PLATINUM2023

The Literacy Alliance Inc.

Literacy Changes Lives.

aka The Literacy Alliance   |   Fort Wayne, IN   |  www.literacyalliance.org

Mission

Literacy changes lives. Our mission is to empower people and strengthen community through education.

Notes from the nonprofit

We primarily serve low income families and adults and do not charge fees for our services. We rely on the generosity of our community for financial support.

Ruling year info

1977

Chief Executive Officer

Melinda Haines

Main address

1005 W Rudisill Blvd Ste 307

Fort Wayne, IN 46807 USA

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Formerly known as

Three Rivers Literacy Alliance

EIN

35-1710780

NTEE code info

Adult, Continuing Education (B60)

Human Service Organizations (P20)

Human Service Organizations (P20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Project Graduate

Our learning centers provide a structured, yet personal, place for adults who are preparing to take the high school equivalency exam or looking to achieve other educational goals. Adults (age 18 and older) develop individualized study plans after taking an initial assessment. Classes include independent study, small group lessons, and teacher-directed activities for the class. Computers are available in all classrooms. Classes meet in community centers, churches, or other convenient locations for students. All classes are free and offer transportation assistance.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Economically disadvantaged people
Immigrants and migrants
Unemployed people

Adults work with computers and receive individualized attention, using online resources to gain computer skills and improve basic academic skills. Adults who test below the sixth grade level begin with small groups. Some adults then progress into Learning Centers and work toward their high school equivalency diploma. All classes are free and offer transportation assistance.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Unemployed people
Immigrants and migrants
Economically disadvantaged people

The Literacy Alliance matches volunteer tutors with adult students who are struggling with the fundamentals of reading, writing, and speaking English.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Classes for adults that teach English language learning: reading, writing, speaking and listening. All classes are free and offer transportation assistance.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Immigrants and migrants

Pairs adult volunteer tutors with students in grades K-3 who need help reaching grade-level benchmarks. Tutoring occurs weekly throughout the school year.

Population(s) Served
Children
Low-income people
Working poor
Immigrants and migrants

Where we work

External assessments

Evaluated via the Impact Genome Project (2019)

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of adults who received literacy services

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults, Economically disadvantaged people, Immigrants and migrants

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of students who demonstrate improved overall literacy

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults, Economically disadvantaged people, Immigrants and migrants

Related Program

Project Graduate

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

The outcomes TLA expects to achieve are academic gains. Success targets: 67% will make gains. Results shown in percentages.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Literacy changes lives. Our mission is to empower people and strengthen community through education.

The Literacy Alliance offers free programs in the community:
• Project Build – previously pre-HSE – Adult Basic Literacy Program
• Project Graduate – previously HSE – High School Completion Program
• Project Connect – previously ELL – English Language Learners Program
• Project Aim – Corporate Training Program
• Project Reads – K-3 Reading Program

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    The Literacy Alliance serves adults who wish to improve their basic academic skills; the vast majority are living in poverty and seek employment or better employment. We also serve adults for whom English is not their native language. We also serve children in grades K-3 who are working toward reading grade-level reading goals.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Case management notes,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we were unable to hold graduation ceremonies with larger groups of people. We learned that the ceremony is meaningful to students, so we stocked each classroom with caps and gowns so that as soon as a student passes the HSE exam, we invite them back to have a simple recognition ceremony with their classmates. We have continued these "pop up" graduations due to their popularity with our students.

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,

  • How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?

    Asking for student stories and experiences is a powerful way for them to understand how they have benefitted from TLA's services and also an inspiration to others. It reminds us to always put students first.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We act on the feedback we receive,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback,

Financials

The Literacy Alliance Inc.
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

The Literacy Alliance Inc.

Board of directors
as of 01/20/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mr Corey Porter

Lincoln National Foundation

Term: 2022 - 2024

Marna Renteria

Raytheon

Tim Van Houten

Fort Wayne Metals

Corey Porter

Lincoln Financial Group

Michaela Baldwin

Blueprint Test Preparation

Ashley Miller

Northeast IN Regional Partnership

Tammy Allen

Northeast IN Innovation Center

Tracy Davis

Ivy Tech Community College

Kara Densmore

Old National Bank

Ron Duchovic

Retired Educator

Melinda Haines

CEO, The Literacy Alliance

Isabel Nunez

Purdue Fort Wayne

Zachary Barron

Barnes & Thornburg

Susan Baier

Allen County Public Library

Erin Nicolette

Lincoln Financial Group

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 11/22/2022
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 10/30/2020

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.