Provide vocational rehabilitation and independent living training to visually impaired persons

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 5 volunteers and 9 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $25K a year · 6% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
80%
of spending
Looks good: 80% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.9 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $5K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$65K
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$397K
-5% vs prior year
Spent
$444K
To programs
80%
Net assets
$1.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$397K
FY2024▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$615K
FY2021$386K
FY2022$334K
FY2023$419K
FY2024$397K
Expenses
$444K
FY2024▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$399K
FY2021$407K
FY2022$371K
FY2023$404K
FY2024$444K
Net assets
$1.7M
FY2024+0.2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.5M
FY2021$1.9M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$1.7M
FY2024$1.7M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Oct 1971.

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

Where the money goes

80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 80% · $353K Management & general 18% · $78K Fundraising 3% · $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.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Cheryl Martin’s $58K as Executive Director is at the 41st percentile of top reported officer pay among 902 $100K–1M diseases & disorders nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

See Lilac Services for the Blind 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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Empowers visually impaired individuals with job skills and independent living training.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $353K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Independent Living Program

This program provides vocational rehabilitation and independent living skills training, and adaptive devices to visually impaired persons. Number of persons served was approximately 900.

$353Kprogram expense
02

No second program

Pt IX · col B
03

No third program

Pt IX · col B

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$5K
Grants paid · 7 grants · $142K · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$51,197
Unitemized GrantFY2023$20,677
Unitemized GrantFY2022$20,331
Unitemized GrantFY2021$22,440
Unitemized GrantFY2021$244
Unitemized GrantFY2021$219
Unitemized GrantFY2020$27,345

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$397K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$371K
Investment incomeLn 3$20K
Other incomeLn 4–11$6K
Money outPt IX
$444K
Ln 25
Programscol B$353K
Managementcol C$78K
Fundraisingcol D$13K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$109K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$65K
PeoplePt VI, VII
9
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$371K
Government grantsLn 1e$238K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$19K
Investment incomeLn 3$20K
Other incomeLn 4–11$6K
Gains on assetsLn 7$3K
Total revenueLn 12$397K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$54K
SavingsLn 2$55K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$109K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$774K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$269K
Other assetsLn 15$517K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$65K
Net assetsLn 32$1.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 59
VolunteersI 65
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$115K$109K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$737K$774K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$277K$269K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$45K$65K
Net assetsLn 32$1.7M$1.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$51K$51K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$62K$54K$6K$2K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$155K$123K$32K$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$5K$4K$907$45
Other employee benefitsLn 9$875$714$153$8
Payroll taxesLn 10$19K$15K$3K$162
Accounting feesLn 11c$26K$8K$18K$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$4K$4K
Investment management feesLn 11f$8K$0$8K$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$4K$4K$439$307
Office expensesLn 13$5K$4K$489$342
OccupancyLn 16$31K$26K$3K$2K
TravelLn 17$16K$16K$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$398$330$40$28
InterestLn 20$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$11K$9K$1K$752
InsuranceLn 23$10K$8K$989$693
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$34K$27K$4K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$1K$899$108$76
Total functional expensesLn 25$444K$353K$78K$13K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $397K$444K−$47K$1.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $419K$404K$15K$1.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $334K$371K−$38K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $386K$407K−$21K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $615K$399K$217K$1.5M 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $396,744 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $395,865$370,666
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $16,021$19,978
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $7,500$6,100
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $419,386$396,744
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $20,677$51,197
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $242,676$242,235
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $5,670$4,050
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $135,201$146,077
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $404,224$443,559
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $15,162−$46,815
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyNo
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $396,744 across 14 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$19,193
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$237,509
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$113,964
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$370,666
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $16,493 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$16,493
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $6,100 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$6,100
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $3,485 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$3,485
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $26,078 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$396,744
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $443,559 across 19 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $51,197$51,197
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $54,138 · Management $6,223 · Fundraising $1,866$62,227
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $123,368 · Management $31,702 · Fundraising $0$155,070
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $4,246 · Management $907 · Fundraising $45$5,198
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $714 · Management $153 · Fundraising $8$875
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $15,410 · Management $3,293 · Fundraising $162$18,865
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $8,292 · Management $17,600 · Fundraising $0$25,892
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $4,050$4,050
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $7,628 · Fundraising $0$7,628
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $3,644 · Management $439 · Fundraising $307$4,390
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $4,059 · Management $489 · Fundraising $342$4,890
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $25,896 · Management $3,120 · Fundraising $2,184$31,200
IX-17 TravelPrograms $16,280 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$16,280
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $330 · Management $40 · Fundraising $28$398
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $8,912 · Management $1,074 · Fundraising $752$10,738
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $8,212 · Management $989 · Fundraising $693$9,894
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $27,146 · Management $4,247 · Fundraising $2,291$33,684
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $899 · Management $108 · Fundraising $76$1,083
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $352,743 · Management $78,012 · Fundraising $12,804$443,559
Part X · Balance sheet $1,773,906 assets, 20 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $110,847$53,712
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,658$55,272
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $32,782$41,737
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $69,801$58,184
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $6,401$4,871
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $277,051$269,342
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $736,842$773,874
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $512,671$516,914
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,750,053$1,773,906
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $44,883$65,272
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $44,883$65,272
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $592,216$595,680
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,112,954$1,112,954
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,705,170$1,708,634
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,750,053$1,773,906
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,708,634 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$396,744
XI-2 Total expenses$443,559
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$46,815
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,705,170
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$46,793
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$3,486
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,708,634

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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