Listen and Talk
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 60 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Listen and Talk teaches deaf and hard of hearing children to communicate and learn through listening and spoken language.
- Income
- $4.8 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 85%
- Employees
- 54
- Volunteers
- 37
- Highest pay
- $181,427, education and research director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 60 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 2510 of 10 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 July 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 (4)
- $1.6 million spent. Blended Classrooms - Listen and Talk's Blended Classroom Program provides an inclusive, active learning environment for preschoolers with and without hearing level differences, preparing them for kindergarten using individualized instruction in small classes where they develop essential pre-academic, social-emotional, literacy, and critical thinking skills. Students in the Blended Classrooms benefit from careful monitoring of their personal hearing technology with the support of a Pediatric Audiologist and specially trained Teachers of the Deaf and Educational Assistants. With optimal access to sound and spoken language, each child develops their listening and spoken language skills while also building self-confidence, self-advocacy, and self-determination. Highly qualified Teachers of the Deaf and Special Educators create this specialized learning environment, where each child builds upon the foundation created with their families through the continued use of evidence-based auditory strategies and techniques used during developmentally appropriate learning activities designed to address the different areas of child development. Listen and Talk has added Special Educators, Behavior Technicians, and provided team trainings to strengthen supports for DHH preschoolers with additional special needs. Statistics estimate that at least 40% of DHH children experience an additional special need.
- $1.4 million spent. Birth to Three - Our Birth to Three Program provides high-quality, year-round early education designed to coach and support families in helping their children develop critical listening and spoken language skills, the foundation for future literacy. By fostering a nurturing environment and applying evidence-based practices, we empower every child to reach their full potential. Research consistently highlights the transformative impact of early, specialized services for children with hearing loss. These interventions lead to stronger language development, improved school readiness, and greater academic success. Children who receive early support, like the services offered at Listen and Talk, are more likely to graduate high school, pursue higher education, and achieve long-term success. Listen and Talk's data analytics confirmed referral challenges and identified a correlation between enrollment by 4 months of age and stronger assessment scores.
- $408,115 spent. LSL Therapy - Listen and Talk values a family-centered approach across all our programs. The family coaching that is essential to strong outcomes in birth-to-three services continues for Listen and Talk's preschoolers and school-age students. Certified Speech-Language Pathologists and Listening and Spoken Language Specialists offer one-on-one coaching to families, supporting preschool- and elementary-aged children with tailored sessions emphasizing continued listening, language, and social-emotional development. Listen and Talk's LSL Therapy has planned for a virtual model to provide family coaching in their home setting.
- $558,423 spent. Outreach - Listen and Talk recognizes that the unique needs of a DHH student require attention across all stages, ages, and grade levels. Our Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf and Audiologist(s) provide consultation, coaching for professionals, and direct services to DHH students across the Puget Sound region. Listen and Talk's LSL coaching, specialized LSL education services, student assessments, and IEP development enhance classroom success for DHH students and support their teaching teams in their local schools. Audiology Support - The Audiology Team at the Harry Levinson Memorial Audiology Center at Listen and Talk collaborates with clinical audiologists and provides technological support to optimize children's access to sound and speech, with intentional equipment monitoring and regular hearing assessments that guide individualized services. With a sound booth onsite at Listen and Talk's Kirkland facility, hearing levels, speech understanding, and the functionality of hearing technology are all confirmed through a defined assessment protocol. This information helps educate families, inform providers, and guide the development of effective services for each child and family. Listen and Talk has successfully used a portable audiometer to support timely access to audiological information for students and their families and teaching teams. Research - Listen and Talk knows that with the use of appropriate hearing technology and evidence-informed, family-focused practices, children who are deaf or hard of hearing can communicate and learn through listening and spoken language. Our teams and families participate in research that advances best practices, optimizes outcomes, and promotes the improvement of listening and spoken language services. We value our professional and family partners in these efforts and actively work with teams at WWU and UW in research efforts. Listen and Talk's research leadership leads efforts to influence best practices through contributions to the greater body of knowledge related to services and outcomes for DHH children and youth who rely on listening and spoken language. Listen and Talk has presented their findings at national conferences. Mentorship - Listen and Talk staff offers professional development to expand the number of specialists trained in listening and spoken language for children and youth with hearing loss. This important support can be offered locally or virtually to ensure that distance does not pose an access barrier. Listen and Talk providers receive mentoring during the 3-5 year process to receive their Listening and Spoken Language Specialist certification. Two team members achieved their LSLS certifications during FY25.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 December 1996.
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.