The Literacy Project Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 14% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
IN EACH SCHOOL WE PARTNER WITH A GROUP OF SIX STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT TO READ IN 30 LESSONS USING A GAME FORMAT. THE PROGRAM IS ADMIMISTERED BY A MASTER TEACHER WHO FOCUSES ON FIVE ESSENTIAL READING COMPONENTS: PHONEMIC AWARENESS, PHONICS, FLUENCY, VOCABULARY, AND COMPREHENSION. THE GAME FORMAT IS HIGHLY ENGAGING, FUN, AND EFFECTIVE, USING THREE LEARNING MODALITIES - AUDITORY, VISUAL, AND TACTILE. THE CURRICULUM ALIGNS WITH STATE STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES IN READING INSTRUCTION TO ACHIEVE STUDENT LITERACY.FOUNDED IN 2009, THE LITERACY PROJECT (TLP) HAS HELPED MORE THAN 10,000 STRUGGLING READERS IMPROVE THEIR PHONETIC SKILLS AND BECOME MORE SELF-CONFIDENT, LEADING TO GRADE-LEVEL READING. THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, WE ASSESS STUDENTS TO MONITOR THEIR PROGRESS. IN THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR, 85% OF ALL TLP STUDENTS MET OR EXCEEDED THEIR PRIMARY END-OF-YEAR GROWTH GOAL. DURING THE PAST YEAR, READING PROGRAMS HAVE EXPANDED FROM CALIFORNIA TO UTAH AND ARIZONA.
- Income
- $400,656
- Spending
- $297,204
- Spent on programs
- 14%
- Reserves
- 34.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 60
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 34.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1514% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2024, 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 (1)
- $42,856 spent. THROUGH PRE- AND POST-TESTING, BOTH ACADEMIC AND ATTITUDINAL, THE LITERACY PROJECT PROGRAM PROVES SIGNIFICANT, MEASURABLE GAINS IN PHONICS, WORD DECODING, WORD IDENTIFICATION, ENGLISH FLUENCY, AND READING, WHICH INCREASES SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE IN READING SKILLS. A NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ASSESSMENT METHOD IS USED FOR THE PRE- AND POST-TESTING OF ATTITUDES.THE ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S (OCDE), EVALUATION, DATA, AND ASSESSMENT CENTER (EDAC) REVIEWED THE PROGRAM INDEPENDENTLY IN 2012. THE DATA CONCLUDED THAT "TESTED STUDENTS BEGAN THE PROGRAM WITH LOWER READING SKILLS THAN THE COMPARISON GROUP AND TESTED SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN NON-PARTICIPATING PEERS." iT WAS CONSISTENTLY FOUND THAT PARTICIPATING STUDENTS OUTPERFORMED THEIR NON-PARTICIPATING PEERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR GRADE, AGE, OR SCHOOL. AS A RESULT, STUDENTS IMPROVED BY THREE-FOURTHS OF A GRADE LEVEL OR SEVEN MONTHS OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.PARTICIPANTS BEGAN THE PROGRAM WITH READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS BELOW 25% OF THEIR NON-PARTICIPATING PEERS. PARTICIPANTS' PHONETIC SKILLS INCREASED BY AN AVERAGE OF 76%, AND THEIR READING PROFICIENCY WAS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THEIR PEERS, WHICH MEANS TPL'S PROGRAM SUCCEEDED IN "BRIDGING THEIR LITERACY GAP." COMPARED TO THEIR PEERS, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT. IN SOME CASES, STUDIES SHOW THAT THE PARTICIPANT OUTSCORED THE CONTROL GROUP (NON PARTICIPATING PEERS) BY AS MUCH AS 129%.THE POST PROGRAM ATTITUDINAL SURVEY REVEALED SIGNIFICANT MEASURABLE RESULTS, INCLUDING OVER: 80% REPORTED THAT READING WAS MORE ENJOYABLE 80% FELT THEY HAD BECOME BETTER READERS 60% LIKED SCHOOL MORE 70% FELT THEIR GRADES WERE IMPROVING 75% REPORTED THAT READING BETTER MADE SCHOOL MORE FUN
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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 2024.
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 March 1990.
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.