The Baker Institute for Children With Hearing Loss
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE BAKER INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN WITH HEARING LOSS PROVIDES ESSENTIAL FUNDING FOR THE UNMET MEDICAL AND THERAPEUTIC NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH HEARING LOSS, FOCUSING INITIALLY ON THOSE WHO RESIDE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NY. THE INSTITUTE WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OTOLARYNGOLOGY DEPARTMENTS OF THE RENOWNED MEDICAL CENTERS OF STANFORD UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SAN FRANCISCO AND NYU. IT MAY ALSO SUPPORT OTHER PROGRAMS ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ADDRESS SIMILAR NEEDS. THE INSTITUTE ASSISTS CHILDREN WITH NEEDED FUNDING TO SUPPLEMENT GOVERNMENT AND INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR HEARING AIDS, COCHLEAR IMPLANTS, SPEECH PATHOLOGY, PYSCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND AUDIOLOGY, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER PROVISION OF HEARING ASSISTANCE.IT ALSO PROVIDES INTENSIVE TRAINING FOR FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN IN A SUPPORTIVE AND LOVING FRAMEWORK, SO THAT THE CHILDREN CAN MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS FROM THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE THEY RECEIVE.PROVIDING CHILDREN WILL IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $809,859
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 60.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 60.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 62% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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 (1)
- During the summer of 2025, The Baker Institute coordinated an intensive medical summer camp for underprivileged hearing impaired children called "Listen to Me!" Summer Institute. The goal of this one-week intensive medical camp is to provide maximum support to these underprivileged hearing impaired children in the areas of critical need, with valuable information and services being provided free of charge from doctors, specialists and therapists on hand. The particpants were housed in spacious facilities on the beautiful Stanford campus. Each day, the children (supported by their local therapists and parents, who could bring their newly learned skillsback to their homes where they could then continue to assist the children) participated in an auditory oral class, individual speech, and language.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.