To inspire individuals to move beyond vision loss and believe in their abilities

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
69¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 25 volunteers and 10 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $70K a year · 7% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
69%
of spending
Fine: 69% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$316K
to officers and key staff · 29% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 29% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $354K in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 0.5 months of spending in cash, plus $354K in investments.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
18
named funders · $238K
Looks good: 18 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$905K
68% of total assets
Worth a look: liabilities are 68% of assets; over 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 7 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$918K
-18% vs prior year
Spent
$1.1M
To programs
69%
Net assets
$427K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$918K
FY2025▼ -18%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$910K
FY2021$882K
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$918K
Expenses
$1.1M
FY2025▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$851K
FY2021$794K
FY2022$987K
FY2023$1.0M
FY2024$1.2M
FY2025$1.1M
Net assets
$427K
FY2025▼ -29%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$50K
FY2021$146K
FY2022$581K
FY2023$627K
FY2024$606K
FY2025$427K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 1950.

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

Where the money goes

69 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 69% · $757K Management & general 10% · $110K Fundraising 21% · $229K

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; $316K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$204,375Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Development
$111,153Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Steven Zelner$204,375$155,000$188,250$150,233$133,965$117,233
Cheryl Megurdichian$111,153$103,653————

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 Second Sense 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 individuals to overcome vision loss and realize their full potential.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $757K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Independent Living Services

Provides education and training on skills clients need to accomplish daily tasks.

$314Kprogram expense
02

Orientation and Mobility

Teaching clients how to travel safely and independently using a white cane.

$236Kprogram expense
03

Adaptive Technology Services

Provides classroom training and individual instruction in the use of adaptive technology.

$207Kprogram 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
See all 18 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$918K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$935K
Investment incomeLn 3$5K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$500
Money outPt IX
$1.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$757K
Managementcol C$110K
Fundraisingcol D$229K
Owns and owesPt X
$427K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$46K
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$905K
PeoplePt VI, VII
9
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$935K
Government grantsLn 1e$206K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$180K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$172K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$500
Investment incomeLn 3$5K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$1K
Total revenueLn 12$918K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$46K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$46K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$354K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$69K
Other assetsLn 15$792K
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$905K
Net assetsLn 32$427K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 510
VolunteersI 625
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$336K$46K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$176K$354K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$16K$69K
Total assetsLn 16$767K$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$161K$905K
Net assetsLn 32$606K$427K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$193K$81K$25K$87K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$410K$348K$2K$60K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$13K$11K$213$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$62K$45K$2K$14K
Payroll taxesLn 10$42K$30K$2K$10K
Accounting feesLn 11c$49K$49K
Investment management feesLn 11f$4K$4K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$56K$53K$395$2K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$490$413$10$67
Office expensesLn 13$32K$27K$679$4K
Information technologyLn 14$31K$26K$671$4K
OccupancyLn 16$114K$87K$17K$10K
TravelLn 17$14K$12K$303$2K
InterestLn 20$528$444$11$73
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$12K$9K$2K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$17K$13K$2K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$44K$14K$310$29K
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$630$1K$109
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.1M$757K$110K$229K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $918K$1.1M−$178K$427K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.1M$1.2M−$32K$606K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.1M$1.0M$38K$627K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.4M$987K$445K$581K 990 PDF
FY2021 $882K$794K$88K$146K 990 PDF
FY2020 $910K$851K$59K$50K 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 M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $917,770 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,133,836$935,462
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$500
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $6,212$5,117
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$17,182−$23,309
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,122,866$917,770
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $732,348$719,576
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $422,340$375,907
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,154,688$1,095,483
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$31,822−$177,713
Part VI · Governance 7 of 7 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members7
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $917,770 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for −$2,566 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$171,653
VIII-1e Government grants$205,717
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$558,092
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$180,241
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$935,462
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Excluded from tax $500$500
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $6,373$6,373
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$1,256−$1,256
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$21,039−$21,039
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $296$296
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission −$2,566 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$15,126$917,770
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,095,483 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $80,873 · Management $25,032 · Fundraising $86,650$192,555
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $347,900 · Management $2,300 · Fundraising $59,800$410,000
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $10,730 · Management $213 · Fundraising $2,266$13,209
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $45,306 · Management $2,471 · Fundraising $14,235$62,012
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $29,899 · Management $1,851 · Fundraising $10,050$41,800
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $48,797$48,797
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $4,000$4,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $52,660 · Management $395 · Fundraising $2,449$55,504
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $413 · Management $10 · Fundraising $67$490
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $26,661 · Management $679 · Fundraising $4,398$31,738
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $26,390 · Management $671 · Fundraising $4,353$31,414
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $86,784 · Management $17,191 · Fundraising $9,646$113,621
IX-17 TravelPrograms $11,889 · Management $303 · Fundraising $1,961$14,153
IX-20 InterestPrograms $444 · Management $11 · Fundraising $73$528
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $9,413 · Management $1,865 · Fundraising $1,046$12,324
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $12,612 · Management $2,379 · Fundraising $2,465$17,456
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $14,109 · Management $310 · Fundraising $29,428$43,847
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $630 · Management $1,296 · Fundraising $109$2,035
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $756,713 · Management $109,774 · Fundraising $228,996$1,095,483
Part X · Balance sheet $1,332,200 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $336,222$46,012
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $90,407$55,529
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $3,214$3,539
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $5,677$12,594
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $16,003$68,696
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $176,333$353,522
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $139,075$792,308
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $766,931$1,332,200
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $33,686$67,938
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$88
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $127,657$837,197
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $161,343$905,223
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $579,440$380,877
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $26,148$46,100
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $605,588$426,977
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $766,931$1,332,200
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $426,977 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$917,770
XI-2 Total expenses$1,095,483
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$177,713
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$605,588
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$898
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$426,977

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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