Beyond Literacy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BEYOND LITERACY'S MISSION IS TO UNLEASH THE POWER OF LITERACY TO IMPROVE LIVES. THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF LITERACY SERVICES, INCLUDING READING, WRITING, MATH, LIFE, TECHNOLOGY, AND WORK SKILLS, BEYOND LITERACY HELPS A DIVERSE POPULATION OF LEARNERS MEET THEIR NEEDS AND ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL AND EMPLOYMENT-RELATED GOALS.
- Income
- $5.8 million
- Spending
- $6.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 4.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 78%
- Employees
- 83
- Volunteers
- 109
- Highest pay
- $172,825, 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: 64 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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.
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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)
- $5.5 million spent. ADULT EDUCATION: BEYOND LITERACY'S ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES IMPROVE THE LITERACY AND WORKFORCE SKILLS OF OUR LEARNERS. LEARNERS ARE PROVIDED COUNSELING AND CASE MANAGEMENT THAT HELP THEM REDUCE OR ELIMINATE BARRIERS, AND TRANSITION TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND/OR EMPLOYMENT.
- ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE: BEYOND LITERACY HOLDS ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) CLASSES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGHOUT PHILADELPHIA. THE PROGRAM INCORPORATES TECHNOLOGY AND OFFERS MULTIPLE LEVELS OF BASIC ENGLISH AND CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION, AS WELL AS ENGLISH FOR WORK AND ENGLISH FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.
- FAMILY LITERACY: BEYOND LITERACY PARTNERS WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN PHILADELPHIA TO PROVIDE FAMILY LITERACY ENGLISH AS SECOND LANGUAGE SERVICES TO IMMIGRANT PARENTS OF CHILDREN ATTENDING THE SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION TO TEACHING THE PARENT ENGLISH, THESE SERVICES HELP PARENTS COMMUNICATE WITH THE SCHOOL AND SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S LEARNING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. THE PROGRAM ALSO FACILITATES A TIME EACH WEEK FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO LEARN TOGETHER. THE LEARNING OF TECHNOLOGY, SELF-MANAGEMENT, PROBLEM SOLVING, INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS, DECISION MAKING, LIFELONG LEARNING SKILLS, HEALTH AND FINANCIAL LITERACY ARE INCLUDED IN ALL OF THE ABOVE PROGRAMS.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1969.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.