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LITERACY NASSAU INC
WANTAGH, NY · EIN 237409756 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B60 · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · literacynassau.org
revenue
$1.0M
expenses
$972K
net assets
$633K
employees
6
program ratio
97%
mission · from form 990

LITERACY NASSAU IS A LONG ISLAND-BASED NOT-FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT MAKES LITERACY SERVICES ACCESSIBLE TO DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS OF ALL AGES BY PROVIDING DONATION-BASED LANGUAGE-BUILDING PROGRAMS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Literacy Nassau is a Long Island-based nonprofit that provides donation-based literacy programs for disadvantaged populations of all ages. It offers Orton-Gillingham tutoring for children with dyslexia, English language and citizenship classes for adults, and specialized programs like book and writing clubs for adults with developmental disabilities. Services are delivered through trained educators and volunteers at its Wantagh, NY center and partner locations.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Adult English Language Classes
Curriculum-based survival English courses for beginner English language learners, taught by staff and held from September to June, meeting six hours per week
Basic Literacy Learners Program
Phonics-based small group instruction using the Orton-Gillingham approach for adults with reading, writing, and comprehension difficulties
Citizenship Classes
Instruction for adults preparing for the U.S. naturalization interview
Jot It Down Writing Clubs
Weekly writing groups for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, guided by volunteers to encourage creative expression and community engagement
Next Chapter Book Clubs
Weekly book clubs for adults with developmental disabilities, held at libraries and cafes across Nassau County, facilitating reading for pleasure and socialization
Orton-Gillingham Tutoring
Individualized, multisensory reading instruction for children with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities, delivered by trained professionals using the Orton-Gillingham method at the Wantagh center
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Structured Literacy Instruction and Dyslexia Support 3 activities
    • Deliver Orton-Gillingham educator training with practicum support
      Offers live Orton-Gillingham training at its Wantagh, NY center, including assistance for participants in securing practicum students, as well as online training requiring independent practicum arrangements.
    • Deliver structured, phonics-based small group literacy instruction for adult learners
      Offers small group literacy instruction using the Orton-Gillingham approach for adult Basic Literacy Learners, focusing on phonics, decoding, and encoding skills through structured reading and spelling lessons.
    • Provide Orton-Gillingham based literacy instruction for children with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities
      Delivers individualized, multisensory Orton-Gillingham tutoring to children with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities through certified or in-training educators, offering sessions lasting 40–60 minutes at its Wantagh, NY center, virtually, or in schools upon district request. Services are provided on a donation-based or fee-based model.
  • ESL and Citizenship Instruction 1 activity
    • Offer literacy programs for adult English language learners and citizenship preparation
      Provides free or donation-based adult literacy programs including English language instruction for everyday communication, curriculum-based survival English classes (6 hours per week, September–June), and citizenship preparation classes for naturalization interviews.
  • Summer and Seasonal Reading Programs 1 activity
    • Operate summer intensive literacy programs for skill retention and development
      Runs a summer intensive program designed to maintain and strengthen reading skills among students during the summer months.
  • Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
    • Run community-based literacy clubs for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities
      Operates weekly Next Chapter Book Clubs and Jot It Down Writing Clubs for 6–8 adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities, meeting for one hour in community locations across Nassau County to support literacy, creative expression, and social connection.
  • After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Serve over 1,000 students annually through literacy programs
      Reaches more than 1,000 students each year through a range of direct literacy services for children and adults, including tutoring, classes, and clubs.
  • Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
    • Train and support volunteers in literacy instruction
      Provides training, ongoing support, and infrastructure for volunteers who deliver donation-based language-building and literacy programs; has mobilized a county-wide volunteer effort since 1968.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.01M
Contributions & grants$494K49%
Program service revenue$514K51%
Investment income$5K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$972K
Program expenses97%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$682K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$729K
Cash$454K
Investments$0
Liabilities$96K
Net assets$633K
Liquid reserves5.6 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +14.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
KAREN MICCICHE EXEXCITVE DI 40 $154K
board members · 4
  • JORDAN FREUNDLICH — SECRETARY
  • JUDITH BECKERMAN — VICE PRESIDE
  • STEPHEN BENDERNAGEL — PRESIDENT
  • SUSAN SANTORO — TREASURER
relationships · 7

Who they work with

  • Academy of Orton Gillingham Practitioners and Educators Partner — Supervises tutoring services through a Fellow of the Academy of Orton Gillingham Practitioners and Educators.
  • Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators Partner — Refers to and collaborates with the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators in professional training and standards.
  • Library Partner — Hosts registration for adult English language classes.
  • Long Island Library System Partner — Deep partnership supporting literacy services in Nassau County.
  • Orton-Gillingham Academy Network — Member organization that follows Orton-Gillingham methodology and refers to the Academy for teacher certification standards.
  • Orton-Gillingham Academy Partner — Collaborates with Orton-Gillingham Academy by employing educators who are certified or in training with the Academy.
  • Wix Partner — Platform used for hosting and displaying website content
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Donation-Based Access Model
    methodology: donation-based_access_model
    By offering literacy programs on a donation-based or sliding-scale model, we increase access for economically disadvantaged populations because removing financial barriers enables participation regardless of income, ensuring equity in service delivery.
  • Individualized & Life-Integrated Adult Literacy Instruction
    methodology: individualized_adult_learning
    By tailoring instruction to adult learners’ current skill levels and integrating literacy into daily life contexts, we promote lasting skill retention and personal empowerment because relevance and self-direction increase engagement and real-world application.
  • Orton-Gillingham Multisensory Approach
    methodology: Orton-Gillingham
    By using structured, sequential, and multisensory instruction grounded in the Orton-Gillingham method, we improve reading and spelling outcomes for individuals with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities because this approach aligns with how their brains process language and supports neurological reorganization.