Lasos
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide quality adult literacy classes including English as a second language, financial literacy, citizenship, at risk youth and family literacy programs as well as a network of service providers for the non-native English speaking community of Harford County.
- Income
- $527,404
- Spending
- $532,890
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 22
- Highest pay
- $62,540, executive dir.
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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 51% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (7)
- $296,700 spent. Youth Mentoring - this program is comprised of 5 sub-programs:Mentoring - students grade pre-K through 12, categorized as at-risk due to economic or academic reasons, come to a one-on-one tutoring session where they receive support from a certified teacher as well as an English-speaking school-age student. Students are encouraged to work on homework together and build a relationship of compassion and caring. Students in turn learn leadership, civil, and language skills. The secondary students are paired with adult mentors who monitor goal setting and successes. The purpose of this program is to provide the emotional, social, and educational needs of youth and children with their academic work, and to provide an atmosphere of support where all students can succeed. Summer Camp - in the summertime, students gather for a month-long summer camp that supports their academic gains, as well as introduces them to how they can be active in the community and how the community can be active in their life. The purpose of the program is to provide a safe environment for school aged students during the summer that supports their academic and social development. LASOS Butterfly Program - the girls in the LASOS Butterfly Program receive the academic and social/leadership support they need but seem to be locked between traditional familial expectations and those set by American society. By working with the girls from age 9 to 21 it is the design of the program to build a community of support for the girls as well as a bridge to allow them to toggle between their home culture and that of the USA while finding success. The Embrace Program - is a wrap-around service with the goal of strengthening family life, school life, and the personal life of the student. It focuses on the child and family unit working together in multiple sessions throughout the school year to address prevention, intervention, and diversion programs for at risk youth. The basic criteria include low academic level, high absentee rate (8+ absences), low student engagement, disruption in class, and issues at home or in the community. The program outcomes include significantly improved family communication, decreased drug use, increased school involvement academically, an increase in graduation rates, and a decrease in truancy and discipline referrals. The Engage program - was designed to meet the growing need of vision for at risk youth within Harford County. We strive to offer a clear, attainable pathway to help change the life trajectory of at-risk youth. Our program focus is directed towards those individuals who struggle with traditional schooling, and therefore lack the education to then go on and become self-sufficient adults. We engage the client by offering an alternative high school educational experience and internship placement.Susquehanna Workforce Network (SWN)- as part of the Engage program, designed to provide participants with the complex, but effective blend of education integrated with occupational skills training and support services, to prepare them for placement and retention in employment and post-secondary education with post-program support. The program strives to offer a clear, attainable pathway to help change the life trajectory of at-risk youth.DSCI - as part of the Engage program, LASOS serves as a service year opportunities for youth 18-24 to build professional skills.
- $56,757 spent. Network - LASOS works diligently to build a network of service providers to meet the needs of our constituency. By serving as a cultural liaison between the constituent and the service provider, our constituents are able to access services needed with little to no anxiety and frustration. We partner with local nonprofits, government agencies and school system to be able to serve the most at risk population in our community. In 2022, we provided more than 12,349 service referrals and 1,043 translation service referrals to our more than 19,000 members and 300 volunteers.
- $31,028 spent. Adult Literacy - this program consists of 4 sub-programs:Literacy Classes - LASOS offers literacy classes for technology and finances that are developed to level the playing field of those who have had structured experiences and those who have not. The math and reading literacy classes are designed to focus on the life and work skills associated with the subject areas that will support their attainment of enhanced job placement or naturalization. The other literacy classes are designed to aid in the process of professional and personal improvements. Citizenship Courses & Support - the program serves as resources for members in the community to receive help with filling out their applications and passing the naturalization test. We host a yearly free citizenship day with attorneys from AILA to complete applications. LASOS strives to support permanent residence as they strive to become US naturalized citizens.The ESOL Program is composed of four levels of English language proficiency and is focused on citizenship and life skills. Participants are placed in courses based on their English level and ability. The program is designed to reduce the language barrier that exists with immigrant adults and the English-speaking community, and has a focus on real life application at home, work, and leisure (the participants can use what is taught immediately), with an increase of civil and English skills participants can obtain a better quality of life both professionally and personally. The Getting Ahead Program - meets once a week for 16 weeks and benefits residents of Harford County in financial need. The program analyzes the current economic position of participants, provides participants with essential resources to improve their quality of life, and helps participants strategically plan out their next steps towards achieving financial stability using the resources and services available to them.
- $30,402 spent. ELC - this program provides programming and outreach about healthy lifestyles and value of taking care of oneself as well as provided a network of service providers for health Care providers and resources.
- $3,458 spent. Obesity - the Foundations in Health program consists of several components that provides participants with the tools they need to become healthy, successful adults. Through Healthy Habits Seminars, Physical Activities, casework and community outreach around healthy lifestyles.
- Building Blocks Family Literacy - these courses are designed for nonnative English-speaking parents to bring their 6 months to 5-year-old children that cannot yet attend public school to learn basic English, academic, and social skills.Weekly classes lead parents to teach their children numbers, letters, colors, seasons, etc. in English using finger plays, songs, and arts. Children gain social and academic skills while parents learn parenting skills that foster a productive learning environment for their child.There is currently no funding for this program and it is not an active program.
- Enrich Women's Group - this group is designed to support women in their quest to become self-sufficient and resilient. Sessions include seminars on financial literacy, budgeting, work place comparison, and employment practices with aptitude tests and practical workshops. The purpose of this program is to empower women to find their value and gain skills to better support themselves and their families.There is currently no funding for this program and it is not an active program.
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 November 6, 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 August 2009.
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 November 4, 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.