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Learning Matters

EIN 56-2584397 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 61 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

LEARNING MATTERS, INC. WORKS TO HELP K-12 STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES REACH THEIR ACADEMIC AND HUMAN POTENTIAL BY PROVIDING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY ASSESSMENT, TUTORING AND ADVOCACY. LEARNING MATTERS PROVIDES GRANTS (TUITION SUBSIDIES), ATTAINED BY FUNDRAISING, FOR SERVICES BASED ON FAMILY INCOME.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
43
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$74,184, 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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 61 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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 (3)
  1. $523,133 spent. ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING - THE MAJORITY OF WORK INVOLVES PROVIDING ONE-ON-ONE LEARNING SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS IMPACTED BY A LEARNING DISABILITY, PRIMARILY DYSLEXIA. INTERVENTIONAL TUTORING, SUCH AS THE STRUCTURED LITERACY WE PROVIDE, IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND UNATTAINABLE FOR LOW-MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES. WE PROVIDE THIS SERVICE AT LITTLE OR NO COST BASED ON FAMILY INCOME. A CREDENTIALED TEACHER TRAINED IN THE SPECIFIC AREA OF NEED IS THOUGHTFULLY PAIRED WITH EACH STUDENT. TYPICALLY, TEACHERS WORK WITH THEIR STUDENTS TWICE PER WEEK FOR AN HOUR EACH SESSION. INTERVENTION COULD LAST A SEMESTER OR SEVERAL YEARS. STUDENTS DO NOT NEED TO HAVE A DIAGNOSED LEARNING DISABILITY TO RECEIVE SERVICES.
  2. $326,893 spent. ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT - AN ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT PROVIDES DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNIQUE WAY EACH STUDENT LEARNS. OUR EXPERIENCED TEAM OF EVALUATORS ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELDS AND INCLUDE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, AND READING DIAGNOSTICIANS. OUR EVALUATORS USE NATIONALLY NORMED PROTOCOLS THAT CAN IDENTIFY A LEARNING DISABILITY, ADD/ADHD AND ANXIETY. EVEN IF A LEARNING DISABILITY IS NOT DIAGNOSED, PARENTS CAN LEARN THEIR CHILD'S STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES WHICH MAY BE THE CAUSE OF LEARNING STRUGGLES IN SCHOOL. THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS OF A PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL AND/OR PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL ASSESSMENT CAN BE USED FOR ELIGIBILITY OF ACCOMMODATIONS THROUGH AN IEP OR 504 PLAN IN SCHOOL.
  3. $13,156 spent. SCHOOL ADVOCACY - ACQUIRING ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS AND SUPPORTS FOR A STUDENT IN THE SCHOOL CAN BE AN OVERWHELMING AND INTIMIDATING PROCESS. LEARNING MATTERS ADVOCATES HELP PARENTS NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX PROCESS AND ATTEND SCHOOL MEETINGS ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT. INVOLVING AN ADVOCATE ALLOWS THE PARENT TO EMOTIONALLY SUPPORT THEIR CHILD WHILE THE ADVOCATE HELPS ATTAIN SERVICES BASED ON THE LAW AND WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENT. ADVOCACY IS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO FAMILIES IN NEED.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 May 2007.

    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.