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PROLITERACY WORLDWIDE

SYRACUSE, NY · EIN 166076384 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B92 · Education · Large ($10M-$50M) · proliteracy.org
revenue
$11.9M
expenses
$12.7M
net assets
$15.6M
employees
51
program ratio
79%
mission · from form 990

TO INCREASE ADULT LITERACY RATES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, PROGRAM TRAINING AND ADVOCACY.

profile · synthesized from sources

ProLiteracy Worldwide strengthens adult literacy programs across the U.S. and in over 30 countries by providing instructional materials, professional training, and funding support. Through its publishing arm, New Readers Press, it develops and distributes educational resources used by more than 6,800 programs. The organization focuses on building the capacity of grassroots and institutional literacy providers to improve outcomes for adults with low literacy skills.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $7.18M
    PUBLISHING - FOR OVER 50 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING EDUCATORS WITH INSTRUCTIONAL TOOLS TO HELP ADULT LEARNERS BUILD THE SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN THE WORLD TODAY. PROCEEDS FROM OUR PRODUCT SALES SUPPORT THE MISSION OF PROLITERACY, TO CHANGE LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE POWER OF ADULT LITERACY. WE SERVE 6,800+ PROGRAMS IN THE US AND 250 INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS ACROSS 32 COUNTRIES.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Distance Learning Program
Virtual classroom initiative partnering with 26 employers to deliver adult literacy instruction directly to learners, improving career advancement and program enrollment.
New Readers Press
Publishing division providing instructional tools and curricula for adult literacy educators, including materials aligned with GED and TABE 13&14 standards.
Professional Development Institute
Annual conference and learning event offering high-impact training and networking for adult education professionals.
Teacher Training Plus
Professional development initiative offering training for adult educators in partnership with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Literacy Program Funding 3 activities
    • Provides funding, training, and learning resources to adult literacy programs
      Offers grants, professional development, training, and digital and print learning materials through New Readers Press to build the capacity of adult literacy programs across the U.S. and globally, supporting educators in over 6,800 U.S. and 250 international programs.
    • Provides grant funding to support adult learners and literacy programs
      Administers grant programs—including the National Book Fund, Literacy Opportunity Fund, and Mobile Learning Fund—to support over 50,000 adult learners through financial awards to literacy initiatives.
    • Supports international adult literacy initiatives through partnerships
      Collaborates with partners in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to strengthen adult literacy programming and educator capacity in low-resource settings.
  • Storytelling and Literacy Resource Development 2 activities
    • Conducts research and development of learning materials for adult literacy
      Designs, develops, and tests evidence-based learning materials for new readers through New Readers Press, its publishing and research arm.
    • Produces and distributes instructional tools for adult literacy educators
      Develops, tests, and distributes instructional materials—including GED®, TABE®, and language skills resources—through New Readers Press to support adult learners and educators in U.S. and international programs.
  • Education Policy Advocacy & Reform 1 activity
    • Advocates for adult literacy at local, state, and national levels
      Engages policymakers to increase awareness and funding for adult literacy, promoting its role in enriching lives and strengthening communities.
  • Adult Literacy and ESL Tutoring 1 activity
    • Operates a Distance Learning program for adult learners in partnership with employers
      Runs a virtual classroom program in collaboration with 26 employers to deliver adult literacy education to learners unable to attend in-person classes.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$11.91M
Contributions & grants$3.15M26%
Program service revenue$7.40M62%
Investment income$1.06M9%
Other revenue$300K
expenses
Total expenses$12.72M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$4.79M
Grants paid out$1.17M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$20.76M
Cash$1.65M
Investments$16.09M
Liabilities$5.15M
Net assets$15.61M
Liquid reserves16.7 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -11.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 8
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MARK VINEIS PRESIDENT/CEO 60 $408K
SONJA MARIANNE CHERNOS VP OF PUBLISHING 40 $221K
KAREN WELCH SUPERVISOR 40 $191K
STEPHEN CARR VP OF DEVELOPMENT 40 $190K
DANIEL HELMS DIRECTOR OF SALES 40 $167K
ALLISON BLEYLER MCDONALD SUPERVISOR 40 $143K
DONALD TODD EVANS EMPLOYEE 40 $130K
GREGORY STULTZ EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT/TRA 40 $122K
board members · 14
  • AARTHI ANAND — DIRECTOR
  • ANTHONY CAMMARANO — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID ROSEN — DIRECTOR
  • GINGER DUIVEN — DIRECTOR
  • JACK BURKE — TREASURER
  • KATE COSTELLO-SULLIVAN — CHAIR
  • KATHLEEN HINCHMAN — VICE CHAIR
  • LINDSEY BASLER — DIRECTOR
  • MARC STROHL — DIRECTOR
  • MARIA BARTOSZEWICKI — SECRETARY
  • PATRICK SMITH — DIRECTOR
  • ROXANN SMITHERS — DIRECTOR
  • RUTH COLVIN — DIRECTOR
  • WILLIAM MANZANARES IV — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9

Who they work with

  • Dollar General Literacy Foundation Partner — Partner in delivering the Teacher Training Plus initiative for professional learning.
  • Laubach Literacy International Partner — One of the two founding organizations that merged to form ProLiteracy in 2002.
  • Literacy Volunteers of America Partner — One of the two founding organizations that merged to form ProLiteracy in 2002.
  • Mondo Publishing Partner — Founded by Mark Vineis, who leads organizational scaling at ProLiteracy.
  • New Readers Press Partner — Imprint that produces and distributes digital and print learning resources for adult literacy programs.
  • New Readers Press Partner — Provides digital and print learning resources for adult literacy programs.
  • New Readers Press Partner — Publishing division of ProLiteracy Worldwide that produces instructional tools for adult literacy educators.
  • ProLiteracy Network — Member of the ProLiteracy network receiving resources and support.
  • partners in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East Partner — Collaborates with international partners to expand literacy programming in local communities.
strategies · 4

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.

  • Capacity Building for Community-Based Literacy Programs
    methodology: capacity_building
    By strengthening the organizational and instructional capacity of community-based adult literacy programs, ProLiteracy increases their effectiveness and sustainability, because locally rooted organizations are better positioned to respond to the unique needs of adult learners and drive systemic change in literacy outcomes.
  • Contextualized and Learner-Centered Instruction
    methodology: contextualized literacy instruction
    By linking literacy instruction to real-world socioeconomic and health challenges, ProLiteracy fosters critical thinking and learner agency, because adults engage more deeply and retain skills longer when learning is relevant to their lived experiences and goals.
  • Employer-Partnered Distance Learning Expansion
    methodology: employer-partnered distance learning
    By partnering with employers to deliver virtual literacy instruction, ProLiteracy increases access for working adults, because integrating learning into employment contexts reduces barriers related to time, transportation, and scheduling while aligning skill development with workforce needs.
  • Mission-Aligned Revenue Reinvestment Model
    methodology: self-sustaining publishing model
    By generating revenue through the sale of educational materials and reinvesting those proceeds into field support and program development, ProLiteracy sustains and scales its impact, because financial self-sufficiency enables long-term stability and broader reach without reliance on volatile funding streams.