Literacy Council of Reading-Berks

What Literacy Council of Reading-Berks does

The Literacy Council of Reading-Berks is a nonprofit adult education organization founded in 1968 and headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania, serving adult learners across Berks County. It delivers a portfolio of programs including ESL instruction, GED preparation and Pearson Vue–authorized high-stakes testing, private tutoring, citizenship preparation (Gateway to Citizenship, delivered with Aldea - The People's Justice Center), digital literacy via the third-party Northstar platform, Next Chapter Book Club, Community Health Worker training, Corporate Training, and an English Forward volunteer instructor training pipeline. The organization maintains a staff of roughly 18 instructors and program personnel and draws on a peak volunteer base of more than 500 individuals. It has been a United Way partner since 1985.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit mix: federal and state government grants (including a 2022 DHS grant — the largest in the organization's history — supporting the citizenship program), United Way allocations, individual and corporate donations, GED testing transaction fees, private tutoring fees, and corporate training contracts (including with Tower Health). The operating budget grew from approximately $300,000 in 2004 to $750,000 in 2022. In 2025 the organization relocated to downtown Reading into a co-located space with Tec Centro Berks, integrating its adult education services with workforce training infrastructure, and earned Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest tier of nonprofit accountability disclosure.

The organization's competitive position rests on a Pearson Vue–authorized testing designation, 55+ years of continuous operation and community brand recognition, and a dense ecosystem of municipal, legal, healthcare, and nonprofit partners. Strategic direction centers on expanding wraparound services for immigrant and adult learner populations rather than technology-led disruption.

Name

Literacy Council of Reading-Berks

Legal name

Literacy Council of Reading-Berks Inc.

Website

https://lcrb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Literacy Council of Reading-Berks is a nonprofit founded in 1968 that delivers adult education — ESL, GED prep and Pearson Vue testing, citizenship preparation, digital literacy, and corporate training — to adult learners, immigrants, and workforce clients in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Language Schools (611630), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

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 services
• Adult education programs
• ESL instruction
• GED preparation
• Workforce development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations from community supporters. The organization maintains a donation page and actively solicits contributions, noting urgency due to waiting lists.
2. Federal and State Grants: Government funding including largest-ever federal grant from US Department of Homeland Security (2022) for Gateway to Citizenship program. Pennsylvania Department of Education grants and Berks County Commissioners funding.
3. United Way Partnership: Agency partner of United Way of Berks County since 1985, receiving ongoing funding and organizational support.
4. GED Testing Fees: Pearson Vue GED testing administered at the center. Payment required at time of registration through official GED testing site.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Literacy Council of Reading-Berks provides free adult education programming for Berks County residents aged 16 and older, including ESL classes, GED preparation, an official Pearson Vue GED testing center, private tutoring, citizenship preparation through the Gateway to Citizenship program, digital literacy training via Northstar, and the Next Chapter Book Club for adults with developmental disabilities. It also delivers customized workforce training and a Community Health Worker program for local employers, and provides the English Forward instructor training program for volunteer tutors.

Product overview

The Literacy Council of Reading-Berks is an adult education nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected educational programs. The core services include English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes, High School Equivalency (GED) Classes with an on-site GED Testing Center, and Private Tutoring. These are supplemented by the Gateway to Citizenship Program for naturalization preparation, the Next Chapter Book Club for adults with developmental disabilities, and a Digital Literacy Program featuring Northstar training and device lending. The organization also provides workforce development through its Corporate Training Program and Community Health Worker Program for employers and job seekers. Volunteer development is supported via the English Forward Training Program for ESL instructors. All programs are free to participants and serve adults 16+ in Berks County, PA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes Free ESL classes for adults 16+ that include career planning, work-related knowledge, and essential life skills; held two times per week at multiple locations throughout Reading and Berks County.
• High School Equivalency (GED) Classes Free preparation classes for adults to take Pennsylvania high school equivalency tests such as the GED and HiSET, covering language arts, social studies, science, math, and study skills.
• GED Testing Center Official Pearson Vue GED testing center where candidates earn their General Educational Development diploma by demonstrating competency in Reasoning Through Language Arts, Mathematical Reasoning, Social Studies, and Science.
• Private Tutoring One-on-one tutoring provided by trained volunteers for students with barriers to classroom participation, focusing on Adult Basic Education (ABE), GED preparation, ESL, and other literacy topics.
• Gateway to Citizenship Program Free citizenship preparation program offered in partnership with Aldea - The People's Justice Center, funded by United Way of Berks County, helping permanent residents prepare for naturalization through 5 hours per week for 12 weeks of instruction.
• Next Chapter Book Club Affiliate of Next Chapter Book Club providing weekly opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to read, learn, and make friends in a relaxed community setting at the Berkshire Mall food court.
• Digital Literacy Program Digital literacy support including Northstar Digital Literacy self-paced training, device lending program, and resources to help community members connect, learn, and grow in today's digital world.
• Corporate Training Program Customized workforce training programs for businesses including consultation, needs assessment, customized instruction, and training evaluation to improve employee productivity and job performance.
• Community Health Worker Program Training program in partnership with Eastcentral Area Health Education Center preparing participants to work in the health field, including CPR/First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Motivational Interviewing, and COMPASS certification.
• English Forward Training Program Free 11-hour ESL instructor training workshop for Berks County community members covering communicative teaching strategies, with curriculum materials and minimum 60-hour volunteer commitment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% of Next Chapter Book Club members reported being more comfortable in the community since joining
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary, primary and historical.

