Northwest School for Hearing Impaired Children
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Using Signing Exact English (S.E.E.) and oral communication we prepare deaf and hard-of-hearing children to be self-confident, articulate and academically competitive learners, and engaged community members.
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $4.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 26.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 56%
- Employees
- 48
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $185,599, head of school
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 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 2512 of 12 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 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 (2)
- $3.0 million spent. SchoolPreschool to 8th Grade: Using Signing Exact English, spoken language and listening, we offer our one-of-a-kind, highly interactive curriculum to children ages preschool through eighth grade. We contract with 20 local school districts and serve approximately 35 - 40 students annually on our Shoreline campus. Our curriculum is aligned with the Common Core State Standards with a focus on building the English grammar and reading skills critical to learning any subject. To teach these essential communication skills, we use research-based instructional methods and highly effective teaching strategies. In addition, the Signing Exact English Program offers sign language instruction to individuals and families throughout the United States. Through a combination of online and in-person coursework, this program helps build strong communication within families and develop the signing proficiency of staff members who work directly with students and families.
- $850,928 spent. Family Conversations is a program for families with children from birth to age three who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Using best practices in the birth to three field combined with our highly interactive curriculum, Family Conversations offers a total communication approach which integrates Signing Exact English (S.E.E.), spoken language and listening. The children served have a variety of hearing levels and live in homes throughout King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. Family Conversations serves approximately 55 - 65 families annually.
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
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 October 13, 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 June 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 October 1979.
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 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.