Hearing Loss Association of America Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HLAA OPENS THE WORLD OF COMMUNICATION TO PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS THROUGH INFORMATION, EDUCATION, SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY. HLAA IS THE LEADING VOICE OF THE GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS IN THE U.S. HLAA ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNICATION ACCESS, END TO STIGMA, AND AWARENESS.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $2.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 28.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 250
- Highest pay
- $215,414, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 28.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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 August 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 (4)
- $354,616 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: WITH 50 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S. HAVING SOME LEVEL OF HEARING LOSS, OUR WORK IMPACTS MILLIONS THROUGH A BROAD-BASED OUTREACH STRATEGY THAT INCLUDES BOTH PRINT AND DIGITAL MEDIA. THE WEBSITE, HEARINGLOSS.ORG, HEARING LIFE E-NEWS, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND ENGAGED FACEBOOK GROUPS ENABLE US TO REACH A LARGE, DIVERSE AUDIENCE. HEARING LIFE MAGAZINE IS DISTRIBUTED IN PRINT AND AVAILABLE DIGITALLY FREE TO THE PUBLIC. HLAA'S PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE MEANINGFUL STORIES SHOWCASING OUR IMPACT, PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES. HLAA CONTINUES TO BE SOUGHT BY MEDIA TO BE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN IN MAJOR NEWS OUTLETS RESULTING IN AWARENESS ABOUT HEARING LOSS AND HEARING HEALTH. HLAA STAFF/BOARD/LEADERS SPEAK AT CONFERENCES, BOTH TO CONSUMERS AND PROFESSIONALS, TO EDUCATE ABOUT COMMUNICATION ACCESS AND PROMOTE A PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH TO HEARING HEALTH CARE ACCESS; EMPLOYMENT IN THE WORKPLACE; TECHNOLOGY ACCESS INCLUDING THE INDUSTRY-CONSUMER ALLIANCE FOR ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY; WALK4HEARING IN 20 CITIES; FREE, CAPTIONED WEBINARS
- $717,255 spent. WALK4HEARING/HLAA CHAPTERS: HLAA CHAPTERS MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHERE THEY LIVE. WITH THE DEDICATION AND CREATIVITY OF CHAPTER VOLUNTEERS, WE ARE MAKING STRIDES IN ACCESSIBILITY, INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT. LOCAL CHAPTERS PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND ADVOCACY FOR COMMUNICATION ACCESS ACROSS THE COUNTY. ADVOCACY SUCCESSES OF CHAPTERS INCLUDE INSTALLING ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEMS IN PUBLIC PLACES, PROMOTING CAPTIONING AT MOVIES AND LIVE THEATER, AND WORK ON STATE HEARING AID COVERAGE LEGISLATION. WALK4HEARING RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT HEARING HEALTH (PROTECTION, SCREENING AND TREATMENT) AND DRAWS THE COMMUNITY. BOTH CHAPTERS AND THE WALK EXPAND OUR REACH TO PEOPLE WITH ALL LEVELS OF HEARING LOSS AND DIVERSITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE UNDERREPRESENTED IN HEARING HEALTH CARE.
- $526,060 spent. CONVENTION AND PEER SUPPORT: THE HLAA CONVENTION AND EXHIBIT HALL, HELD ANNUALLY, PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, IN-DEPTH LEARNING, AND PERSONAL CONNECTION AND SUPPORT. ATTENDEES EXCHANGE IDEAS, ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE AND TAKE WHAT THEY LEARN HOME TO THEIR CHAPTERS, FAMILY AND COMMUNITIES. AN EXHIBIT HALL AND DEMO ROOM SHOWCASE THE LATEST IN HEARING TECHNOLOGY. RENOWNED SPEAKERS AND POLICYMAKERS ENGAGE WITH PARTICIPANTS IN A COMMUNICATION-ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE'S IT'S OKAY NOT TO HEAR WELL. THE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM IS WHERE SCIENTIFIC TOPICS ARE PRESENTED IN A CONSUMER-FRIENDLY WAY TO A LAY AUDIENCE. WE ALSO SHOWCASE HLAA PUBLIC POLICY AND PROGRAMS AND ATTENDEES CAN BE PRESENT AT THE HLAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING FOR A YEAR-IN-REVIEW PRESENTATION. HLAA CHAPTERS HAVE A FOCUSED WORKSHOP TRACK FOR TRAINING.
- $357,725 spent. HLAA IS THE LEADING ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FIGHTING TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE COMMUNICATION, TO BROADEN ACCESS TO HEARING CARE AND TREATMENT, AND TO ENSURE THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS. WE WORK WITH OUR MEMBERS, CHAPTERS, AND PROFESSIONAL AND INDUSTRY ALLIES BEFORE CONGRESS, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, AND REGULATORY AGENCIES, PURSUING POSITIVE CHANGE THAT IMPROVES THE LIVES OF MILLIONS EVERY DAY. HLAA'S UNIQUE POSITION OF THE UNCONFLICTED VOICE WHO REPRESENTS COMSUMERS IS KEY TO PROGESS AND POSITIVE OUTCOMES.ADVOCACY WORK INCLUDES, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: CO-CHAIRED THE TASK FORCE THAT FILED A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT TO THE FCC RESULTING IN THE FCC ISSUING REGULATIONS FOR 100% COMPATIIBILTY WITH CELL PHONES AND HEARING AIDS AND COCHLEAR IMPLANTS, INCLUDING COMMENTS ON VOLUME CONTROL; MOBILIZED SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION THAT WILL BROADEN ACCESS FOR VIDEO, COMMUNICATION, AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES; FILED COMMENTS WITH THE FCC IN SUPPORT OF CREATING QUALITY METRICS FOR CAPTIONED PHONES; PARTNERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ENSURE THAT CONSUMERS KNOW THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THE AIR CARRIER ACCESS ACT (ACAA) AND SAW THE REASUTHORIZATION OF THE FAA LEGISLATION TO INLCUDE COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS IN AIRPORTS AND IN-FLIGHT; ADVOCATED WITH THE U. S. PREVENTIVE SERVICES TASKFORCE TO RECOMMEND HEARING SCREENING IN ADULTS AGES 50+ IN MEDICAL EXAMS; FILED COMMENTS ON UPDATING THE REGULATIONS ON THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT. OUR CONTINUED WORK ON ACCESSIBLE TELEHEALTH WITH CAPTIONS AND MEDICAL ACCESS AND SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION SUCH AS MEDICARE AND THE COMMUNICATIONS, VIDEO, AND TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY ACT, WILL CONTINUE TO BROADEN HEARING ACCESS FOR MILLIONS WITH HEARING LOSS. ADVOCATE FOR CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED FUNDS FOR HEARING RESEARCH.HLAA REPRESENTS THE CONSUMER PERSPECTIVE ON A VARIETY OF GLOBAL AND NATIONAL COMMITTEES, SUCH AS THE FCC'S DISABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, NATIONAL INSITITUES OF HEALTH COUNCIL OF COUNCILS, NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS ADVISORY COUNCIL (NIH), FRIENDS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARING HEALTH CAUCUS, TSA'S DISABILITY AND MEDICAL CONDITION COALITION, HEARING RESTORATION RESEARCH PROGRAM (CDMRP), HEARING HEALTH CARE COLLABORATE, COCHLEAR IMPLANT INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF ACTION, VARIOUS INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARDS, AND OTHERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 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 November 2001.
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.