Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 71 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
WE PREPARE CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING OR HAVE OTHER COMMUNICATION NEEDS FOR ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY, STUDENT-CENTERED EDUCATION AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS IN AN ALL-INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENT (AICE).
- Income
- $37.3 million
- Spending
- $31.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 46.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 272
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $247,935, executive director
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 46.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 71 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. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $22.0 million spent. EDUCATION OF OVER 244 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 21 YEARS. COURSES AND OFFERINGS MEET OR EXCEED REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH BY THE US AND PA DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION. WE HAVE 4 SITES: PITTSBURGH, SCRANTON, HERSHEY AND EDINBORO.THE PITTSBURGH CAMPUS PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH 12TH GRADE, WITH A POST-GRADUATE COMPONENT, TO APPROXIMATELY 159 DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING CHILDREN FROM MORE THAN 100 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND 50 COUNTIES ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION.THE SCRANTON SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN IS A SATELLITE CAMPUS OF THE SCHOOL THAT SERVES STUDENTS FROM NORTHEAST AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THAT PROVIDES EDUCATION AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS TO APPROXIMATELY 85 STUDENTS.WE ARE DUALLY ACCREDITED BY MID-STATE ASSOCIATION (MSA) AND CONFERENCE OF EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS OF SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS FOR THE DEAF (CEASD).
- $646,672 spent. THE CHOICES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES TO DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING INFANTS, TODDLERS AND FAMILIES IN THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND SCRANTON AREAS FOR MANY YEARS. THE SCHOOL PROVIDES HOME-BASED EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA TO AS MANY AS 100 FAMILIES. EXPERIENCED CERTIFIED TEACHERS HAVE BEEN THE CORNERSTONE OF THIS PRIMARY HOME-BASED PROGRAM, WHERE VISITS TO THE HOME OR DAYCARE ARE CONDUCTED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1977.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.