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Dysphonia International Inc

EIN 86-3907079 · Itasca, IL

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

DYSPHONIA INTERNATIONAL IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY SPASMODIC DYSPHONIA AND RELATED VOICE CONDITIONS BY FINDING ANSWERS THROUGH RESEARCH, BUILDING UNDERSTANDING THROUGH EDUCATION AND AWARENESS, AND RAISING HOPE THROUGH SUPPORT FOR THOSE LIVING WITH THESE CHALLENGING VOCAL DISORDERS. WHILE THESE DISORDERS ARE NOT LIFE-THREATENING, THEY ARE LIFE-ALTERING AND CAN IMPACT EVERY FACET OF A PERSON'S LIFE. OUR COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, RESEARCHERS, FAMILIES, AND INDIVIDUALS WORKS TOGETHER TO PROVIDE CONNECTION, SUPPORT, AND A SHARED PATH FORWARD, HELPING THOSE AFFECTED BY VOICE DISORDERS OVERCOME ADVERSITY AND THRIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT CARES ABOUT THEM AND THEIR VOICE.

Income
$752,954
Spending
$587,766
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
66.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
4
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$96,423, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 66.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 54% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 March 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 (3)
  1. $168,432 spent. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS EFFORTS EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY. DYSPHONIA INTERNATIONAL HOSTED A SUCCESSFUL SYMPOSIUM IN TAMPA, FL, AND PUBLISHED THE ANNUAL ISSUE OF OUR VOICE. THE ORGANIZATION EXHIBITED AT THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES VOICE FOUNDATION, FALL VOICE, AND ASHA AND PRESENTED TO 50 LARYNGOLOGY FELLOWS AT FALL VOICE. IN CELEBRATION OF WORLD VOICE DAY, A GLOBAL CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED UNDER THE THEME RESONATE, EDUCATE, CELEBRATE!. DYSPHONIA INTERNATIONAL COORDINATED 22 GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS FOR GRADUATE SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY PROGRAMS AND PARTICIPATED AS A GUEST ON SIX PODCAST EPISODES. THE 5TH ANNUAL WALK FOR TALK DREW GLOBAL PARTICIPANTS AND RAISED $125,910, WHICH WAS MATCHED TO TOTAL $251,820, CONTRIBUTING TO A FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF $1,226,980 TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AND PROGRAMS.
  2. $72,310 spent. DYSPHONIA INTERNATIONAL ALSO STRENGTHENED ITS SUPPORT PROGRAMS BY ORGANIZING 64 VIRTUAL, 31 IN-PERSON, AND FOUR HYBRID SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS. AN IN-PERSON SKILL-BUILDING LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP WAS HELD FOR 27 PARTICIPANTS, AND REGULAR VIRTUAL MEETINGS CONTINUED FOR SUPPORT NETWORK LEADERS, INCLUDING AREA CONTACT LEADERS AND SUPPORT GROUP LEADERS. THE LEADERSHIP LIBRARY WAS EXPANDED TO OFFER ENHANCED RESOURCES FOR VOLUNTEER LEADERS. A VIRTUAL WORKSHOP WITH CERTIFIED COACH TRISH JORDAN PROVIDED ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND SUPPORT. VOLUNTEER EXCELLENCE WAS RECOGNIZED WITH THE MIDGE KOVACS AWARD AND THE DOT SOWERBY AWARENESS AWARD. THE QUARTERLY VOICES OF SUPPORT ONLINE NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTED THE ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE VOLUNTEER SUPPORT NETWORK.
  3. $237,866 spent. DYSPHONIA INTERNATIONAL ADVANCED ITS RESEARCH MISSION BY FUNDING TWO NEW RESEARCH GRANTS AND CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR A SECOND-YEAR PROJECT. THE ORGANIZATION STREAMLINED ITS GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS BY INTRODUCING A PRELIMINARY LETTER OF INQUIRY STAGE. THIRTEEN TRAVEL AWARDS AND TWO CONFERENCE AWARDS WERE GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS PRESENTING AT MAJOR PROFESSIONAL VOICE ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. DYSPHONIA INTERNATIONAL ALSO CO-PRESENTED AND SPONSORED A WORKSHOP AT THE ANNUAL BRIDGE TO AI CONFERENCE WITH THE FOUNDERS OF THE WHISPP APP. REGULAR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD AND RESEARCHERS ENCOURAGED THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW VOICE RESEARCH PROJECTS. ADDITIONALLY, PLANNING BEGAN FOR A VIRTUAL RESEARCH WORKSHOP FOR FUNDED INVESTIGATORS IN MID-2025, AND THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED ITS SUPPORT OF THE BRAIN BANK AND GLOBAL DYSTONIA REGISTRY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 2026.

    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 December 2021.

    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.