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Magnolia Speech School for the Deaf

EIN 64-0435317 · Madison, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MAGNOLIA SPEECH SCHOOL EXISTS TO ENABLE CHILDREN WITH COMMUNICATION DISORDERS TO DEVELOP THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH SPOKEN LANGUAGE AND LITERACY.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
14.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
45
Volunteers
85

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $2.5 million spent. MAGNOLIA SPEECH SCHOOL EXISTS TO TEACH CHILDREN WITH SIGNIFICANT COMMUNICATIVE DISORDERS, INCLUDING HEARING LOSS AND SEVERE LANGUAGE DISORDERS, TO LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND, TO SPEAK AND TO BE UNDERSTOOD AND TO READ WITH COMPREHENSION. THE GOAL OF THE SCHOOL IS TO PREPARE THESE STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND GRADUATE FROM THE PROGRAM TO MAINSTREAM SUCCESSFULLY INTO A MORE CONVENTIONAL EDUCATIONAL SETTING IN THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR THEIR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL OF CHOICE. MAGNOLIA SPEECH SCHOOL OFFERS A LIFECHANGING CURRICULUM WITH SPECIFIC GOALS, CRITERION AND ACTIVITIES LISTED FOR OVER 2,500 SKILLS IN THE AREAS OF AUDITION, RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE, EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE, SPEECH, READING, MATH, SOCIAL STUDIES, SCIENCE, THE ASSOCIATION METHOD, FINE MOTOR, GROSS MOTOR, SOCIAL INTERACTION AND AUDITORY PROCESSING. CLASSES CONTAIN NO MORE THAN 38 STUDENTS WITH A TEACHER AND AN ASSISTANT. SUPPORT SERVICES ARE OFFERED FOR AUDIOLOGY, SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AS NEEDED. IN ADDITION TO CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND MUSIC. EACH STUDENT HAS A SERVICE PLAN AS OUTLINED BY THE MS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE EVALUATION AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES IN THE HACKETT BOWER CLINIC AT MAGNOLIA SPEECH SCHOOL AND A STATEWIDE HOME BASED EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH HEARING LOSS. THE SCHOOL SERVES CHILDREN THROUGHOUT MISSISSIPPI (MANY COMMUTE AND/OR RELOCATE FOR THESE UNIQUE, LIFECHANGING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES).MAGNOLIA SPEECH SCHOOL HAS EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS IN TRANSITIONING CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING AND LANGUAGED DISORDERED INTO REGULAR EDUCATION. RECORDS INDICATE THAT IN THE LAST 15 YEARS, THE SCHOOL HAS MAINSTREAMED 74% OF THE STUDENTS TO REGULAR CLASSES WITH 10% MORE RETURNING TO THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH SOME RESOURCE HELP IN SPEECH AND/OR READING. AT MAGNOLIA SPEECH SCHOOL EVERY STUDENT'S PROGRESS IS TRACKED THROUGH CRITERION REFERENCED GOALS THAT ARE LISTED ON A SERVICE PLAN (SIMILAR TO AN IEP), BY ANNUAL FORMAL EVALUATIONS AND BY AN ANALYSIS OF ONGOING LANGUAGE SAMPLES. THE SCHOOL MAINTAINS AN ACCREDITED STATUS FROM THE MS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE ADVANCED NETWORK.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1958.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.