The Literacy Alliance Inc.
Literacy Changes Lives.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
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.
Project Build
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.
One-on-One Tutoring
The Literacy Alliance matches volunteer tutors with adult students who are struggling with the fundamentals of reading, writing, and speaking English.
Project Connect
Classes for adults that teach English language learning: reading, writing, speaking and listening. All classes are free and offer transportation assistance.
Project Reads
Pairs adult volunteer tutors with students in grades K-3 who need help reaching grade-level benchmarks. Tutoring occurs weekly throughout the school year.
Where we work
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber 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
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Literacy changes lives. Our mission is to empower people and strengthen community through education.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
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
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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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.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Case management notes,
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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,
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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.
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,
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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.
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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,
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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
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild 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 directorsas of 01/20/2023
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
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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
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
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 10/30/2020GuideStar 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
- 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.
- 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.