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The National Federation of the Blind
Also known as Blind Federation of America
The National Federation of the Blind reported $24.4 million in revenue and $18.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $90.99 went to program services, $3.97 to management and general costs and $5.04 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 88.8% of the total. Government grants made up 6.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $157,411 (EXECUTIVE DIR OF ADVOCACY & POLICY). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 23% between 2020 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $19MFor context, the median across 314 covered diseases, disorders & medical disciplines charities: $88.73 programs, $10.89 management, $0.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $24MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 91.0% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.0% | 10.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.0% | 0.4% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 88.8% | 24.7% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 6.3% | 0.6% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 59.5% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $157,411 | $391,657 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.85% | 1.45% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 26.9 | 7.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseBlindness integration - seek to integrate the blind into society on a basis of equality through broad based interaction with blind persons, their families and members of the general public utilizing multiple venues, media and activities. All blind persons and persons with visual disabilities in the united states (approximately over 8.5 million as reported by the united states census department) are potentially benefited by these activities
Civil rights, advocacy and self-organization - protect civil rights, strengthen self-organization, monitor and improve governmental and other services, advocate for and conduct projects to meet social, educational, economic and employment needs of the blind. All blind persons and persons with visual disabilities in the united states (approximately over 8.5 million as reported by the united states census department) are potentially benefited by these activities
Nonvisual access systems - develop, promote, evaluate and distribute nonvisual access technology, devices, methods and systems that remove vision based barriers preventing full participation by the blind in society. All blind persons and persons with visual disabilities in the united states (approximately over 8.5 million as reported by the united states census department) are potentially benefited by these activities
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIR OF ADVOCACY & POLICY Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $147,584 | $0 | $9,827 | $157,411 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $145,252 | $0 | $9,827 | $155,079 |
| EXECUTIVE DIR OF ACCESSIBILITY EXCELLENCE Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $141,782 | $0 | $9,092 | $150,874 |
| EXECUTIVE DIR OF BLINDNESS INITIATIVES Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $130,239 | $0 | $9,827 | $140,066 |
| DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $134,573 | $0 | $0 | $134,573 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The National Federation of the Blind (Part VII, line 2).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b17 · 17 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 584
- Volunteers Part I, line 625,000
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BROWN GOLDSTEIN & LEVY LLP Legal | $2,436,707 |
| PUMEX COMPUTING LLC Technology | $378,122 |
| TRE LEGAL PRACTICE LLC Legal | $171,578 |
| ASL COMMUNICATION LLC Interpreting service | $154,760 |
| HARTMAN EXECUTIVE ADVISORS LLC It consulting | $103,320 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to The National Federation of the Blind totaling $157K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The National Federation of the Blind's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The National Federation of the Blind, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The National Federation of the Blind spent in 2025, $90.99 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All diseases, disorders & medical disciplines charities · Largest charities in Maryland
Questions people ask
How much of The National Federation of the Blind's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, The National Federation of the Blind reported that 91.0% of its $18.5 million in expenses went to program services, 4.0% to management and general and 5.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The National Federation of the Blind pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The National Federation of the Blind reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $157,411, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIR OF ADVOCACY & POLICY (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The National Federation of the Blind get its money?
Of $24.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 88.8% came from contributions and grants (including 6.3% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The National Federation of the Blind a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 02-0259978 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202641349349306319 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202531129349300133 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202401359349305110 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202301329349305915 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202221269349300532 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202131119349301118 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 02-0259978: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.