Foundation for Blind Children

Tax-deductible

Phoenix, AZ501(c)(3)Since 1955Diseases & DisordersEIN 86-0129981

Foundation for blind children's mission is to provide education, tools and services that enable all persons with vision loss to achieve greater independence. Our vision is a world where vision loss is a diagnosis, not a disability. Foundation for blind children values exceptional service, advocacy, great work environment, community partnerships and financial responsibility.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 184 volunteers and 171 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
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $97K a year · under 1% 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
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.4M
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 81% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $13K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.3M
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
22
of 22 voting members
Looks good: 22 of 22 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$14.6M
+2% vs prior year
Spent
$13.8M
To programs
85%
Net assets
$30.5M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$14.6M
FY2025▲ +2%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$9.2M
FY2022$12.8M
FY2023$11.2M
FY2024$14.3M
FY2025$14.6M
Expenses
$13.8M
FY2025▼ -8%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$9.5M
FY2022$10.7M
FY2023$12.6M
FY2024$15.0M
FY2025$13.8M
Net assets
$30.5M
FY2025▲ +7%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$27.6M
FY2022$29.0M
FY2023$28.2M
FY2024$28.5M
FY2025$30.5M

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 Mar 1968.

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

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $11.7M Management & general 10% · $1.4M Fundraising 5% · $699K

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

Who runs it and what they're paid

37 people listed on the 990; $1.4M 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
CEO (through 6/28/24)
$468,472Pt VII · Sec A
$191,538Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President of Operations
$137,514Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President of Programs
$129,178Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Information Technology
$118,316Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Prek-12 Services
$115,119Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Employee Experience
$110,944Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Finance
$110,337Pt VII · Sec A

Marc Ashton’s $468K as CEO (through 6/28/24) is at the 81st percentile of top reported officer pay among 249 $10–100M 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.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Marc Ashton$468,472$240,216$241,312$224,468$213,580
Jared Kittelson$191,538—$143,675$125,528$118,678
Jared Kittelson Assoc CEO—$170,968———
Lisa Chiles————$148,605
Barbra Smith$137,514$124,739$113,319$120,229$105,873
Julie Oliver$129,178$117,424$106,131$103,533—
Christopher Hawk$118,316$103,058———
Joy Calles$115,119$103,559———

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 Foundation for Blind Children 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

Empowering people with vision loss through education, tools, and services for independence.

Provided by the organization

This section is blank until Foundation for Blind Children claims this page.

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3 program services account for $8.8M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

Foundation for blind children's school-based program serves students from pre-k to 4TH grade, teaching skills aligned with the expanded core curriculum. This enables students with visual impairments to access the same curriculum as their sighted peers.

$4.4Mprogram expense
02

Foundation for blind children's media center manufactures and distributes braille, large-print and e-text versions of textbooks and classroom worksheets nationwide. Serving over 1,000 registered users, FBC'S media center is the largest alternative format provider in the state of arizona.

$2.5Mprogram expense
03

Foundation for blind children's itinerant vision teachers travel throughout maricopa county and the navajo nation in northern arizona, providing support to students in various settings, including public, charter, and private schools.

$1.9Mprogram expense

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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$13K
Grants paid · 6 grants · $571K · 2021–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$191,005
Unitemized GrantFY2024$125,299
Unitemized GrantFY2023$78,672
Unitemized GrantFY2023$57,227
Unitemized GrantFY2022$75,563
Unitemized GrantFY2021$43,274

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$14.6M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$10.1M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$437K
Money outPt IX
$13.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$11.7M
Managementcol C$1.4M
Fundraisingcol D$699K
Owns and owesPt X
$30.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.4M
Total assetsLn 16$31.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
37
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a22
IndependentVI 1b22
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.7M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$23K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$304K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$10.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$437K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$12K
Total revenueLn 12$14.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.7M
SavingsLn 2$5.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$8.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$6.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$11.5M
Other assetsLn 15$35K
Total assetsLn 16$31.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$30.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5171
VolunteersI 6184
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$7.5M$8.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$6.0M$6.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$11.9M$11.5M
Total assetsLn 16$30.0M$31.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.5M$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$28.5M$30.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$316K$316K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$430K$348K$82K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$7.2M$6.3M$532K$333K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$297K$240K$49K$8K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$813K$725K$45K$43K
Payroll taxesLn 10$563K$475K$59K$29K
Legal feesLn 11b$2K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$51K$51K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$72K$72K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$812K$626K$69K$117K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$19K$19K
Office expensesLn 13$191K$151K$13K$28K
OccupancyLn 16$293K$256K$32K$4K
TravelLn 17$95K$94K$561$423
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$254K$245K$8K$1K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1.6M$1.6M$39K$11K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$741K$663K$55K$23K
All other expensesLn 24e$396$396
Total functional expensesLn 25$13.8M$11.7M$1.4M$699K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $14.6M$13.8M$854K$30.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $14.3M$15.0M−$684K$28.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $11.2M$12.6M−$1.4M$28.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $12.8M$10.7M$2.1M$29.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $9.2M$9.5M−$313K$27.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $14,616,865 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $2,384 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$38,348
VIII-1c Fundraising events$304,044
VIII-1e Government grants$1,651,241
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,197,949
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$22,723
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,191,582
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $10,074,106$10,074,106
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $449,402$449,402
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$12,343−$12,343
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$111,266−$111,266
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $23,000$23,000
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $10,098,941 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $326,342$14,616,865
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $13,762,622 across 18 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $316,304$316,304
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $347,942 · Fundraising $82,386$430,328
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $6,304,223 · Management $531,674 · Fundraising $332,857$7,168,754
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $240,320 · Management $49,006 · Fundraising $8,115$297,441
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $724,758 · Management $44,819 · Fundraising $43,288$812,865
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $474,982 · Management $58,631 · Fundraising $29,208$562,821
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $1,796$1,796
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $50,505$50,505
IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $71,800$71,800
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $625,530 · Management $69,421 · Fundraising $116,959$811,910
IX-12 Advertising and promotionFundraising $19,391$19,391
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $150,600 · Management $12,739 · Fundraising $27,761$191,100
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $256,435 · Management $32,413 · Fundraising $3,984$292,832
IX-17 TravelPrograms $93,956 · Management $561 · Fundraising $423$94,940
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $244,957 · Management $7,991 · Fundraising $1,065$254,013
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,594,335 · Management $39,372 · Fundraising $10,587$1,644,294
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $663,029 · Management $54,676 · Fundraising $23,427$741,132
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $396$396
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $11,689,429 · Management $1,373,742 · Fundraising $699,451$13,762,622
Part X · Balance sheet $31,740,829 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,764,180$2,687,159
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $5,710,767$5,757,258
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $324,560$217,100
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,802,696$2,145,789
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $8,902$15,469
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $111,645$182,530
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $11,934,121$11,507,337
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $6,023,608$6,854,454
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $2,240,829$2,338,537
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $35,593$35,196
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $29,956,901$31,740,829
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,042,505$1,208,703
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $403,348$49,503
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $6,704$3,367
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,452,557$1,261,573
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $22,076,264$23,169,400
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $6,428,080$7,309,856
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $28,504,344$30,479,256
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $29,956,901$31,740,829
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $30,479,256 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$14,616,865
XI-2 Total expenses$13,762,622
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$854,243
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$28,504,344
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$598,642
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$522,027
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$30,479,256

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

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