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Hearing Health Foundation

EIN 13-1882107 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HEARING HEALTH FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO PREVENT AND CURE HEARING LOSS AND TINNITUS THROUGH GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
7
Volunteers
48
Highest pay
$307,955, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $3.1 million spent. HEARING RESTORATION PROJECT AND EMERGING RESEARCH GRANTS - HEARING HEALTH FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO HEARING RESEARCH AND SUPPORTS TWO PILLAR RESEARCH PROGRAMS, EMERGING RESEARCH GRANTS (ERG) AND THE HEARING RESTORATION PROJECT (HRP). THE ERG PROGRAM PROVIDES SEED FUNDING TO RESEARCHERS WORKING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF HEARING AND BALANCE SCIENCE, INCLUDING MANY UNDERFUNDED AREAS OF OTOLOGY. SINCE 1958 HHF HAS THROUGH ERG FUNDED INNOVATIVE RESEARCH THAT HAS ADVANCED BASIC, CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN HEARING AND BALANCE. HHF'S HRP, FOUNDED IN 2011, IS THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM OF RESEARCHERS WORKING TO REGENERATE THE SENSORY CELLS IN THE INNER EAR TO RESTORE HEARING AND CURE TINNITUS.
  2. $721,460 spent. "HEARING HEALTH MAGAZINE" (HHM) - HHM IS THE AWARD-WINNING MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY HEARING HEALTH FOUNDATION THAT IS THE ULTIMATE CONSUMER EDUCATION RESOURCE ON HEARING LOSS, TINNITUS, AND RELATED HEARING AND BALANCE CONDITIONS. AVAILABLE IN PRINT AND ONLINE, THE QUARTERLY FOR AND BY CONSUMERS AND PROFESSIONALS ALIKE HIGHLIGHTS INSPIRING, RELATABLE FIRST-PERSON STORIES AND RELIABLE, REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS BASED ON THE LATEST RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY. HHM CONNECTS MEMBERS OF THE HEARING LOSS COMMUNITY TO ONE ANOTHER WHILE PROVIDING TIMELY SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS REPORTS AND EMPHASIZING PREVENTION AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HEARING HEALTH AND OVERALL WELLBEING.
  3. $510,560 spent. COMMUNICATION/EDUCATION - HEARING HEALTH FOUNDATION'S "KEEP LISTENING" CAMPAIGN IS AN EVERGREEN INITIATIVE TO EDUCATE ALL AGES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING HEALTH AND PREVENTING HEARING DAMAGE, INCLUDING TINNITUS, FROM THE ONLY FULLY MODIFIABLE CAUSE OF HEARING LOSS: EXCESS NOISE. THROUGH ENGAGING BROADCAST TV PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CONCERTED SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH, THE CAMPAIGN SOUNDS THE ALARM OF LISTENING TOO LOUD AND TOO LONG SUCH AS THROUGH HEADPHONES AND AT NOISY MUSIC AND RECREATIONAL VENUES, AND TEACHES SIMPLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO PROTECT HEARING SUCH AS USING EARPLUGS, TAKING HEARING BREAKS, AND ADVOCATING FOR QUIETER SHARED PUBLIC SPACES. IN ADDITION TO TV AND SOCIAL MEDIA, HHF BROADLY SHARES EDUCATIONAL CONTENT AND RESEARCH UPDATES THROUGH THE WEBSITE AND (SEE SCHEDULE O)BLOG, PRINT MAGAZINE, DIGITAL NEWSLETTER, AND AT CONFERENCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1958.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Foundation Health LLC (Fairbanks, AK), EIN 81-3021580. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.