Desert Voices
Desert Voices is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides Listening and Spoken Language early intervention and preschool services for deaf and hard-of-hearing children from birth through age five or six, funded primarily through private donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersPhoenix, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Desert Voices does
Desert Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996 in Phoenix, Arizona, that provides early intervention and preschool services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, from infancy (as young as four weeks) through age five or six. The organization teaches oral language skills through its Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) approach, delivered via individual Little Listeners sessions, Jump Start school-readiness programming, Toddler and Preschool classrooms, pediatric audiology services (now open to community patients), the Hear for Kids early intervention program (in partnership with the Arizona Early Intervention Program), and a Parent Portal for family engagement. Services are delivered in person at a single Phoenix campus at low student-to-teacher ratios of 1:2-1:3.
The business model is donation-driven: more than 75% of the operating budget comes from private contributions by corporations, foundations, and individuals, with no state or federal funding. The organization supplements donations through fundraising events (notably the 22nd Annual Schuff Steel Charity Golf Classic), tax-credit programs (Arizona Private School Tax Credit, ECC SAY Tax Credit, Executive Council 70 SAY), and Birdies for Charity through the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Customer acquisition is referral-led, anchored by relationships with the Arizona Newborn Hearing Screening Program (which screens 97% of Arizona newborns), pediatricians, audiologists, school districts, and state referral agencies. During the 2023-2024 school year, Desert Voices delivered 17,346 preschool direct language instructional hours, 8,945 early intervention service hours, 645 hours of professional development, and $235,000 in scholarship dollars.
Desert Voices firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Desert Voices
- Legal name
- Desert Voices
- Website
- https://desert-voices.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Desert Voices is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides Listening and Spoken Language early intervention and preschool services for deaf and hard-of-hearing children from birth through age five or six, funded primarily through private donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Desert Voices industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early Childhood Education Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (62441), Child Care Services (6244), Educational Support Services (61171), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Special Needs Early Intervention & Preschool Programs (EDAKAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Speech & Language Therapy (Early Intervention) (EDACAFAB), Therapeutic & Developmental Preschools (Specialized Support) (EDACABAO), Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG), Family Literacy & Early Language Development Programs (EDACALAE)
Keywords
Where Desert Voices is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Phoenix
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Desert Voices business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Desert Voices relies heavily on private donations. More than 75% of their budget comes from generous corporations, foundations, and individuals. They do not receive State or Federal funding.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Desert Voices product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Desert Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides early intervention and preschool services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, from infants as young as four weeks old through age five or six, using a Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) approach. Its offerings include individual Little Listeners sessions, Jump Start school-readiness, Toddler and Preschool classrooms, pediatric Audiology Services, and the Hear for Kids early intervention program. The organization also delivers parent coaching and family-centered support to prepare children for mainstream schooling with hearing peers.
Product overview
Desert Voices operates as a single, unified nonprofit listening and spoken language program rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. All offerings—the Listening and Spoken Language Program as the core service—are delivered through integrated components: Little Listeners (individual sessions), Jump Start (school readiness), Toddler Program, Preschool Program, Audiology Services, and Hear for Kids (early intervention), supported by a Parent Portal tool for family engagement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hear for Kids: A program under Desert Voices focused on supporting children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families.
Products and services
- Listening and Spoken Language Program A comprehensive Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) program that teaches children who are deaf or hard of hearing the oral language skills needed to talk and understand spoken language, preparing them to mainstream into their school of choice with hearing peers. Delivered at the Phoenix, Arizona campus for children from infancy through age five or six.
- Little Listeners Sessions Individual early intervention sessions working with infants and young children from four weeks old to develop listening and spoken language skills through one-on-one therapy. Designed for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families.
- Jump Start A program designed to prepare children for school entry by developing their listening, language, and pre-academic skills before transitioning to kindergarten.
- Toddler Program A classroom-based program for toddlers with hearing loss that focuses on developing listening, language, and social skills in a structured group setting.
- Preschool Program A preschool classroom program for children ages 3-5 or 6 that provides direct language instructional hours in a group setting to develop spoken language and pre-academic skills alongside typically hearing peers.
- Audiology Services Pediatric audiology services providing hearing evaluations, hearing aid fitting, and ongoing auditory testing for children with hearing loss. The organization now accepts community patients beyond its enrolled students.
- Hear for Kids An early intervention program for children birth to age 3 who are deaf or hard of hearing, providing family-centered services and support through a partnership with the Arizona Early Intervention Program.
Quantifiable outcome
- Children prepare to mainstream into school of choice with hearing children
Companies that use Desert Voices
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Desert Voices technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Desert Voices partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Schuff SteelminorSchuff Steel hosts the annual Schuff Steel Charity Golf Classic as a fundraising event benefiting Desert Voices.
