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Literacy Source

EIN 91-2101208 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LITERACY SOURCE PROVIDES ACCESSIBLE, HIGH-QUALITY FOUNDATIONAL EDUCATION FOR ADULTS TO CREATE LASTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. OUR VISION IS THAT ALL ADULTS IN KING COUNTY HAVE LITERACY SKILLS TO CREATE GENERATIONAL CHANGE.LITERACY SOURCE SERVES LOW-INCOME, UNIQUE-NEEDS STUDENTS WHO MAY NEED MORE FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING, INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION, AND/OR ONGOING SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO SUCCEED. ALTHOUGH WE PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF ADULT BASIC EDUCATION CLASSES, FROM BEGINNING LITERACY TO ENGLISH AND MATH THROUGH GED, OUR NICHE IS PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE, LEARNER-CENTERED INSTRUCTION TO ADULTS (AGES 18-90) WITH LITTLE FORMAL EDUCATION IN THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE. WE ALSO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN GETTING THEIR CITIZENSHIP. OUR STUDENT POPULATION IS DIVERSE, REPRESENTING OVER 50 COUNTRIES AND 60 DIFFERENT NATIVE LANGUAGES.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
29
Volunteers
148
Highest pay
$87,309, co-exec director

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    9 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, 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 (3)
  1. $896,693 spent. LAKE CITY LEARNING CENTER ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AND SUPPORT: SMALL GROUP CLASSES AND ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE, CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION, READING, WRITING , MATH, GED COMPLETION AND COMPUTER SKILLS INSTRUCTION PROVIDED BY STAFF AND TRAINED VOLUNTEERS FOR LOW-LITERACY ADULTS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN PREPARATION FOR FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND WORK RESPONSIBILITIES. OUR LEARNERS RANGE IN AGE FROM 19-89, SPEAK 63 LANGUAGES AND REPRESENT 58 NATIONS. OUR STUDENTS FACE GREAT CHALLENGES AND STRIVE FOR SUCCESS AGAINST TREMENDOUS ODDS, BUT ALL SHARE ONE COMMON ELEMENT - THE DESIRE TO LEARN, TO ACHIEVE AND TO LIVE A BETTER LIFE.
  2. $223,777 spent. COMMUNITY CLASSES: IN ADDITIONAL TO OFFERING CLASSES AT OUR MAIN LEARNING CENTER IN LAKE CITY, WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION AT A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING:- READY TO WORK SOUTH: LITERACY SOURCE PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND ASIAN COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICE TO PROVIDE TWO ESOL CLASSES FOCUSED ON WORK READINESS IN SEATTLE'S RAINIER VALLEY.- READY TO WORK WEST: LITERACY SOURCE PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE HIGH POINT TO PROVIDE AN ESOL CLASS FOCUSED ON WORK READINESS IN WEST SEATTLE.- LIBRARY TALK TIMES: LITERACY SOURCE PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO OFFER CONVERSATION CLASSES ON A DROP-IN BASIS AT 3 DIFFERENT LIBRARIES IN SEATTLE.
  3. $105,170 spent. WORKPLACE CLASSES: LITERACY SOURCE PARTNERS WITH EMPLOYERS AND UNIONS TO PROVIDE ON-SITE CONTEXTUALIZED CLASSES THAT FOCUS ON HELPING EMPLOYEES WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND/OR DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED AND ADVANCE IN THE WORKPLACE.

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 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 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 April 2002.

    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.