LITERACY COUNCIL OF FREDERICK COUNTY MARYLAND
Literacy Lifts Lives
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
An estimated 25,000 Frederick County adults are at the lowest literacy level, at risk of being unable to read and understand even very short texts well enough to perform simple tasks. 29,000 speak English poorly or not at all. When such individuals increase their literacy or English-speaking skills, they qualify for better jobs, they are more effective parents, and they can in general lead more fulfilling lives. Their new skills also have a direct impact on the whole community, because a well-educated workforce attracts new high-quality employers; literate workers are usually employed in jobs with higher salaries, increasing the county tax base; and health, social and police services are less burdened. Perhaps most important, the children of literate parents tend to enjoy higher academic success, breaking the cycle of low literacy in families. Children whose parents have a low level of literacy are 72% more likely to be at the lowest reading level themselves.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
ESL (English as a Second Language)
People whose first language is other than English are taught to speak, read and write English through one-to-one tutoring and small group classes. Individual assistance is provided to meet goals such as citizenship and driver's license exam preparation, helping to access community services, support their children's education, getting a better job, and other everyday life skills.
Basic Literacy
Illiterate and semi-literate adults are taught to read and write through one-to-one tutoring. The program also offers help with GED preparation.
Workplace Literacy
Workplace classes are taught at the job site of small businesses who employ workers in low wage jobs for employees who want to improve job-related English communication. Lessons are customized in conjunction with each employer to meet the needs of their business and employees. These classes are taught by a paid ESL instructor, since the commitment and expertise required to adapt curriculum and teach classes with multiple levels of learners is too great for most volunteers.
Parent Literacy
This program, launched in 2018, is aimed at improving the literacy of parents with young children in six Title I schools. Parents are tutored or attend small classes right in the school that their child attends, helping to eliminate some of the barriers, such as child care and transportation, that they might encounter in accessing these services.
Where we work
Awards
Maryland Literacy Champion of the Year 2011
Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Ambassador of the Year Award 2021
Tourism Council of Frederick County, Visit Frederick program
Affiliations & memberships
ProLiteracy America 2014
ProLiteracy America 2015
ProLiteracy America 2016
ProLiteracy America 2017
ProLiteracy America 2018
ProLiteracy America 2019
ProLiteracy America 2020
ProLiteracy America 2021
Catalogue for Philanthropy - Greater Washington 2020
Catalogue for Philanthropy - Greater Washington 2021
ProLiteracy Ameria 2022
Catalogue for Philanthropy - Greater Washington 2022
Spur Local (Catalogue for Philanthropy-Greater Washington) 2023
ProLiteracy America 2023
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 clients participating in educational programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In FY2023, 357 adult learners participated in our programs, 95% of them ESL, and an additional 154 received other services. 178 volunteers gave 14,300+ hours to our programs.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn 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?
Our Strategic Plan for 2022 - 2025 includes the following goals:
1. Expand our presence in strategic areas of impact opportunity.
2. Widen our workforce footprint to include sectors/industries of high-impact potential.
3. Increase our presence and role in the bigger economic development arena and strategy.
4. Facilitate public understanding of the value of our mission amidst a complex social landscape.
The Literacy Council of Frederick County (the Literacy Council) was founded in 1963 to teach illiterate adults to read and non-English speaking adults to speak and read English. Our mission is provide Frederick County adults with pathways to essential literacy skills.
Our vision is Literacy Lifts Lives.
Theory of Change: Success for the individuals and families we seek to serve rests on a collective community approach that shapes a full path to a thriving life.
Core Values:
• Sustaining our organization through responsible financial stewardship, sound management, and
community engagement.
• Teaching a parent in order to educate a family.
• Educating our students in a learner-centered format with compassion, confidentiality, and respect.
• Producing a safer, healthier, economically stronger, and more vibrant community through adult literacy.
• Sustaining, empowering, and energizing a passionate, strong, dedicated volunteer base.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Strategic Plan includes these strategies:
1. Establish a community literacy coalition to engage key partners and stakeholders in the work.
2. Pursue formal partnership with Frederick County Public Schools in parent literacy.
3. Develop metrics competencies for case-making and support of economic development connection to literacy.
4. Expand partnership with tourism and hospitality sectors.
5. Pursue increased student volume in the workplace through targeted business development.
6. Establish 2-3 satellite sites for increased presence in strategically selected, hyper-local communities.
7. Grow number of students served with a shift in our business model weight from 1-1 tutoring to community classes.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Currently 178+ trained volunteers provide 350+ students with free literacy services yearly. Our
greatest resource is our volunteers tutors, office help, board members and tutor trainers. We have significantly increased staff capacity to manage our programs in the past two years. We now have four full-time staff, a Program Manager, Program Coordinator, Office/Program Administrator, and an Executive Director, and three part-time staff - a Workplace Coordinator, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Workplace Literacy Program, and Development Coordinator. We are supported primarily by local organizations, foundations, individuals and businesses. The county public library provides our facility.
