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Carroll Center for the Blind Inc

EIN 04-2106173 · Newton, MA

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

THE MISSION OF THE CARROLL CENTER FOR THE BLIND IS TO EMPOWER THOSE WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE AND LEAD A FULFILLING LIFE. ESTABLISHED IN 1936, THE CENTER SERVES BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE OF ALL AGES BY PROVIDING REHABILITATION,SKILLS TRAINING, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND SELF-FULFILLMENT AND BY EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITIES REGARDING THE POTENTIAL OF PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED. FOR OVER 80 YEARS, THE CENTER HAS PIONEERED INNOVATIVE SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED BY DEVELOPING METHODS FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW VISION TO LEARN THE SKILLS TO BE INDEPENDENT IN THEIR HOMES, IN CLASS SETTINGS, AND IN THEIR WORKPLACES, PREPARING THEM FOR DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS AND INDEPENDENT LIVING.

Income
$11.3 million
Spending
$8.7 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
13.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
142
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$388,700, president & ceo

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

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 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 (5)
  1. $2.3 million spent. REHABILITATION TRAINING PROGRAMS: VISION REHABILITATION PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING FOR ADULTS WHO HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF VISION. THESE INTENSIVE PROGRAMS PROVIDE TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO ENCOURAGE THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED TO LIVE WITH BLINDNESS/LOW VISION AS WELL AS TO DEVELOP DAILY LIVING SKILLS, VOCATIONAL READINESS, AND COMPUTER PROFICIENCIES TO LIVE INDEPENDENT AND FULFILLING LIVES AND OBTAIN JOBS. SUMMER PROGRAMS ARE HELD FOR TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS TO TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD AND ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE. 90 INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS RECEIVED 642 WEEKS OF SERVICE IN FISCAL 2025.
  2. $2.4 million spent. EDUCATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS: THE CENTER PROVIDES SERVICES TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE LOW VISION OR ARE BLIND AND ATTEND PUBLIC, PRIVATE, OR CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THE CENTER'S TEACHERS WORK WITH LOCAL EDUCATORS IN PROVIDING INSTRUCTION IN BRAILLE, ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGYTRAINING, LEARNING-MEDIA ASSESSMENTS, ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS, AND OVERALL ACCESS TO THE CURRICULUM. SUMMER AND WEEKEND PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED TO HELP CHILDREN DEVELOP BLINDNESS SKILLS, SOCIALIZE WITH OTHERS, AND FURTHER THEIR INDEPENDENCE. 407 SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN ACROSS 93 SCHOOLS RECEIVED 12,244 HOURS OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION IN FISCAL 2025.
  3. $536,961 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS: THE CENTER PAIRS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED WITH CERTIFIED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY INSTRUCTORS TO DELIVER NAVIGATIONAL SKILLS FOR SAFE AND INDEPENDENT TRAVEL IN THE HOME, WORKPLACE, COLLEGE, AND COMMUNITY. 625 INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS RECEIVED 4,405 HOURS OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION IN FISCAL 2025.
  4. $436,158 spent. COMPUTER ACCESS TRAINING - SERVED 87 INDIVIDUALS OVER THE COURSE OF 159 WEEKS IN FISCAL 2025.
  5. $188,013 spent. OTHER TRAININGS

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 June 1956.

    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.