The Lighthouse for the Blind
The Lighthouse for the Blind reported $53.1 million in revenue and $58.0 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $88.71 went to program services, $11.28 to management and general costs and $0.01 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 79.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $324,905 (PRESIDENT, CEO). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 81% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $58MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $53MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 88.7% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.3% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | Not reported | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 0.2% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 79.9% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $324,905 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.56% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 23.5 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 10 of 12 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEmployment and vocational training for the visually impaired: meaningful employment was provided for 81 blind and visually impaired persons working approximately 114,383 hours. This employment allows a sense of self worth, accomplishment, and contribution to society for legally blind individuals who might not be able to find employment elsewhere
Blind community enrichment: the bce program offers services and scholarships to blind and visually impaired youth and adults by providings access to adaptive technology and the opportunity to learn and improve activities of daily living. These skills include socialization, orientation and mobility, and independent living skills. These services were provided to 1,020 blind and visually impaired individuals
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT, CEO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $265,492 | $0 | $59,413 | $324,905 |
| VP, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRA Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $205,685 | $0 | $44,358 | $250,043 |
| VP, MANUFACTURING Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $208,583 | $0 | $36,204 | $244,787 |
| DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $144,227 | $0 | $25,463 | $169,690 |
| DIRECTOR, PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $116,421 | $0 | $40,799 | $157,220 |
| DIRECTOR, MARKETING / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $130,757 | $0 | $23,507 | $154,264 |
| SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $123,361 | $0 | $12,507 | $135,868 |
| IT MANAGER Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $121,367 | $0 | $11,775 | $133,142 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Lighthouse for the Blind (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $820K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · 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–1b12 · 10 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 2Yes
- 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 4No
- 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 5211
- Volunteers Part I, line 66
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PLZ CORP Manufacturing services | $3,451,275 |
| ASSEMBLIES UNLIMITED INC Manufacturing services | $771,450 |
| GUNDERSON SYSTEMS INC Construction contractor | $619,992 |
| BOLD NEW DIRECTION LLC Project management and consulting serivc | $577,732 |
| NATIONAL INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND Ability one program fees | $505,026 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 16 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
6 private foundations reported grants to The Lighthouse for the Blind totaling $55,513 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 Lighthouse for 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 Lighthouse for the Blind, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Lighthouse for the Blind spent in 2024, $88.71 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of The Lighthouse for the Blind's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, The Lighthouse for the Blind reported that 88.7% of its $58.0 million in expenses went to program services, 11.3% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Lighthouse for the Blind pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Lighthouse for the Blind reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $324,905, for the role of PRESIDENT, CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Lighthouse for the Blind get its money?
Of $53.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 0.2% came from contributions and grants and 79.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Lighthouse for the Blind a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 43-0652639 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202503219349317025 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202433209349307398 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323199349317397 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202222709349301642 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202113029349301606 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023219349315212 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 43-0652639: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.