Nonprofit · EIN 27-5032142
HELPING EDUCATE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEAF
Also known as HEARD
Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20013
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $995,749 | $661,676 | $334,073 | $1,568,991 | $31,400 | $1,537,591 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $1,155,909 | $619,953 | $535,956 | $1,225,946 | $22,428 | $1,203,518 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $601,903 | $675,408 | -$73,505 | $684,375 | $16,813 | $667,562 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $958,347
- Program service revenue
- $1,600
- Investment income
- $35,802
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $46,529
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $184,491
- Other salaries and wages
- $236,869
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $491,669
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $20,724
- Accounting fees
- $5,294
- Travel
- $3,070
- Program services (functional)
- $326,252
- Management and general (functional)
- $184,398
- Fundraising (functional)
- $151,026
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,225,946
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,568,991
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $31,400
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,537,591
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,537,591
- Gross receipts
- $995,749
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 2
- Year formed
- 2011
- State of legal domicile
- DC
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAJ KRAUS | OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Officer | 30 | $81,917 | $10,449 |
| TRINITY MCFADDEN | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 30 | $81,677 | $10,449 |
| DUSTIN GIBSON | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JESSICA MURGEL | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 4 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAJ KRAUS | OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Officer | 30 | $79,792 | $9,393 |
| TRINITY MCFADDEN | SECRETARY/COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 30 | $78,832 | $9,393 |
| DUSTIN GIBSON | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JESSICA MURGEL | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TALILA A LEWIS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 30 | $78,125 | $8,573 |
| KAJ KRAUS | TREASURER THRU MID-DEC/OPS. DIR. Trustee or director, Officer | 30 | $74,500 | $8,190 |
| TRINITY MCFADDEN | COMMS DIR./SECRETARY BEG. DEC Trustee or director, Officer | 30 | $73,420 | $8,190 |
| CONNELL CROOMS | PRESIDENT THRU MID-DECEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DUSTIN GIBSON | VP THRU DEC/PRESIDENT BEG. DEC Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GABRIEL ARKLES | SECRETARY THRU MID-DECEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JESSICA MURGEL | TREASURER BEG. DECEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LIAM ESPOSITO | COMMUNITY CONTACT THRU MID-DECEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NAJMA JOHNSON | STAFF CONTACT THRU MID-DECEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 1160, WASHINGTON, DC 20013-1160
- In care of
- % HEARD
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- KAJ KRAUS, PO BOX 1160, WASHINGTON, DC 20013
- Signed the 990
- KAJ KRAUS, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (202) 381-0112
- Website
- BEHEARDDC.ORG
- 990-N for 2016 filed under this EIN
- Most likely by a chapter, club or affiliate (it says receipts are normally $50,000 or less). Officer: Talila Lewis, PO Box 1160, Washington DC 20013. Mailing address: PO BOX 1160, WASHINGTON DC 200131160. Website: www.behearddc.org
- Return prepared by
- WEGNER CPAS LLP
Mission
HEARD IS A CROSS-DISABILITY ABOLITIONIST ORGANIZATION THAT UNITES ACROSS IDENTITIES, COMMUNITIES, MOVEMENTS, AND BORDERS TO END ABLEISM, RACISM, CAPITALISM, AND ALL OTHER FORMS OF OPPRESSION AND VIOLENCE. HEARD SUPPORTS DISABLED PEOPLE AND OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCE ABLEISM BY REJECTING DISABILITY HIERARCHIES AND RIGID DEFINITIONS OF DISABILITY, AND BY RECOGNIZING DEAF PEOPLE AS PART OF DISABILITY COMMUNITIES. HEARD WORKS TO INCREASE OUR COLLECTIVE CAPACITY TO IDENTIFY, UNDERSTAND, AND CHALLENGE OPPRESSION THROUGH GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, PEER SUPPORT, MUTUAL AID, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH.
