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Himalayan Cataract Project Inc

EIN 03-0362926 · Norwich, VT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ENABLE COUNTRIES TO CURE AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS BY DEVELOPING HIGH QUALITY, COST-EFFECTIVE EYE CARE IN UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE WORLD.

Income
$32.2 million
Spending
$20.3 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
19.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
40
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$345,552, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 343% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (7)
  1. $2.9 million spent. ETHIOPIA: CURE BLINDNESS PROJECT SUPPORTS OVER 25 PARTNERS IN ETHIOPIA WITH CAPACITY BUILDING FOR OPHTHALMOLOGISTS, RESIDENTS AND ALLIED OPHTHALMIC PERSONNEL, SUPPORT FOR PATIENT CARE ADMINISTERING MORE THAN 35,0000 CATARACT SURGERIES AND OVER 2,500 OTHER EYE SURGERIES, PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT, SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND CONSUMABLES TO PROVIDE PATIENT CARE AND INVESTMENT IN PRIMARY EYE CARE TO ENSURE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION OF BLINDNESS. ADDITIONALLY, CURE BLINDNESS PROJECT CONTINUES TO PLAN FOR, CREATE, CONSTRUCT, AND OPERATIONALIZE A FULLY INDEPENDENT SPECIALTY EYE CARE CLINIC IN ETHIOPIA.
  2. $2.8 million spent. INDIA: CURE BLINDNESS PROJECT SUPPORTS OVER 5 PARTNERS IN INDIA WITH CAPACITY BUILDING FOR ALLIED OPHTHALMIC PERSONNEL, SUPPORT FOR PATIENT CARE ADMINISTERING MORE THAN 50,000 CATARACT SURGERIES AND INVESTMENT IN PRIMARY EYE CARE TO ENSURE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION OF BLINDNESS.
  3. $2.1 million spent. GHANA: CURE BLINDNESS PROJECT SUPPORTS OVER 15 PARTNERS IN GHANA WITH CAPACITY BUILDING FOR OPHTHALMOLOGISTS, RESIDENTS AND ALLIED OPHTHALMIC PERSONNEL, SUPPORT FOR PATIENT CARE ADMINISTERING MORE THAN 18,000 CATARACT SURGERIES AND OVER 1,000 OTHER EYE SURGERIES, PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT, SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND CONSUMABLES TO PROVIDE PATIENT CARE AND INVESTMENT IN PRIMARY EYE CARE TO ENSURE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION OF BLINDNESS. ADDITIONALLY, CURE BLINDNESS PROJECT CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION ON A SPECIALTY EYE CENTER IN GHANA.
  4. $1.6 million spent. NEPAL: CURE BLINDNESS PROJECT SUPPORTS OVER 5 PARTNERS IN NEPAL WITH CAPACITY BUILDING FOR OPHTHALMOLOGISTS, RESIDENTS AND ALLIED OPHTHALMIC PERSONNEL, SUPPORT FOR PATIENT CARE ADMINISTERING MORE THAN 15,000 CATARACT SURGERIES AND OVER 1,200 OTHER EYE SURGERIES, PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT, SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, AND CONSUMABLES TO PROVIDE PATIENT CARE, AND INVESTMENT IN PRIMARY EYE CARE TO ENSURE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION OF BLINDNESS. ADDITIONALLY, CURE BLINDNESS PARTNERED TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION ON A SECONDARY EYE CENTER IN NEPAL.
  5. $476,205 spent. SOUTH SUDAN: CURE BLINDNESS PROJECT SUPPORTS 4 PARTNERS IN SOUTH SUDAN WITH CAPACITY BUILDING FOR OPHTHALMOLOGISTS AND RESIDENTS, SUPPORT FOR PATIENT CARE ADMINISTERING MORE THAN 8,000 CATARACT SURGERIES AND OVER 2,000 OTHER EYE SURGERIES, AND PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT, SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND CONSUMABLES TO PROVIDE PATIENT CARE.
  6. $6.0 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: LATIN AMERICA, OTHER AFRICA, OTHER ASIA, PROGRAM SERVICES ALLOCATION.CURE BLINDNESS PARTNERS IN OTHER COUNTRIES ACROSS ASIA, AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA, WITH CAPACITY BUILDING FOR OPHTHALMOLOGISTS AND RESIDENTS, SUPPORT FOR PATIENT CARE ADMINISTERING MORE THAN 25,000 CATARACT SURGERIES AND THE PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT, SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND CONSUMABLES TO PROVIDE PATIENT CARE.
  7. $223,885 spent. BHUTAN: CURE BLINDNESS SUPPORTS THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH IN BHUTAN WITH CAPACITY BUILDING FOR OPHTHALMOLOGISTS, RESIDENTS AND ALLIED OPHTHALMIC PERSONNEL, SUPPORT FOR PATIENT CARE ADMINISTERING MORE THAN 1,100 CATARACT SURGERIES AND OVER 200 OTHER EYE SURGERIES, PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT, SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND CONSUMABLES TO PROVIDE PATIENT CARE AND INVESTMENT IN PRIMARY EYE CARE TO ENSURE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION OF BLINDNESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.