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Literacy Connects

EIN 23-7047508 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONNECTING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH LITERACY AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
52
Volunteers
482
Highest pay
$139,236, 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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

    17 of 17 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 (5)
  1. $982,907 spent. THE ADULT AND WORKFORCE EDUCATION PROGRAM LITERACY CONNECTS TRAIN AND SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS TO TUTOR ADULT STUDENTS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION, BASIC LITERACY, DIGITAL SKILLS, HIGH-SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY CERTIFICATION ATTAINMENT, WORKPLACE READINESS, AND CAREER PROMOTIONS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, 354 VOLUNTEERS GAVE MORE THAN 46,672 HOURS TO INSTRUCT 3,532 ADULT LEARNERS, AT NO CHARGE TO THE LEARNERS, IN CLASSES AND THROUGH 1:1 TUTORING FACILITATED VIA ZOOM AND IN PERSON.
  2. $614,317 spent. STORIES THAT SOAR IS A LITERACY AND ARTS INTEGRATION PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES WRITING, COLLABORATION, AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION THROUGH INTERACTIVE PROFESSIONAL THEATRE, IN-SCHOOL AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL K-12 PROGRAMMING, AND EDUCATOR TRAINING WORKSHOPS. PROGRAMMING IS DELIVERED THROUGH DIRECT SERVICE AND VIA THE LICENSING OF COPYWRITTEN CURRICULUM. THIS FISCAL YEAR, 6,944 CHILDREN AND 699 EDUCATORS WERE IMPACTED THROUGH STORIES THAT SOAR.
  3. $491,453 spent. LITERACY CONNECTS' READING SEED IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM THAT HELPS KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 2ND GRADERS ADVANCE THEIR ASSESSED LITERACY SKILLS THROUGH ONCE A WEEK, ONE-TO-ONE, COACHING FROM TRAINED VOLUNTEERS FOR A MINIMUM OF 16 WEEKS. AT EACH SESSION, STUDENTS SELECT A FREE, HIGH-QUALITY BOOK TO BUILD THEIR HOME LIBRARIES. READING SEED OPERATES THREE MODELS: "REFERRAL" FOR STUDENTS WITH HIGHEST NEED, THE "LOOP" WHERE STUDENTS ARE MATCHED WITH THEIR COACH FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS, AND "CTE" WHERE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH CAREER INTERESTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ARE TRAINED AS COACHES. DATA ON THE "LOOP" SHOWS STUDENTS WITH TWO YEARS OF READING SEED ARE TWICE AS LIKELY AS THEIR NON-READING SEED COUNTERPARTS TO REACH 3RD GRADE READING PROFICIENCY. THIS FISCAL YEAR, 279 VOLUNTEERS WORKED WITH 867 STUDENTS. 21,133 FREE BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED. LITERACY CONNECTS' READING SEED IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM THAT HELPS KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 2ND GRADERS ADVANCE THEIR ASSESSED LITERACY SKILLS THROUGH ONCE A WEEK, ONE-TO-ONE, COACHING FROM TRAINED VOLUNTEERS FOR A MINIMUM OF 16 WEEKS. AT EACH SESSION, STUDENTS SELECT A FREE, HIGH-QUALITY BOOK TO BUILD THEIR HOME LIBRARIES. READING SEED OPERATES THREE MODELS: "REFERRAL" FOR STUDENTS WITH HIGHEST NEED, THE "LOOP" WHERE STUDENTS ARE MATCHED WITH THEIR COACH FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS, AND "CTE" WHERE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH CAREER INTERESTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ARE TRAINED AS COACHES. DATA ON THE "LOOP" SHOWS STUDENTS WITH TWO YEARS OF READING SEED ARE TWICE AS LIKELY AS THEIR NON-READING SEED COUNTERPARTS TO REACH 3RD GRADE READING PROFICIENCY. THIS FISCAL YEAR, 279 VOLUNTEERS WORKED WITH 867 STUDENTS. 21,133 FREE BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED.
  4. $368,590 spent. REACH OUT AND READ SOUTHERN ARIZONA (RORSA) PROMOTES HEALTHY BRAIN GROWTH, POSITIVE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND SCHOOL READINESS BY GIVING FAMILIES RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TO MAKE READING ALOUD PART OF THEIR DAILY ROUTINE. BY INTEGRATING READING INTO PEDIATRIC PRACTICES, RQRSA PARTNERS WITH DOCTORS IN 58 CLINICS, REACHING 85,710 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO FIVE.
  5. REACH OUT AND READ SOUTHERN ARIZONA (RORSA) PROMOTES HEALTHY BRAIN GROWTH, POSITIVE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND SCHOOL READINESS BY GIVING FAMILIES RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TO MAKE READING ALOUD PART OF THEIR DAILY ROUTINE. BY INTEGRATING READING INTO PEDIATRIC PRACTICES, RQRSA PARTNERS WITH DOCTORS IN 58 CLINICS, REACHING 85,710 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 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

  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 December 1969.

    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.

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