Literacy Volunteers of Tucson

Literacy Volunteers of Tucson (LVT) transforms lives and enriches the community by teaching adults at the lowest literacy levels to read, write and speak English.

When SVP first began to work with LVT, the organization had just bravely walked away from State funding, which provided 30% of their budget. The grant from SVP helped to replace some of the dollars, but more importantly, LVT now had a cadre of experts to help with the strategic planning and fund development that was needed to successfully make this transition.

Working As A Team
During the first year, SVP Partner David Griffis assisted LVT in creating its first strategic plan in five years and counseled LVT as it initiated a board development plan. Another Partner, Nancy Davis, assisted in resolving some Human Resources (HR) issues that the auditor had determined to be problematic. Partner Ann Lovell gave an accounting lesson to LVT’s bookkeeper. Finally, thanks to SVP Partner Mark Rubin, who is a real estate attorney, a lease was drawn up and signed with Masonic Lodge.

LVT ended the first year a stronger organization. The board was moving forward to a healthy position. Its HR house was in order. Even with the loss of state funding, LVT ended the year in the black AND enrolled 49% more students than in the previous year.

In the second year with SVP, LVT was forced to face the fact that it had vastly outgrown the Masonic Lodge location. Lead Partner Mark Fisher rallied the SVP experts and a Building Committee was created that included three experts from SVP and a commercial realtor recruited by SVP. With their valuable expertise and generously donated time, LVT determined both its bottom line building needs and its visionary building needs.

Partnering With Experts
SVP Partners helped LVT see options it had not been aware of, and provided experts to call when questions arose. When an LVT donor offered double the space for three years with a rent-free building, Mark Rubin once again stepped forward to ensure that LVT had a fair and complete lease agreement. The SVP experts on the building committee also helped find the architect and other contractors needed for the build out.

Staying Strong
Although the building needs took a great deal of time and attention this year, LVT also made great strides in strengthening its board and added an attorney, thanks to some leg work done by SVP.

In a year that saw the American economy hit a major recession, LVT not only stayed strong, but ended the year with a cash surplus and saw donations from individuals continue to increase, albeit at a very modest 4.5%. Additionally, student enrollment more than doubled from the year before to 1,741!


For further information about Literacy Volunteers: lovetoread.org