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Kalamazoo Literacy Council

EIN 38-3252735 · Kalamazoo, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE KALAMAZOO LITERACY COUNCIL (KLC) IS A 501 (C) (3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO ENHANCING THE LIVES OF ADULTS BY IMPROVING THEIR READING, WRITING, SPELLING AND COMPREHENSION SKILLS. THE KLC WAS FOUNDED IN 1974 AND IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN KALAMAZOO COUNTY WITH THE EXCLUSIVE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FREE BASIC LITERACY INSTRUCTION TO ADULTS. FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN THE LEADING VOICE FOR THE CAUSE OF ADULT LITERACY, MOBILIZING AND TRAINING VOLUNTEER TUTORS TO TEACH STRUGGLING ADULT READERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
12 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
12
Volunteers
173

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    14 of 14 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.

  • 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 December 31, 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)
  1. $809,720 spent. ADULT TUTORING PROGRAM: THE KLC OFFERS FREE LITERACY TUTORING AND FREE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO ADULTS WHO HAVE BEEN EVALUATED BY THE KLC. THE ORGANIZATION ADMINISTERS ASSESSMENTS TO DETERMINE THE READING LEVEL OF STUDENTS. THE KLC THEN MATCHES A TRAINED TUTOR WITH AN ADULT STUDENT TO ENGAGE IN WEEKLY TWO-HOUR TUTORING SESSIONS. THE KLC ALSO ADMINISTERS PRE- AND POST-TESTS TO MEASURE PROGRESS TOWARD WORKFORCE, EDUCATIONAL AND PERSONAL GOALS. THE KLC PROVIDES TUTOR TRAINING FOR QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS IN THE LAUBACH METHOD. PRESENTLY, THE KLC RECRUITS, TRAINS AND EQUIPS VOLUNTEERS TO TUTOR ADULTS AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 173 ACTIVE TUTORS ASSISTING 453 ADULTS IN NEED OF LITERACY EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY WITH 111 OF THE TUTORS AND STUDENTS BEING PAIRED. THE TUTORS COMMIT TO 14-HOURS OF TRAINING AND A MINIMUM OF A YEAR OF SERVICE. THE COUNCIL PROVIDED FREE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND SERVICES TO 173 TUTORS AND 453 LEARNERS; AND HAS ESTABLISHED 15 LITERACY CENTERS IN AREA NON-PROFITS TO SERVE ADDITIONAL STUDENTS ALONG WITH A VIRTUAL LEARNING CENTER. ESL OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FOUR LEVELS OF ESL INSTRUCTION, INCLUDING LANGUAGE, SPEAKING, LISTENING, AND BASIC LITERACY. IT IS THE LARGEST ESL PROGRAM IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN, SERVING MORE THAN 150 LEARNERS FROM MORE THAN 45 COUNTRIES. ADULT LEARING ACTION NETWORK FOR THE LEARNING NETWORK OF GREATER KALAMAZOO: THIS NETWORK IS A GROUP OF NEARLY 30 ADULT EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL), LITERACY AGENCIES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT MEETS MONTHLY TO DETERMINE ADULT LITERACY PRIORITIES, IDENTIFY AND EXPAND RESOURCES, AND ALIGN SERVICES AND PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTY. IT HAS PROVIDED A COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR ADULT LITERACY SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN SEPTEMBER 2010 AND IS THE PRIMARY FORUM FOR SHAPING COMMUNITY-LEVEL GOALS FOR ADULT LITERACY IN KALAMAZOO COUNTY. THE KALAMAZOO LITERACY COUNCIL (KLC) SERVES AS ITS FACILITATING AGENCY. ADULT TUTORING PROGRAM: THE KLC OFFERS FREE LITERACY TUTORING AND FREE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO ADULTS WHO HAVE BEEN EVALUATED BY THE KLC. THE ORGANIZATION ADMINISTERS ASSESSMENTS TO DETERMINE THE READING LEVEL OF STUDENTS. THE KLC THEN MATCHES A TRAINED TUTOR WITH AN ADULT STUDENT TO ENGAGE IN WEEKLY TWO-HOUR TUTORING SESSIONS. THE KLC ALSO ADMINISTERS PRE- AND POST-TESTS TO MEASURE PROGRESS TOWARD WORKFORCE, EDUCATIONAL AND PERSONAL GOALS. THE KLC PROVIDES TUTOR TRAINING FOR QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS IN THE LAUBACH METHOD. PRESENTLY, THE KLC RECRUITS, TRAINS AND EQUIPS VOLUNTEERS TO TUTOR ADULTS AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 173 ACTIVE TUTORS ASSISTING 453 ADULTS IN NEED OF LITERACY EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY WITH 111 OF THE TUTORS AND STUDENTS BEING PAIRED. THE TUTORS COMMIT TO 14-HOURS OF TRAINING AND A MINIMUM OF A YEAR OF SERVICE. THE COUNCIL PROVIDED FREE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND SERVICES TO 173 TUTORS AND 453 LEARNERS; AND HAS ESTABLISHED 15 LITERACY CENTERS IN AREA NON-PROFITS TO SERVE ADDITIONAL STUDENTS ALONG WITH A VIRTUAL LEARNING CENTER. ESL OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FOUR LEVELS OF ESL INSTRUCTION, INCLUDING LANGUAGE, SPEAKING, LISTENING, AND BASIC LITERACY. IT IS THE LARGEST ESL PROGRAM IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN, SERVING MORE THAN 150 LEARNERS FROM MORE THAN 45 COUNTRIES. ADULT LEARING ACTION NETWORK FOR THE LEARNING NETWORK OF GREATER KALAMAZOO: THIS NETWORK IS A GROUP OF NEARLY 30 ADULT EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL), LITERACY AGENCIES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT MEETS MONTHLY TO DETERMINE ADULT LITERACY PRIORITIES, IDENTIFY AND EXPAND RESOURCES, AND ALIGN SERVICES AND PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTY. IT HAS PROVIDED A COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR ADULT LITERACY SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN SEPTEMBER 2010 AND IS THE PRIMARY FORUM FOR SHAPING COMMUNITY-LEVEL GOALS FOR ADULT LITERACY IN KALAMAZOO COUNTY. THE KALAMAZOO LITERACY COUNCIL (KLC) SERVES AS ITS FACILITATING AGENCY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 January 2007.

    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.

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.