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The Learning Center for the Deaf Inc

EIN 23-7064431 · Framingham, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE LEARNING CENTER FOR THE DEAF IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN AND ADULTS THRIVE BY HAVING THE KNOWLEDGE, OPPORTUNITY AND POWER TO DESIGN THE FUTURE OF THEIR CHOICE.

Income
$30.2 million
Spending
$30.4 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
429
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$449,807, president & ceo

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

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • 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 June 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 (4)
  1. $10.9 million spent. INTENSIVE DAY PROGRAM - THE PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL AND LIFE SKILLS PROGRAMMING FOR DEAF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES THAT IMPACT THEIR COGNITIVE AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES, DEVELOPMENT DELAYS, AND STUDENTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. THESE STUDENTS RECEIVE THE FULL RANGE OF SERVICES OFFERED TO STUDENTS IN THE DAY PROGRAM AND IN ADDITION ARE GIVEN A HIGHER TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIO, BEHAVIORAL PROGRAMMING BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, AND A RANGE OF SUPPORT SERVICES FROM SPECIALISTS.
  2. $5.2 million spent. WALDEN SCHOOL - WALDEN SCHOOL IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BILINGUAL-BICULTURAL RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF EIGHT TO 22. WALDEN SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE CHALLENGED BY SEVERE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DIFFICULTIES, AND HAVE SIGNIFICANT TREATMENT NEEDS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESSED IN OTHER ACADEMIC AND RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS. THE STUDENTS RECEIVE ROUND THE CLOCK NURSING CARE, A CASE MANAGER FOCUSED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, A NUTRITIONIST TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND INTERACT WITH FULLY-FUNCTIONING DEAF PEERS AND ROLE MODELS, TAKING COURSES, WHEN APPROPRIATE AT MARIE PHILIP SCHOOL. THROUGH THEIR CAREER TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM, STUDENTS ARE OFFERED A WIDE RANGE OF VOCATIONAL CLASSES AND HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES.
  3. $3.2 million spent. DAY PROGRAM - THE DAY PROGRAM PROVIDES A CHALLENGING ACADEMIC PROGRAM FOR TYPICALLY DEVELOPING DEAF CHILDREN AGES 3 THROUGH 21 UTILIZING A CURRICULUM ALIGNED WITH THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS. AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL OPTIONS INCLUDE A WIDE RANGE OF REQUIRED AND ELECTIVE ACADEMIC COURSEWORK, AP CLASSES, MAINSTREAMING IN THE FRAMINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND A CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.
  4. $7.7 million spent. PARENT INFANT PROGRAM - THE PARENT INFANT PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT AND TRAINING FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN, UP TO AGE 3, AND THEIR PARENTS/ GUARDIANS IN A LANGUAGE RICH, BILINGUAL-BICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT. FAMILIES, REFERRED THROUGH LOCAL EARLY INTERVENTION CENTERS, CAN PARTICIPATE IN PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS, CHILD PLAYGROUPS, HOME VISITS, INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS WITH A LICENSED SPEECH/LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST, AND CLASSES IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE ("ASL"). SERVICES RECEIVED WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO A CHILD'S INDIVIDUAL FAMILY SERVICE PLAN ("IFSP").THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER - THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER SERVES DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING STUDENTS (AGE 0-6) AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR GOAL FOR EVERY CHILD IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGE-APPROPRIATE COGNITIVE, COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL SKILLS. WE STRIVE TO INTEGRATE THE MOST EXEMPLARY AND EFFECTIVE METHODS OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE UNIQUE, INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF EACH CHILD WE SERVE.PUBLIC SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS - THE PUBLIC SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH HEARING AIDS AND COCHLEAR IMPLANTS WHO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PROVIDING A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR MONITORING DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS' ACADEMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRESS. THE PROGRAM ASSISTS DISTRICTS IN COMPLYING WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT ("IDEA"), AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ("ADA") AND SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT (" 504 PLANS") FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. CURRENTLY, THE PUBLIC SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM SERVES OVER 400 STUDENTS IN 66 TOWNS AND 50 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.WALDEN COMMUNITY SERVICES - WALDEN COMMUNITY SERVICES ("WCS") PROVIDES COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR FAMILIES WITH A DEAF MEMBER. WCS PROVIDES LINGUISTICALLY ACCESSIBLE, CULTURALLY AUTHENTIC CLINICAL SERVICES. WCS HAS OFFICES IN FRAMINGHAM AND SPRINGFIELD AND OFFERS A VARIETY OF SERVICES INCLUDING THERAPEUTIC MENTORING ("TM"), FAMILY SUPPORT AND TRAINING ("FS&T") WITH A FAMILY PARTNER ("FP"), INTENSIVE CARE COORDINATION ("ICC"), AND IN HOME THERAPY ("IHT").AUDIOLOGY CLINIC - THE COMMUNITY AUDIOLOGY CLINIC AT THE LEARNING CENTER FOR THE DEAF PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE AUDIOLOGY AND HEARING AID SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF THE METRO WEST AND BEYOND. ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE SERVICES PROVIDED AND PRODUCTS SOLD BENEFIT THE CHILDREN BEING SERVED AT THE LEARNING CENTER FOR THE DEAF.ASL CLASSES - IN THE COMMUNITY AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES, TEENS AND ADULTS LEARN ASL FROM DEAF AND FLUENT ASL USERS. EACH 10-WEEK SESSION TEACHES ASL AND DEAF CULTURE IN A DYNAMIC AND ENGAGING CLASSROOM SETTING.INTERPRETING SERVICES - THE LEARNING CENTER FOR THE DEAF OFFERS FEE-BASED INTERPRETING SERVICES AND CONSULTATION FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, AND LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES. IT IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY PRIVATE AGENCY THAT HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE THROUGH THE MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING.SIGNING FOR SUCCESS - THE SIGNING FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM PROVIDES ASL CLASSES AND PRIVATE TUTORING FOR FAMILIES WITH DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN AND PROVIDES WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS RELATED TO ASL AND DEAF CULTURE FOR FAMILIES AND FOR PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS IN ORDER TO BUILD AWARENESS FOR THE BENEFITS OF EARLY LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND TO DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF FULLY ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS WHO COMMUNICATE PRIMARILY IN ASL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 June 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 November 1970.

    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 October 21, 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.