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Triangle Literacy Council Inc

EIN 56-1530150 · Cary, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak15 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE TRIANGLE LITERACY COUNCIL ADVANCES AND SUPPORTS ACADEMIC, ECONOMIC, AND LIFE SUCCESS FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS FACING BARRIERS TO SUCCESS THROUGH MULTI-FACETED LITERACY EDUCATION. WE BELIEVE THAT A FOUNDATION OF FUNCTIONAL LITERACY IS NECESSARY TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN SOCIETY, AND WE STRIVE TO HELP BUILD A WORLD IN WHICH FULFILLMENT OF INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL LEADS TO PERSONAL SATISFACTION AND ACHIEVEMENT, SUSTAINABLE INDEPENDENCE, AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY WELLNESS. WE PROVIDE LITERACY PROGRAMMING ACROSS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES INCLUDING YOUTH AND ADULTS INVOLVED WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, STUDENTS WHO ARE BEHIND IN SCHOOL, AND NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS WISHING TO LEARN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. WE OFFER TUTORING, INSTRUCTION, MENTORING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, CIVIC AND CULTURAL LITERACY, ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, GED PREPARATION, AND WORKPLACE LITERACY.

Income
$471,686
Spending
$719,868
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 93%
Employees
11
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$69,024, president/ceo

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

Weak: 15 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 53% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 97 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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. $608,304 spent. 1. FOR THE 2023-2024 YEAR, TRIANGLE LITERACY COUNCIL'S (TLC) ADULT PROGRAMS WORKED WITH APPROXIMATELY 130 STUDENTS. PARTICIPANTS WERE EITHER IN OUR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL), ADULT BASIC EDUCATION (ABE), AND/OR INTEGRATED ENGLISH LITERACY AND CIVICS EDUCATION (IELCE) CLASSES. IN OUR ESL CLASSES, NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE THROUGH LISTENING, READING, AND SPEAKING. IN ADDITION TO GETTING THE ESL COMPONENT, IELCE STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. OUR ABE STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THEIR MATH AND READING SKILLS. ADULT PROGRAMMING INCLUDES CURRICULA AND MODULES FOR ACQUISITION AND INCREASED PROFICIENCY IN READING, WRITING, MATH, SCIENCE, CONVERSATION, AND EVERYDAY LANGUAGE COMMUNICATION, ALONG WITH ACQUISITION OF THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND CONFIDENCE NEEDED TO FIND AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. 2. TLC'S YOUTH LITERACY PROGRAM WORKED WITH APPROXIMATELY 80 STUDENTS DURING THIS SAME TIME FRAME. STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH INSTRUCTORS OR TUTORS 1:1 OR IN A SMALL GROUP SETTING. THEY ALSO HAD THE OPTION FOR VIRTUAL OR FACE-TO-FACE SESSIONS. STUDENTS WERE TUTORED IN ANY AREA WHERE THERE WAS ACADEMIC CONCERN. ALL STUDENTS WERE ASSESSED IN READING AND MATH UPON INTAKE AND THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM TO MEASURE ACADEMIC GAINS. WE USE BOTH QUANTITATIVE DATA AND QUALITATIVE DATA TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF HOW OUR PROGRAM IS AFFECTING OUR PARTICIPANTS. STUDENT SURVEYS INDICATE THAT PARTICIPANTS FEEL THEIR CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE HAS IMPROVED THAT THEY FELT MORE CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. 3. FOR THE 2023-2024 YEAR, OUR BULL CITY YOUTHBUILD (BCYB) PROGRAM SERVED APPROXIMATELY 30 STUDENTS. STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE FOR AND OBTAIN THEIR GED AS WELL AS RECEIVE WORKFORCE READINESS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS. DURING THIS TIME, BCYB HAD A SUCCESSFUL RELAUNCH OF PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDED RECRUITMENT OF STUDENTS AND BUILDING A BASE OF VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

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

  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 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 April 1971.

    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.