Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center

EIN 34-0714648 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CLEVELAND HEARING AND SPEECH IS THE PREMIER PROVIDER OF HEARING, SPEECH-LANGUAGE AND DEAF SERVICES, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY HELPING PEOPLE CONNECT THROUGH COMMUNICATION, REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
76
Volunteers
79
Highest pay
$183,770, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    34 of 34 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $2.2 million spent. THE SPEECH-LANGUAGE AND LEARNING DEPARTMENT PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING ARRAY OF SERVICES: SPEECH AND LANGUAGE EVALUATIONS AND LANGUAGE THERAPY. SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN, BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND IN GROUPS, AT OUR FOUR OFFICE LOCATIONS. SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT LOW OR NO COST TO THE MAJORITY OF CLIENTS. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO PROVIDES SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SCREENINGS, EVALUATIONS, AND THERAPY AT AREA SCHOOLS, HEAD START LOCATIONS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY VENUES. PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS ACCENT MODIFICATION ARE ALSO OFFERED. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE OFFERED THROUGH AREA PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS. CLEVELAND HEARING AND SPEECH CENTER (CHSC) HAS AN AFFILIATION WITH CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY (CWRU) IN WHICH CHSC ASSISTS IN TRAINING MASTERS' LEVEL STUDENTS IN THE FIELD OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY. CWRU RENTS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF SPACE FROM CHSC IN FURTHERANCE OF THIS AFFILIATION.
  2. $1.8 million spent. THE AUDIOLOGY PROGRAM PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING ARRAY OF SERVICES: HEARING SCREENINGS, HEARING EVALUATION, HEARING AID AND ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICE DISPENSING, HEARING AID REPAIRS, HEARING AND LOSS PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, AND PROFESSIONAL AUDIOLOGY SERVICES. A VARIETY OF INSURANCE PLANS ARE ACCEPTED INCLUDING MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MANY PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS. REDUCED FEES FOR SERVICES ARE TYPICALLY AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO FINANCIALLY QUALIFY. THROUGH THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM CHSC ALSO PROVIDES, AT NO COST, FAMILY TRAINING AND COUNSELING FOR CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO THREE YEARS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED WITH HEARING LOSS.
  3. $1.8 million spent. THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING OFFERS THE FOLLOWING ARRAY OF SERVICES: VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES, AND ADVOCACY. COMMUNITY EDUCATION THROUGH PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA VLOGS. AGENCY TRAININGS AND EDUCATION ON DEAFNESS, DEAF CULTURE, ADA COMPLIANCE, AND EFFECTIVE USE OF AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL) INTERPRETERS. DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND PREVENTION. AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES. SIGNSTAGE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, A THEATER ARTS PROGRAM THAT INCORPORATES ASL TO PROMOTE DEAF CULTURE AND TOLERANCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1955.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.