Literacy Services of Wisconsin

What Literacy Services of Wisconsin does

Literacy Services of Wisconsin (LSW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1965 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that provides free adult education programs to motivated adult learners. Its service portfolio includes one-on-one instruction in reading, writing, and math, English language learning, high school equivalency (GED/HSED) preparation, digital literacy classes, and workforce-linked training. The organization also operates a Corrections & Reentry Education Programs vertical, delivering adult education inside Milwaukee County Jail, Wisconsin Department of Corrections facilities at Fox Lake and Racine, and the Milwaukee Community Reentry Center.

Programs are delivered in person at five locations across Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, including the central headquarters, two Milwaukee Public Schools Family Resource Centers, the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, and a Waukesha site. An Online HSED Program is being rolled out for Summer and Fall 2026 enrollment, marking the organization's first major digital delivery channel. The model is one-on-one tutoring supported by a volunteer workforce, with a current leadership team led by Executive Director Holly McCoy and a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Anthony Bowers of Rockwell Automation.

Revenue is derived entirely from donations, corporate matching, legacy giving, foundation grants, and likely state and county contracts related to corrections and adult education programming. LSW holds formal partnerships with Wisconsin Literacy, ProLiteracy, United Way, Milwaukee Public Schools, WRTP|BIG STEP, and Wisconsin's FSET program. In 2017, LSW acquired Milwaukee Achiever, extending its programmatic reach. The organization is currently running an HQ Relocation Capital Campaign and hiring a Manager of Corrections & Reentry Education Programs, signaling continued capacity investment.

Name

Literacy Services of Wisconsin

Legal name

Literacy Services of Wisconsin

Website

https://literacyservices.org/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Literacy Services of Wisconsin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1965 that provides free adult education, including reading, writing, math, English language learning, GED/HSED preparation, and corrections education, to adult learners across Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Literacy Education

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Language Schools (61163), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Foundational Reading & Writing Literacy (EDAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESL Literacy & Foundational English (Pre-beginner/Alphabetics) (EDAAACAB), Basic Digital Literacy (Device, Internet, Email) (EDAAAAAC)

Keywords

• Adult literacy education
• English language learning
• High school equivalency prep
• Workforce development training
• Corrections reentry education

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Literacy Services of Wisconsin relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund operations. The organization mentions corporate matching programs and legacy giving options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Literacy Services of Wisconsin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free adult education programs in reading, writing, math, English language learning, and high school equivalency (GED/HSED) preparation. Instruction is provided one-on-one and through classroom settings at multiple Milwaukee and Waukesha locations, via an online HSED program, and inside correctional and community reentry facilities.

Product overview

Literacy Services of Wisconsin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1965 that operates as a direct service provider rather than a technology product company. The organization offers free adult education programs including Reading, Writing & Math instruction, English Language Learning, HSED/GED preparation, Digital Literacy training, and Workforce Partnerships. Programs are delivered through in-person instruction at multiple locations in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, as well as an Online HSED Program for Summer and Fall 2026 enrollment. The organization also operates Corrections & Reentry Education Programs at correctional facilities throughout Wisconsin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reading, Writing & Math One-on-one lessons for adult students who want to improve their language and math skills, providing foundational adult basic education.
• English Language Learning Supports students from other world language backgrounds with reading, writing, and verbal English skills, including an HSED Program for English Learners.
• HSED & GED Preparation High school equivalency preparation program providing advanced instruction for students preparing to take GED or HSED tests, including an Online HSED option.
• Digital Literacy Free digital literacy classes for eligible FSET recipients, teaching students to use computers with confidence.
• Workforce Partnerships Programs designed to connect adult education with workforce development and career pathway opportunities.
• Corrections & Reentry Education Programs Adult education and training programs offered at Milwaukee County Jail, Department of Corrections facilities in Fox Lake and Racine, and the Milwaukee Community Reentry Center.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Wisconsin LiteracyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisconsin Literacy member organization - part of the statewide literacy network in Wisconsin.
• ProLiteracyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization of ProLiteracy - national adult literacy organization providing resources and support.
• Milwaukee County Jail (MCJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSW provides adult education and training programs at Milwaukee County Jail, including student recruitment, enrollment, assessment, scheduling, instruction, and recordkeeping.
• Department of Corrections (DOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSW operates adult education programs at DOC facilities in Fox Lake and Racine, helping incarcerated individuals prepare for GED/HSED.
• Milwaukee Community Reentry CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based reentry education programs supporting individuals transitioning from incarceration back to the community.
• WRTP|BIG STEPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partner agency that collaborates with LSW for outreach and referrals aligned with career pathways.
• Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with MPS Family Resource Centers at North Division High School and South Division High School to provide adult education services.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ProLiteracy: National adult literacy umbrella organization of which LSW is a member; comparable in that both deliver and coordinate adult basic education programming, though ProLiteracy operates at a national federation level rather than as a direct service provider.
• Wisconsin Literacy: Statewide literacy coalition in which LSW participates; directly comparable as a coordinating body for adult literacy providers in Wisconsin, and a peer in the same funder and policy ecosystem.
• Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC): Public two-year college that delivers state-funded adult basic education, ESL, and GED/HSED prep across the Milwaukee region; competes for the same state adult education funding and serves overlapping student populations, though as a much larger institution.

Regional players

• Literacy Volunteers of New York State: Regional adult literacy nonprofit delivering free one-on-one tutoring, ELL, and HSE preparation in a single state; functionally identical service mix to LSW but operating in New York.
• Literacy Council of Northern Virginia: Regional adult literacy nonprofit offering ABE, ESL, and HSE prep through volunteer tutors; comparable service model and community-based delivery, but serving the Washington DC metro area.
• Literacy Mid-South: Memphis-based regional adult literacy nonprofit providing ABE, ESL, and workforce literacy; similar one-on-one volunteer-driven model and nonprofit funding structure, but operating in a different region.

Emerging players

• Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin: Milwaukee-area workforce development nonprofit offering adult education and career pathway services; overlapping mission with LSW's workforce partnerships and serving similar disadvantaged adult populations in the same geography.
• Howard Area Community Center: Community-based organization offering ESL, adult education, and workforce services on Chicago's North Side; comparable nonprofit, community-led delivery model for adult learners, but a regional peer in Illinois.
• WRTP | BIG STEP: Milwaukee-based workforce development partner agency collaborating with LSW; directly comparable in serving low-income adult learners with career pathway programming and is identified in LSW's own partnership portfolio.

Others

• United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County: Major funder of LSW and operator/aggregator of community impact programs in the same Milwaukee/Waukesha region; comparable as an ecosystem participant that intermediates philanthropic capital to adult education and workforce providers like LSW.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LiteracyWI
• Facebookfacebook.com/literacyservices

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Literacy Services of Wisconsin