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Durham Literacy Center Inc

EIN 56-1479534 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER DURHAM COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILIES BY IMPROVING THEIR LITERACY SKILLS.

Income
$608,466
Spending
$879,668
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
-7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
16
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$85,575, executive director (through dec)

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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. $211,807 spent. THE YOUTH EDUCATION AND ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY PROGRAM IS A RIGOROUS, LEARNER-CENTERED ACADEMIC TRAINING, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INTEGRATED CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY DESINGED TO ASSIST OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH AGED 16-24. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOUTH ATTAIN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMAS AND/OR IMPROVE BASIC EDUCATIONAL AND LITERACY SKILLS. THIS PROGRAM IS ALSO FOCUSED ON PROVIDING YOUTH THE KNOWLEDGE, MOTIVATION AND SKILLS NECESSARY TO ADVANCE THEIR LIVES AND CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THE COMMUNITY.
  2. $167,555 spent. THE ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM IS A STUDENT-CENTERED FUNCTIONAL LITERACY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO EQUIP ADULTS WITH READING AND WRITING SKILLS THAT EMPOWER THEIR PARTICIPATION WITH THEIR FAMILIES, WORK PLACE, AND LARGER COMMUNITY.
  3. $236,935 spent. THE ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL) PROGRAM FUNCTIONS TO EQUIP ADULT IMMIGRANTS AND NON-NATIVE INDIVIDUALS WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON REAL WORLD SKILLS SUCH AS OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT, PARTICIPATING IN CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, AND OBTAINING ADEQUATE HOUSING.
  4. ALL OTHER LITERACY-RELATED ACTIVITIES INCLUDING AN ADULT GED PROGRAM AND TUTOR TRAINING.

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 June 1986.

    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.

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.