Sound Learning provides instruction for adults in reading, writing, GED studies, in Mason and Thurston Co. Sound Learning is dedicated to improving literacy.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$55K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $86K a year · 21% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$55K
to officers and key staff · 16% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 16% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
16 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 15.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $46K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$25K
5% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 5% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$369K
-28% vs prior year
Spent
$344K
To programs
81%
Net assets
$496K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$369K
FY2023▼ -28%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$307K
FY2021$276K
FY2022$510K
FY2023$369K
FY2024$538K
FY2025$424K
Expenses
$344K
FY2023▲ +33%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$280K
FY2021$242K
FY2022$258K
FY2023$344K
FY2024$368K
FY2025$414K
Net assets
$496K
FY2023▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$184K
FY2021$218K
FY2022$470K
FY2023$496K
FY2024$665K
FY2025$675K

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · see the original

990 PDF Claim
You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 1991.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $279K Management & general 15% · $52K Fundraising 4% · $13K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

9 people listed on the 990; $55K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
Exec. Director
$55,000Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Shannon Klasell$60,000$55,000$55,000$50,833$50,000$49,999

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Sound Learning executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Teaches adults reading, writing, and GED skills in Mason and Thurston Counties.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $279K · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Adult Basic Education programs include English, reading writing, math and technology skills along with GED prep and High School + Diploma; academic, workplace, and training or college ready skills upgrade, and citizenship prep. Sound Learnings mission is to educate adults to succeed and contribute to society.

$279Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$46K
See all 4 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$369K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$366K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2K
Money outPt IX
$344K
Ln 25
Programscol B$279K
Managementcol C$52K
Fundraisingcol D$13K
Owns and owesPt X
$496K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$443K
Total assetsLn 16$520K
LiabilitiesLn 26$25K
PeoplePt VI, VII
9
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$366K
Government grantsLn 1e$318K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$14K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$369K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$356K
SavingsLn 2$87K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$443K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$16K
Total assetsLn 16$520K
LiabilitiesLn 26$25K
Net assetsLn 32$496K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 59
VolunteersI 689
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$457K$443K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$11K$16K
Total assetsLn 16$493K$520K
LiabilitiesLn 26$22K$25K
Net assetsLn 32$470K$496K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$55K$21K$34K$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$188K$182K$0$6K
Payroll taxesLn 10$22K$18K$3K$582
Accounting feesLn 11c$1K$0$1K$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$3K$1K$933$348
Information technologyLn 14$9K$8K$1K$0
OccupancyLn 16$24K$22K$2K$0
TravelLn 17$1K$1K$12$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$7K$7K$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$2K$0$2K$0
All other expensesLn 24e$32K$18K$8K$6K
Total functional expensesLn 25$344K$279K$52K$13K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $424K$414K$10K$675K 990 PDF
FY2024 $538K$368K$170K$665K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $369K$344K$25K$496K 990 PDF
FY2022 $510K$258K$252K$470K 990 PDF
FY2021 $276K$242K$34K$218K 990 PDF
FY2020 $307K$280K$27K$184K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $369,486 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $512,289$365,763
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $375$1,860
I-10 Investment incomePrior year −$2,201$1,863
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $510,463$369,486
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $192,016$264,922
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $66,287$79,303
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $258,303$344,225
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $252,160$25,261
Part VI · Governance 8 of 8 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $369,486 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$14,176
VIII-1e Government grants$317,926
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$33,661
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$365,763
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$1,860
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,863$1,863
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,860 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,863$369,486
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $344,225 across 11 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $21,467 · Management $33,533 · Fundraising $0$55,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $181,514 · Management $0 · Fundraising $6,487$188,001
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $18,393 · Management $2,946 · Fundraising $582$21,921
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $1,430 · Fundraising $0$1,430
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,455 · Management $933 · Fundraising $348$2,736
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $7,547 · Management $1,474 · Fundraising $0$9,021
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $22,101 · Management $2,112 · Fundraising $0$24,213
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,387 · Management $12 · Fundraising $0$1,399
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $7,061 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$7,061
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $1,679 · Fundraising $0$1,679
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $18,458 · Management $7,704 · Fundraising $5,602$31,764
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $279,383 · Management $51,823 · Fundraising $13,019$344,225
Part X · Balance sheet $520,279 assets, 10 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $420,569$356,094
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $36,008$87,125
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $25,132$60,734
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $10,879$16,326
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $492,588$520,279
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $22,244$24,674
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $22,244$24,674
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $470,344$495,605
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $470,344$495,605
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $492,588$520,279
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $495,605 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$369,486
XI-2 Total expenses$344,225
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$25,261
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$470,344
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$495,605

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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