• Tec Centro BerkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic partnership to share space at 450 S 6th Street, downtown Reading location. Allows the Council to maintain independent mission and identity while benefiting from shared resources. This collaborative partnership ensures long-term organizational sustainability and growth.
• Aldea - The People's Justice CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with Aldea - The People's Justice Center for Gateway to Citizenship program, funded by the largest-ever federal grant from US Department of Homeland Security. Aldea provides legal representation for naturalization applications (N-400) and supports interview preparation for program participants.
• Eastcentral Pennsylvania Area Health Education CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Eastcentral PA AHEC for Community Health Worker Training Program. Prepares participants to work in health field or equips professionals to connect patients with community resources.
• Reading School DistrictsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerESL services provided through district schools and partnerships for adult education access.
• Muhlenberg School DistrictsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for ESL services and educational programs.
• Wilson School DistrictsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for ESL services and educational programs.
• Antietam School DistrictsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for ESL services and educational programs.
• Tower HealthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate training partnership for healthcare employees including customized curriculum with medical language and hospital-specific signage navigation.
• Reading Area Community CollegesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for literacy programs including ESL, GED, ABE, and bilingual classes at RACC Kratz Hall location.
• Reading Public LibrarysecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorESL classes offered at Main and Northeast branches for free adult English language learning.
• I-Lead USAsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization offering HiSET, ESL, and Workforce Preparedness Programs at 540 Upland Ave location.
• Mother Veronica Resource CentersecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorESL, GED, Citizenship, and Basic computer skills classes in both English and Spanish at 443 South 6th St.
• Pearson VueprimaryOthersOfficial GED testing center authorized to administer computerized GED exams through Pearson Vue testing platform.
• Church Women UnitedhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding sponsor in 1968 along with Fellowship House of Reading and Reading-Berks Human Relations Council.
• Fellowship House of ReadinghistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding sponsor in 1968 alongside Church Women United and Reading-Berks Human Relations Council.
• Reading-Berks Human Relations CouncilhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding sponsor in 1968 for the 13 women who began addressing adult literacy crisis in Berks County.
• ProLiteracysecondaryOthersNational affiliate organization providing resources, advocacy, and network connections for adult literacy organizations.
• Greater Reading Chamber AlliancesecondaryOthersLocal chamber of commerce partnership for business community engagement and workforce development connections.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ProLiteracy: National nonprofit membership network of adult literacy programs. LCRB is an explicit ProLiteracy affiliate, making it a directly comparable peer in mission, model, and program mix (ESL, ABE, GED prep, tutor training).
• Literacy Pittsburgh: Pennsylvania-based adult literacy nonprofit offering free ESL, ABE, and family literacy with a volunteer tutor model. Highly comparable in geography, funding mix (grants + United Way), and free-to-learner delivery model.
• Literacy Center of West Michigan: Community-based adult literacy nonprofit serving a single U.S. county with ESL, ABE, GED prep, and customized workplace ESL. Operates a Pearson Vue-affiliated testing model similar to LCRB's.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit operator of adult workforce training, ESL, and digital-skills programs across many U.S. regions. Overlaps with LCRB's corporate training and community health worker offerings but at vastly greater scale and scope.
• Berlitz Corporation: Global commercial language instruction provider with a similar ESL/foreign-language curriculum orientation to LCRB's ESL program, but serves paying individual and corporate customers rather than free adult learners.
• Kaplan: Large commercial test preparation and continuing education company offering high-school equivalency and professional exam prep. Comparable product overlap with LCRB's GED preparation classes but operates as a paid, national commercial provider.

Regional players

• Reading Area Community College: Local higher-education institution that hosts LCRB's Literacy Programs Information Center at Kratz Hall, delivering ESL, GED, ABE, and bilingual classes. Competes for and partners on adult basic education in the same Berks County geography.

Others

• International Rescue Committee: International humanitarian organization that delivers ESL, citizenship preparation, and workforce integration services for refugees and immigrants in U.S. cities. Comparable in target learner and curriculum to LCRB's ESL and Gateway to Citizenship programs.
• HIAS: Jewish refugee resettlement agency providing ESL, citizenship, and employment services to newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers in the U.S. Operates as a complementary/adjoining provider in the immigrant integration ecosystem alongside LCRB's programs.
• Catholic Charities USA: National network of diocesan social service agencies offering ESL, citizenship, and adult education programming for immigrants and low-income adults. Operates in adjacent service categories to LCRB across many U.S. geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LCRB12?s=20
• Facebookfacebook.com/LiteracyCouncilReadingBerks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Literacy Council of Reading-Berks