A study examined United Way's role in solving illiteracy. Concerns of four major constituencies were identified. University representatives saw illiteracy as threatening the social well-being of those affected and seriously damaging the principle of equal opportunity. Business persons felt that illiteracy threatened the nation's competitive edge in today's global economy. Human service delivery system personnel indicated that current delivery systems for promoting literacy were insufficiently coordinated and insufficiently concerned with personal dignity. Human service agency staff saw the incidence of school dropout as a major problem, yet schools rarely reached out for help. The study found that: illiteracy is not an insoluble problem; it has many causes; it is very costly; illiteracy rates are highest among the economically disadvantaged; and the total number of illiterate adults is not changing. The study committee believed that United Way should promote literacy training that goes beyond the teaching of rudimentary reading and writing to embrace the development of mature thinking skills. It recommended that United Way should concentrate its literacy programs on services to adults, encourage preventive programs, and focus on broadening current services to include literacy components while still supporting stand-alone literacy programs. (An appendix describes models of literacy programs that work. For each program, a description, list of results, and contact person are included.) (YLB)