The Lighthouse for the Blind
The Lighthouse for the Blind reported $98.1 million in revenue and $104.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.91 went to program services, $12.04 to management and general costs and $0.05 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 93.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $318,946 (PRESIDENT AND CEO (THRU 07/25)). 32 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 1% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $105MFor 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
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $98MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.9% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.0% | 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 | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 4.1% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 93.9% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $318,946 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.31% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 32 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 6.3 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 10 of 10 | 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe low vision clinic offers functional vision assessments by a residency trained optometrist who will work to maximize vision and function to perform daily living tasks. A low vision therapist works to ensure each individual is comfortable and confident with the prescribed aid and technique
The independent living program provides in home instruction for clients new to vision loss so they can learn new ways of performing tasks of everyday living. The independent living program serves the following counties: king, snohomish, skagit, island and san juan counties, and o&m services for pierce county. Instructors come to the client's home and work with them to learn new ways to perform the tasks of everyday living: appliance use, medication management, telephone and time telling techniques, and reading and writing. Lighthouse orientation and mobility instructors help clients achieve…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · 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 AND CEO (THRU 07/25) Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $285,320 | $0 | $33,626 | $318,946 |
| DIRECTOR OF SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $240,250 | $0 | $13,687 | $253,937 |
| COO/INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $210,841 | $0 | $23,254 | $234,095 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & TREASURER Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $191,473 | $0 | $24,463 | $215,936 |
| DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT MANAGEMENT VA MEDICAL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $160,818 | $0 | $29,299 | $190,117 |
| VP SERVICE BUSINESS AND BASE SUPPLY CE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $153,009 | $0 | $19,325 | $172,334 |
| OPTOMETRIST, LOW VISION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,354 | $0 | $12,741 | $168,095 |
| MATERIALS MANAGER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $139,354 | $0 | $27,139 | $166,493 |
32 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 $1.5M (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
FY2025 · 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–1b10 · 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 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 5505
- Volunteers Part I, line 678
Private foundation grants it received
17 private foundations reported grants to The Lighthouse for the Blind totaling $336K 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 FY2025, $87.91 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Lawndale Christian Health CenterChicago, IL · revenue $98M · programs 87.6% · FY2025
- The Dollywood FoundationSevierville, TN · revenue $98M · programs 98.9% · 2025
- Area Agency on Aging District 7Jackson, OH · revenue $97M · programs 96.7% · 2024
- Mary's Center for Maternal and Child CAREWashington, DC · revenue $99M · programs 62.6% · 2025
- Spurwink ServicesPortland, ME · revenue $96M · programs 87.9% · FY2025
All unclassified charities · Largest charities in Washington
Questions people ask
How much of The Lighthouse for the Blind's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, The Lighthouse for the Blind reported that 87.9% of its $104.6 million in expenses went to program services, 12.0% 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 the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $318,946, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (THRU 07/25) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Lighthouse for the Blind get its money?
Of $98.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 4.1% came from contributions and grants (including 0.4% from government grants) and 93.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Lighthouse for the Blind a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 91-0295070 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
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202601829349300800 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202501849349301410 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202430809349300243 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202321449349301652 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202202169349301830 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202142289349302474 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 91-0295070: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.