Complaint Review: Starkey Hearing Foundation Brandon Sawalich President and CEO and Elizabeth Sweet

In 2021, I donated a set of practically new (worn 5-10x) Phonak hearing aids (worth ~$4500) I purchased in 2015 to Starkey Hearing Foundation. I found Starkey online and saw that they accepted donations and are a 501-c-3 organization, and they stated they would provide a tax deductible receipt for hearing aid donations. I printed out these materials so I would follow the instructions perfectly, included my return address and phone number. I donated these hearing aids in GOOD FAITH and waited 6-8 weeks they requested for a response. At week 10, I had heard nothing, so I called and they told me they aren't providing TD Receipts anymore.

So now, I get no tax deduction and they CONFISCATED my property! I spoke with Elizabeth Sweet, who continually denied my request for a receipt, in addition to denying to return my hearing aids to me. I also sent a letter to Brandon Sawalich, the President and CEO (Certified letter with a return receipt). I requested to either have my hearing aids returned or to provide a tax-deductible receipt for my donation. He didn't even bother to respond.

The right thing to do would have been to contact me at the point of receipt to explain the situation and offer to return the hearing aids to me. This wasn't done. The company didn't even make an effort to contact me or inform me.