Equally important is our board leadership. Our board members provide leadership, policy guidance, raise
funds and help to market our services. Board and ad hoc committees include: Executive, Governance, Finance,
Development/Communications, Program, Scrabble Fundraiser, Events, and Strategic Planning Committee.
We collaborate with Frederick County Public Libraries (FCPL), the Asian American Center, Centro Hispano, Spanish Speaking Community and other nonprofits to refer clients, and with Frederick Community College to refer students to each other based on student needs and student assessment results. We conduct classes to teach workplace English to hospitality and manufacturing workers and plan to expand to other industries. We
collaborate with Frederick County Public Schools(FCPS) to reach parents of young children in six Title I schools
who need literacy services. Our ED and volunteers spend significant time on outreach to build our capacity
and reach more adults in need of our services.
We also participate regularly in strategic community forums in order to ensure that our programs and
services are consistent with the future direction of Frederick County. This includes coordinating closely with
The Community Foundation, United Way, Frederick County and Frederick City economic development,
Workforce Services and FCPL. We are monitoring the impact and assessing service implications of the most recent Human Needs Assessment and ALICE reports, and the new Livable Frederick model. We are increasing our
outreach to additional partner organizations including the Seton Center, churches and FCPS schools to
discuss needs in under-served northern areas of the county. We are conducting Volunteer Information Sessions and tutor training workshops via Zoom which makes them accessible in all areas of the county. We are establishing or renewing referral contacts with the YMCA's Head Start Program, Goodwill, and Frederick Rescue Mission. Centro Hispano and Asian American Center have offered their facilities to us and we are getting the word out to tutors.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Our student count has grown 208%, from 116 in FY2011 to 357 in FY2023. Our volunteer count has grown 166%
from 69 in FY2011 to 178 in FY2023. Our student waiting list continues to grow. Our budget grew from $17,400 in FY2011 to $448,861 in FY2024 reflecting our growth in students, tutors and fundraising efforts. Hiring additional staff has greatly increased our efficiency and capacity to serve more people.
The Board has become more strategic supporting a committee structure for financial management,
development, governance, programs, planning and marketing.
We are now working with a local marketing firm which has greatly improved our communications.
Commitment to:
Become more financially sustainable by implementing our Fundraising & Sustainability Plan
Continue to increase tutor training capacity with shorter and more frequent training workshops supplemented with expanded online learning.
Continue to grow annual fundraiser which has now moved to a downtown distillery to draw a more
diverse and younger crowd. Our marketing firm colleagues are exploring innovative ideas to recruit more
teams
Establish planned giving strategies
Continue robust board recruitment
Expand Workplace and Parent Literacy initiatives
Continue to strengthen data collection to better measure progress and impact
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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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 strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting 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
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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.
LITERACY COUNCIL OF FREDERICK COUNTY MARYLAND
Board of directorsas of 02/06/2024
Lt. Col. U.S.M.C. (Ret.) Sharon Jacko
Retired, United States Marine Corps
Term: 2023 - 2024
Darrell Batson
Retired Director of Frederick County Public Libraries
Carmen Hernandez
Physician
Catherine Mock
Retired, health insurance industry
Michael Cohen
Retired school district administrator
Richard Holley, LTC/U.S.A.R. (Ret.)
Holy Cross Hospital
Erik Jones
Montgomery County Court Services
Carole Southam
Finance and Operations Consultant to NGOs
Peter Shuck
Software Developer/AvXtel LLC
Sakina Husain
Design, Room & Board, Former Teacher
Ginger Trautman
Plamondon Hospitality Partners Talent Manager
Graciela Zurita
Certified Community Health Worker, Frederick Health System
Geordie Wilson
Publisher, The Frederick News-Post
Cyndi McNamara
Accounting Finance Workforce Services Grants Management
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
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/19/2021GuideStar 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 disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- 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.