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Literacy Pittsburgh

EIN 25-1392652 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LITERACY PITTSBURGH'S MISSION IS BETTER LIVES THROUGH LEARNING.

Income
$8.3 million
Spending
$7.2 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 57%
Employees
107
Volunteers
798
Highest pay
$189,974, 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% 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 25

    24 of 24 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 (4)
  1. $4.9 million spent. ADULT BASIC EDUCATION - IN FISCAL 2025, LITERACY PITTSBURGH VOLUNTEERS AND PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTORS HELPED 3,144 INDIVIDUALS BECOME READY AND RELEVANT FOR THE WORKFORCE. BY IMPROVING READING, WRITING OR MATH SKILLS, EARNING A HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL OR LEARNING ENGLISH, STUDENTS CAN SECURE JOBS, EARN PROMOTIONS, AND GO ON TO COLLEGE AND JOB TRAINING. AS A RESULT, THEY CREATE SECURITY AND STABILITY FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
  2. $902,347 spent. OASIS INTERGENERATIONAL TUTORING OPERATING IN FIVE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OASIS INTERGENERATIONAL TUTORING PAIRS ADULTS AGED 50 AND OVER WITH HIGH-NEED CHILDREN IN GRADES K-4. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, 156 CHILDREN RECEIVED WEEKLY TUTORING AIMED AT IMPROVING READING SKILLS AND BOOSTING CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM.
  3. $160,391 spent. COMPASS AMERICORPS - MEMBERS OF COMPASS AMERICORPS, A PENNSERVE PROGRAM MANAGED BY LITERACY PITTSBURGH, STRENGTHEN AREA NONPROFITS BY PROVIDING FULL-TIME SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION TO NEWLY RESETTLED REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS AND INTERNATIONAL POPULATIONS. MEMBERS SERVE IN ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT PITTSBURGH, PLAN SERVICE PROJECTS AND ENGAGE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, MEMBERS PROVIDED 11,417 HOURS OF SERVICE TO 623 CLIENTS.
  4. $217,631 spent. OTHER - FAMILY LITERACY THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM COMBINES ADULT LITERACY CLASSES AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, 154 CHILDREN AND ADULTS PARTICIPATED. PARENTS STUDY FOR THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL, LEARN ENGLISH OR PREPARE FOR U.S. CITIZENSHIP WHILE CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN LEARNING ACTIVITIES. FAMILY LITERACY IS GROUNDED IN THE BELIEF THAT A PARENT IS A CHILD'S FIRST AND BEST TEACHER. PARENTS ALSO LEARN ABOUT NUTRITION, BUDGETING, AMERICAN CULTURE, WORKPLACE SKILLS, HEALTHY LIVING, AND OF COURSE, HOW TO PROMOTE LITERACY AND LEARNING IN THE HOME.

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 November 6, 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 1981.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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