS RECEIVE A PERSONALIZED LEARNING PLAN AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN AT LEAST SIX INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS WEEKLY, WITH OPTIONS FOR MORE INTENSIVE STUDY. PROGRESS IS MEASURED EVERY 50 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION. IN THE 2024-2025 PROGRAM YEAR, 558 ADULTS WERE SERVED. OF THESE, 387 RECEIVED MORE THAN 12 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION. AMONG STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR PRE- AND POST-TESTING, 67% ADVANCED AT LEAST ONE EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONING LEVEL-EQUIVALENT TO ONE TO TWO YEARS OF SCHOOLING. FIVE STUDENTS PASSED AT LEAST ONE GED SUBTEST, TWO EARNED A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA, SEVEN TRANSITIONED TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, AND FOUR BECAME U.S. CITIZENS. ADDITIONALLY, 85% OF LEARNERS WITH EMPLOYMENT GOALS ACHIEVED AN EMPLOYMENT OUTCOME. OUR SUCCESS CENTERS ARE VITAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, HELPING ADULTS GAIN THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR LIFE-SUSTAINING JOBS.
- $236,226 spent. THE LITERACY COUNCIL RELIES ON TRAINED VOLUNTEER TUTORS TO DELIVER ONE-TO- ONE AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION. IN 2024-2025, WE TRAINED 48 NEW TUTORS AND SUPPORTED 65 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS WHO CONTRIBUTED 6,275 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS. VOLUNTEERS COMPLETE AN APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND PRE- SERVICE TRAINING BEFORE BEING MATCHED WITH LEARNERS. OUR RESEARCH-BASED TRAINING MODEL INCLUDES ON-DEMAND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MONTHLY IN- SERVICE SESSIONS. TOPICS IN 2024-2025 INCLUDED LESSON PLANNING, ASSESSMENT, DIGITAL TOOLS, AND LEARNER-CENTERED INSTRUCTION. TUTORS ALSO RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT AS NEEDED AND HAVE ACCESS TO STATEWIDE TRAINING RESOURCES THROUGH THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
- $83,967 spent. THE LITERACY COUNCIL ADVANCES ITS VISION-THAT ALL ADULTS HAVE THE SKILLS TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES, SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILIES, AND STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES-THROUGH PUBLIC OUTREACH. WE MAINTAIN A WEBSITE, PUBLISH A TRIANNUAL NEWSLETTER, PRODUCE AN ANNUAL REPORT, AND ENGAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS INCLUDING FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND LINKEDIN. STAFF REGULARLY SPEAK AT SERVICE CLUBS SUCH AS ROTARY, KIWANIS, AND LIONS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT. OUTREACH EFFORTS ADVOCATE FOR ADULTS WITH LOW LITERACY AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ITS IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND THE COMMUNITY. IN LANCASTER AND LEBANON COUNTIES, NEARLY 70,000 WORKING-AGE ADULTS LACK A HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL, AND OVER 104,000 ADULTS STRUGGLE WITH BASIC READING AND MATH SKILLS-BARRIERS THAT LEAD TO LOW WAGES, HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND LIMITED CIVIC PARTICIPATION. OUR GOAL IS TO CONNECT THESE ADULTS WITH SERVICES AND INSPIRE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER AND DONATE. ADDITIONALLY, WE SERVE SELECTED ZIP CODES AS AN AFFILIATE OF DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY, PROVIDING ENROLLED CHILDREN WITH A FREE BOOK EACH MONTH UNTIL AGE FIVE. THE LITERACY COUNCIL ADVANCES ITS VISION-THAT ALL ADULTS HAVE THE SKILLS TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES, SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILIES, AND STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES-THROUGH PUBLIC OUTREACH. WE MAINTAIN A WEBSITE, PUBLISH A TRIANNUAL NEWSLETTER, PRODUCE AN ANNUAL REPORT, AND ENGAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS INCLUDING FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND LINKEDIN. STAFF REGULARLY SPEAK AT SERVICE CLUBS SUCH AS ROTARY, KIWANIS, AND LIONS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT. OUTREACH EFFORTS ADVOCATE FOR ADULTS WITH LOW LITERACY AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ITS IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND THE COMMUNITY. IN LANCASTER AND LEBANON COUNTIES, NEARLY 70,000 WORKING-AGE ADULTS LACK A HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL, AND OVER 104,000 ADULTS STRUGGLE WITH BASIC READING AND MATH SKILLS-BARRIERS THAT LEAD TO LOW WAGES, HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND LIMITED CIVIC PARTICIPATION. OUR GOAL IS TO CONNECT THESE ADULTS WITH SERVICES AND INSPIRE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER AND DONATE. ADDITIONALLY, WE SERVE SELECTED ZIP CODES AS AN AFFILIATE OF DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY, PROVIDING ENROLLED CHILDREN WITH A FREE BOOK EACH MONTH UNTIL AGE FIVE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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