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The Child Language Center Inc

EIN 86-1037966 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO BENEFIT CHILDREN WITH SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DISORDERS THROUGH SPECIALIZED EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, RESEARCH TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE LEARNING, AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING THAT LINKS RESEARCH TO CLINICAL PRACTICE.

Income
$427,317
Spending
$569,276
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
10
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$29,826, secretary

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 50% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $550,536 spent. THE CLC'S EARLY-INTERVENTION PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE YOUNG CHILDREN ACCESS TO ORAL LANGUAGE AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES, WHICH ARE FOUNDATIONAL FOR SUCCESSFUL LANGUAGE, LITERACY, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT: WINGS ON WORDS (WOW) PRESCHOOL (AUG - MAY) SERVES UP TO 72 CHILDREN, 2-5 YEARS OLD, WITH AND WITHOUT SPEECH-LANGUAGE DEFICITS. APPROXIMATELY 60% OF CHILDREN ENROLLED REQUIRE SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY SERVICES, WHICH ARE EMBEDDED INTO THE PRESCHOOL DAY USING A HYBRID SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL (INDIVIDUAL, SMALL GROUP AND CLASSROOM-BASED). LICENSED AND CERTIFIED SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS ON THE WOW STAFF PLAN, IMPLEMENT AND SUPERVISE THE SERVICE PROVISION AND PRACTICUM OF UP TO FIVE GRADUATE STUDENT CLINICIANS EACH SEMESTER. IN THE CLASSROOM, THE SCHOOL'S EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS HAVE, COLLECTIVELY, AN AVERAGE OF 15+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AT WINGS ON WORDS. THEIR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE CENTER'S MISSION IS AT THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS. IN ADDITION, WOW HAS RECENTLY BEGUN EMPLOYING SLP-ASSISTANTS, WHO DUALLY SERVE AS CLASSROOM INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES. THIS ALLOWS FOR INTENTIONAL, FOCUSED AND NEARLY UNINTERRUPTED SPEECH-LANGUAGE FACILITATION THROUGHOUT THE PRESCHOOL DAY. WOW SUMMER CAMP (MAY - JUNE) CLC'S PROGRAMS BEGAN IN 1991 WITH THE WOW SUMMER CAMP TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR SPEECH-LANGUAGE SERVICES FOR PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN AND SUPPORT SLHS TREATMENT RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. THE CAMP CONTINUES TO BE IN HIGH DEMAND WITH WAIT LISTS FOR ENROLLMENT TYPICALLY FILLED BY EARLY APRIL EACH YEAR. ON AVERAGE, 90% OF THOSE ENROLLED IN SUMMER CAMP REQUIRE SPEECH-LANGUAGE INTERVENTION SERVICES, WHICH ARE PROVIDED MORE INTENSIVELY (FOUR TIMES PER WEEK VS. TWO TIMES PER WEEK) DURING THE 5-WEEK CAMP EXPERIENCE. TO MEET COMMUNITY DEMAND, CAMP ENROLLMENT WAS EXPANDED IN 2014 TO INCLUDE CHILDREN IN K-1ST GRADE, WHO WERE STRUGGLING NEW READERS. THIS CLASSROOM, CALLED SOARING INTO READING, WAS EXPANDED AGAIN IN 2018, TO ALSO INCLUDE CHILDREN IN 2ND GRADE.STATISTICS SIGNAL A CONTINUED, AND URGENTLY GROWING NEED FOR LITERACY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, LIKE OURS, IN THE COMMUNITY. CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH SPEECH-LANGUAGE DEFICITS, AND SPECIFICALLY, DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER (INCIDENCE: 1 IN 15), ARE AT GREATER RISK FOR LITERACY DEFICITS AND ACADEMIC FAILURE.IN 2019, ONLY 46% OF 3RD GRADERS IN PIMA COUNTY WERE READING AT GRADE LEVEL. THE ABILITY TO READ AT PROFICIENT LEVELS BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE TRAJECTORY OF A STUDENT'S EDUCATION. RESEARCH FROM THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOUND THAT "STUDENTS READING PROFICIENTLY BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE ARE FIVE TIMES MORE SUCCESSFUL AT ACHIEVING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS AS THEIR NON-PROFICIENT PEERS." FURTHER COMPELLING RESEARCH FROM A UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO STUDY FOUND THAT LESS THAN 20 PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO WERE READING BELOW GRADE LEVEL ATTENDED COLLEGE, COMPARED TO ABOUT A THIRD OF STUDENTS WHO WERE READING AT GRADE LEVEL, AND NEARLY 60 PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO WERE READING ABOVE GRADE LEVEL.

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 November 6, 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 March 2006.

    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 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.