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Perkins School for the Blind

EIN 04-2103616 · Watertown, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND SERVES CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITIES, THEIR FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, RESEARCHERS, AND PROFESSIONALS AROUND THE GLOBE THROUGH EDUCATION SERVICES, ACCESSIBILITY, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION.

Income
$89.8 million
Spending
$105.5 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
16.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%
Employees
976
Volunteers
856
Highest pay
$498,549, president & ceo (thru 5/2/25)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 June 30, 2025, 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 (4)
  1. $64.2 million spent. AT PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, WE DELIVER THE VERY BEST EDUCATION AND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS AND MULTIPLE DISABILITIES. WE TEACH CHILDREN ON OUR CAMPUS IN WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, AND SUPPORT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE U.S., FOCUSING ON ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND SELF-ADVOCACY SKILL BUILDING. WE ALSO EMPHASIZE TRANSITION SERVICES TO PREPARE YOUNG ADULTS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING THROUGH PRACTICAL WORK, SKILL-BUILDING, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. DURING FY25, WE EDUCATED 196 STUDENTS ON CAMPUS AND SUPPORTED APPROXIMATELY 1,365 STUDENTS IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING OUR INFANT-TODDLER PROGRAM, EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS.
  2. $6.1 million spent. INTERNATIONALTHERE ARE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND MULTIPLE DISABILITIES (MDVI) AROUND THE WORLD WHO DON'T RECEIVE THE QUALITY EDUCATION THEY DESERVE. PERKINS INTERNATIONAL WORKS TO PUT THESE CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, EQUIP EDUCATORS WITH THE SPECIALIZED SKILLS THEY NEED TO TEACH THEM AND CONNECT THE MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES WITH VITAL GOVERNMENTAL AND MEDICAL RESOURCES. DURING FY25, PERKINS INTERNATIONAL CONDUCTED THIS WORK IN 22 COUNTRIES AND REGIONS, MORE THAN 54K TEACHERS WERE TRAINED, MORE THAN 1.8M CHILDREN WERE REACHED, AND MORE THAN 19K FAMILIES WERE SUPPORTED.
  3. $4.2 million spent. REGIONAL LIBRARYPERKINS LIBRARY HAS PROVIDED ACCESSIBLE READING MATERIAL TO PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND OTHER DISABILITIES SINCE 1837. IN RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED OUR OFFERINGS TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE WITH MORE NUANCED NEEDS. IN FY25, WE DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 1,000,000 ACCESSIBLE BOOKS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, DVDS AND MORE, AT NO COST TO THE 22,500 PATRONS WE SERVE ANNUALLY. WE'VE ALSO LED THE CHARGE IN DISTRIBUTING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES LIKE REFRESHABLE BRAILLE DISPLAYS WHILE PROVIDING A WEBSITE THAT ENABLES PEOPLE TO DOWNLOAD ACCESSIBLE READING MATERIAL.
  4. $6.9 million spent. PERKINS SOLUTIONSPERKINS SOLUTIONS DEPLOYS TECHNOLOGY TO OVERCOME LONG STANDING AND EMERGING ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS. SINCE THE 1950S, THE PERKINS BRAILLER HAS BEEN THE MOST WIDELY USED MECHANICAL BRAILLE WRITER IN THE WORLD. TODAY OUR EXPERTISE IN INCLUSIVE DESIGN SOLUTIONS IS AVAILABLE VIA PERKINS ACCESS, A CONSULTING SERVICE THAT HELPS BUSINESSES ENSURE THEIR DIGITAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ARE USABLE BY EVERYONE. DURING FY25, PERKINS SOLUTIONS DISTRIBUTED 5,755 BRAILLERS WORLDWIDE AND ASSISTED 46 ORGANIZATIONS WITH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS.ICANCONNECTTHE NATIONAL DEAF-BLIND EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, KNOWN AS ICANCONNECT, PROVIDES FREE EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WITH BOTH SIGNIFICANT HEARING AND VISION LOSS WHO MEET THE PROGRAM'S DISABILITY AND INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES. ADMINISTERED BY THE FCC AND MANAGED BY PERKINS IN 23 STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ICANCONNECT HELPS PEOPLE STAY CONNECTED TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND THE WORLD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1961.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.