Program accomplishments
- INCARCERATED ADVOCACY: HEARD ADVOCATES FOR DEAF/DISABLED DEFENDANTS, CURRENTLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE, AND THEIR LOVED ONES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES BY ORGANIZING FOR THE RELEASE OF DEAF/DISABLED ELDERS; CONNECTING INCARCERATED PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AS A DISABLED INCARCERATED PERSON, RE-ENTRY SUPPORT, POLITICAL EDUCATION, AND MORE THROUGH HEARD'S PRISON CORRESPONDENCE EFFORTS; SUPPORTING DEAF/DISABLED PEOPLE FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES AND THEIR LOVED ONES TO NAVIGATE THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM WITH INCREASED ACCESS, POWER, AND AGENCY; ADVOCATING FOR ACCESS TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS (VIDEOPHONE, CAPTIONED TELEPHONES, ETC.) IN PRISONS AND JAILS; EDUCATING ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE DEAF/DISABLED CLIENTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW DISABILITY IMPACTS THEIR ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP AND THEIR CLIENTS' CASES; AND, PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO MULTIPLY-MARGINALIZED DEAF/DISABLED INCARCERATED PEOPLE THROUGH HEARD'S COMMISSARY FUND AND HEARD'S PRISON VISITATION FUND.REENTRY SUPPORT: HEARD OFFERS REENTRY SUPPORT TO DEAF/DISABLED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE RECENTLY RELEASED FROM PRISON. THIS SUPPORT BY AND FOR DEAF/DISABLED PEOPLE IS TRAUMA-INFORMED AND INCLUSIVE OF THE MANY WAYS WE COMMUNICATE AND HEAL. IT INCLUDES: PEER SUPPORT SPACES TO HEAL, GROW, AND DEVELOP WITHOUT PUNITIVE INSTITUTIONAL INFLUENCES; OPPORTUNITIES TO JOIN PEERS TO LEARN ABOUT CARCERAL SYSTEMS AND REDUCE CHANCES OF REINCARCERATION, DEVELOP CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND HARM REDUCTION SKILLS, AND DEVELOP SKILLS TO BECOME PEER EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY INTERPRETERS AND/OR FACILITATORS; ASSISTANCE AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ACCESS HOUSING, FOOD, CLOTHING, AND OTHER URGENT NEEDS UPON RELEASE; ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY (E.G., CELL PHONES, TABLETS, LAPTOPS) AND TECHNOLOGY TRAINING IN ASL TO CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY AND TO INCREASE EXPOSURE TO INFORMATION IN ASL; AND, ADVOCACY AND ASSISTANCE NAVIGATING PAROLE/PROBATION/SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS.MOVEMENT BUILDING: HEARD PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS FOR CURRENTLY AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE, THEIR LOVED ONES, LEGAL ADVOCATES, DISABLED COMMUNITIES, AND ACCOMPLICES. WE RUN A GROUP OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED DISABLED/DEAF PEOPLE, AND THEIR LOVED ONES, WHO ARE IMPACTED BY PRISON AND POLICING SYSTEMS THAT IS CALLED THE PUBLIC EDUCATION TEAM (PET). EACH ROUND OF PET INCLUDES FOUR-TO-SIX MONTHS OF GATHERINGS WHERE WE DEVELOP OUR SKILLS AS PEER EDUCATORS, LEARN ABOUT SYSTEMS OF POLICING, EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF ABOLITION AND PRISONS, AND LEARN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND HARM REDUCTION SKILLS. COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO JOIN PET ARE PAID FOR THEIR TIME IN LEARNING WITH AND FROM EACH OTHER. HEARD ALSO OFFERS PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS FOR DEAF/DISABLED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MOVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS, ATTORNEYS, LEGAL WORKERS, ADVOCATES, UNIVERSITIES, NONPROFITS, SCHOOLS, AND MORE ON TOPICS RELATED TO OUR WORK.Expenses $326,252 · grants $46,529 · revenue $1,600
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 27-5032142
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2013
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Crime and legal-related (I80)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,568,991
- Income (IRS master file)
- $995,749
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $995,749 | $661,676 | $1,568,991 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $1,155,909 | $619,953 | $1,225,946 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $601,903 | $675,408 | $684,375 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $913,069 | $631,182 | $759,137 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2016 Officer: Talila Lewis Filed under this EIN, most likely by a chapter or affiliate | December 31, 2016 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 27-5032142).
Questions about HELPING EDUCATE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEAF
- What is the EIN of HELPING EDUCATE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEAF?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of HELPING EDUCATE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEAF is 27-5032142.
- Is HELPING EDUCATE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEAF tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2013.
- Are donations to HELPING EDUCATE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEAF tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does HELPING EDUCATE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEAF file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of HELPING EDUCATE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEAF due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did HELPING EDUCATE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEAF last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of HELPING EDUCATE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEAF?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names KAJ KRAUS.
- Who are the officers and directors of HELPING EDUCATE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEAF?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 4 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $81,917 (KAJ KRAUS, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does HELPING EDUCATE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF THE DEAF have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $995,749, expenses of $661,676 and total assets of $1,568,991 at year end.
Other nonprofits in WASHINGTON
- LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION EIN 52-1039060 · last filed 990 for 2025
- KIND INC EIN 26-2763038 · last filed 990 for 2024
- DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION EIN 82-1007988 · last filed 990 for 2025
- NAMATI INC EIN 45-2796201 · last filed 990 for 2025
- THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BAR FOUNDATION EIN 52-1109547 · last filed 990 for 2025
- AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION EIN 86-2190372 · last filed 990 for 2024
- EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS EIN 52-1469738 · last filed 990 for 2025
- LOUIS D BRANDEIS CENTER INC EIN 45-3204617 · last filed 990 for 2025
All nonprofits in WASHINGTON · District of Columbia · Crime and legal-related