Jewish Guild for the Blind
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO ATTAIN THEIR GOALS.
- Income
- $10.2 million
- Spending
- $5.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 62.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 52%
- Employees
- 235
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $1.3 million, president & ceo
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 62.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes -139% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $4.1 million spent. VISION REHABILITATION: APPROXIMATELY 1,200 PEOPLE RECEIVED VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES IN 2024. EXAMPLES INCLUDED: ACADEMIC AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS TRAINING TO ASSESS ACADEMIC POTENTIAL, USE ADAPTIVE AIDS, AND PREPARE FOR TESTS SUCH AS HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY TESTS AND COLLEGE PREPARATORY EXAMS. TRAINING IN ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP CLIENTS ENTER OR STAY IN SCHOOL OR THE JOB MARKET, INCLUDING TECHNOLOGIES THAT ENLARGE WRITTEN MATERIAL, SOFTWARE THAT READS WHAT IS ON A COMPUTER SCREEN, AND OTHER DEVICES THAT COMPENSATE FOR VISION LOSS. CAREER SERVICES THAT PREPARE CLIENTS FOR WORK, INCLUDING PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, RESUME AND INTERVIEW STRATEGIES, JOB RETENTION SERVICES, AND PRESENTATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS ON HOW TO FULLY INTEGRATE AND ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED. LIVING SKILLS TRAINING TO TEACH CLIENTS HOW TO FUNCTION SAFELY AND INDEPENDENTLY IN THE HOME. ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO NAVIGATE SAFELY IN HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND TO TRAVEL TO SCHOOL AND WORK. SERVICES FOR YOUTH TO PROVIDE EXPOSURE TO CAREER PATHWAYS THROUGH WORK READINESS AND PRE-VOCATIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT.
- $309,643 spent. EDUCATION AND RESEARCH SUPPORT: SIXTEEN MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS OF $10,000 EACH WERE AWARDED THIS YEAR TO HELP LEGALLY BLIND STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO COLLEGE OR SUPPORT THEIR POST-GRADUATE EDUCATION, AS WELL AS FACILITATE THEIR CAREER DEVELOPMENT. JEWISH GUILD HEALTHCARE ALSO PRESENTED THE BRESSLER PRIZE IN VISION SCIENCE TO RECOGNIZE A CLINICIAN-SCIENTIST WHOSE LEADERSHIP, RESEARCH AND SERVICE RESULTED IN TRANSLATION OF MEDICAL OR SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE INTO SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR REHABILITATION OF PEOPLE WITH VISION LOSS.
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
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1941.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.