- Birdies for Charity (Waste Management Phoenix Open)minorA charity pledge drive program through the Waste Management Phoenix Open that allows Arizona charities to receive donations based on birdies made during the tournament.
- Executive Council 70minorExecutive Council 70's Support Arizona Youth (SAY) campaign is approved for the Arizona Tax Credit. Desert Voices is a Qualifying Charity receiving donations through this program.
- Arizona Private School Tax Credit ProgramminorTax credit program that allows donors to support qualifying charities like Desert Voices.
- Arizona ECC SAY Tax CreditminorArizona Education Charitable Tax Credit program supporting qualifying charities.
- Arizona Newborn Hearing Screening ProgramcoreDesert Voices works with the 97% of newborns screened in Arizona for hearing loss, receiving referrals through this statewide screening program.
- Corporate PartnersminorCorporate sponsors and partners who support Desert Voices through various giving programs.
- Pediatricians and AudiologistscoreProfessional healthcare providers who refer families to Desert Voices and collaborate on early intervention for children with hearing loss.
- School Districts and State Referral AgenciescoreEducational institutions and government agencies that collaborate with Desert Voices to identify children and facilitate enrollment in appropriate programs.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Desert Voices competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech: National nonprofit operating schools and early intervention programs for deaf/hard of hearing children using listening and spoken language approaches, with multiple campuses and broad program offerings comparable to Desert Voices' integrated service suite.
- John Tracy Center: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing listening and spoken language early intervention and preschool services for deaf/hard of hearing children, with parent coaching and audiology services — a near-identical service model to Desert Voices.
- Hearts for Hearing: Oklahoma-based nonprofit providing pediatric audiology and listening and spoken language services from birth through school age, with a comparable integrated clinical + education model.
- St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf: Chicago/St. Louis-based nonprofit providing early intervention, preschool, and audiology services for deaf and hard of hearing children using oral education approaches, mirroring the Desert Voices service architecture.
- CID - Central Institute for the Deaf (Washington University): St. Louis-based institute providing listening and spoken language early intervention, preschool, and audiology services for deaf/hard of hearing children, with a strong research and clinical heritage directly comparable to Desert Voices.
- Sound Beginnings at Utah State University: University-affiliated early intervention program providing listening and spoken language services for infants and toddlers with hearing loss, comparable in clinical scope and mission alignment to Desert Voices.
- Mama Lere Hearing School at Vanderbilt: Nashville-based early intervention program for children with hearing loss using listening and spoken language, paired with pediatric audiology — a highly comparable service portfolio to Desert Voices.
- River School: Washington DC-area preschool and early intervention program serving children with hearing loss using listening and spoken language, with embedded audiology services comparable to Desert Voices' integrated model.
Emerging players
- Hearing First: National nonprofit focused on advancing listening and spoken language outcomes for children with hearing loss through education, content, and community — a content/advocacy peer that supplies Desert Voices blog content and amplifies its mission.
- Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell): National membership and advocacy organization supporting listening and spoken language for deaf/hard of hearing individuals, providing resources, scholarship, and professional development relevant to organizations like Desert Voices.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Desert Voices social profiles
Digital presenceDesert Voices financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Desert Voices leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Desert Voices funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Desert Voices M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Desert Voices
What does Desert Voices do?
Desert Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides early intervention and preschool services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, from infants as young as four weeks old through age five or six, using a Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) approach. Its offerings include individual Little Listeners sessions, Jump Start school-readiness, Toddler and Preschool classrooms, pediatric Audiology Services, and the Hear for Kids early intervention program. The organization also delivers parent coaching and family-centered support to prepare children for mainstream schooling with hearing peers.
Is Desert Voices a public or private company?
Desert Voices is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Desert Voices founded?
Desert Voices was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Desert Voices based?
Desert Voices is headquartered in Phoenix, United States, in the North America region.
How does Desert Voices make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Contributions.
Who are Desert Voices's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, John Tracy Center, Hearts for Hearing, St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, CID - Central Institute for the Deaf (Washington University), Sound Beginnings at Utah State University, Mama Lere Hearing School at Vanderbilt and River School. Emerging players are Hearing First and Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell).
Does Desert Voices have an API?
No public API is recorded for Desert Voices.
What industry is Desert Voices in?
Desert Voices's product category is Early Childhood Education Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAAAE, Special Needs Early Intervention & Preschool Programs, with a secondary code of EDACAFAB, Speech & Language Therapy (Early Intervention). Its NAICS code is 62441 and its SIC code is 8200.