Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Visions Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired

EIN 13-1624210 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 75 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$16.3 million
Spending
$16.6 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 51%
Employees
229
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$327,949, coo (actg. ed/ceo 12/1/24-7/15/25)

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

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 75 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 25

    17 of 17 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 September 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 (3)
  1. $8.1 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES: VISIONS SERVED MORE THAN 8,000 INDIVIDUALS (INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS, CAREGIVERS, AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE PROVIDED EDUCATION TO IN THE COMMUNITY). THIS INCLUDED MORE THAN 6,375 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE THROUGH VISION REHABILITATION, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICESCORE REHABILITATION SERVICES INCLUDED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY, SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING, LOW VISION THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, REFERRALS TO LOW VISION DOCTORS, IN-HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED INSTRUCTION, YOUTH SERVICES, WORK READINESS, JOB PLACEMENT, DIAGNOSTIC VOCATIONAL EVALUATIONS, AND UNPAID CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICES. THESE SERVICES HELPED CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS, OLDER ADULTS, AND CAREGIVERS BUILD PRACTICAL SKILLS, SAFETY, CONFIDENCE, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION.THE OUTREACH DEPARTMENT EDUCATED OR TRAINED MORE THAN 4,600 INDIVIDUALS ABOUT VISION LOSS. OUTREACH AND SERVICES WERE PROVIDED IN 18 LANGUAGES THROUGH BI-LINGUAL STAFF AND PART-TIME INTERPRETERS.BLINDLINE, INTAKE AND INFO@VISIONSVCB.ORG, RECEIVED AND RESPONDED TO NEARLY 1,000 INQUIRIES. VISIONS WAS RANKED #1 IN JOB PLACEMENT OF BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS IN NEW YORK STATE FOR THE 10TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. VISIONS' EXPANSION INTO WESTCHESTER AND THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY SERVED 604 PARTICIPANTS, AN INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.VISIONS CENTER ON AGING AND INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAM: VISIONS OPERATES ONE OF ONLY TWO CITYWIDE INNOVATIVE OLDER ADULT CENTERS IN NEW YORK CITY DEDICATED TO SERVING SPECIAL POPULATIONS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES THE FIRST PUBLICLY FUNDED NEW YORK CITY OLDER ADULT CENTER SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH VISION LOSS, SERVING 703 ENROLLED MEMBERS DURING THE YEAR.VISIONS IS ALSO THE ONLY NEW YORK CITY-FUNDED OLDER ADULT CENTER WITH AN APPROVED RESTAURANT VOUCHER PROGRAM, ENABLING BLIND OLDER ADULTS TO ENJOY A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST WITH FRIENDS AT NO COST AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT, HELPING TO PROMOTE NUTRITION, INDEPENDENCE, AND SOCIAL CONNECTION.THE INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAM OFFERED THROUGH THE VISIONS CENTER ON AGING MATCHES BLIND OLDER ADULTS WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PROMOTE COMPANIONSHIP, MUTUAL LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACROSS GENERATIONS. THE VISIONS INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAM WAS RECOGNIZED AS A PROGRAM OF DISTINCTION BY GENERATIONS UNITED.AN ADDITIONAL PROGRAM COMPONENT INTRODUCED YOUTH SUPPORT FOR OLDER ADULTS IN THE AREAS OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE WITH APPLYING FOR PAID AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, HELPING OLDER ADULTS STRENGTHEN DIGITAL SKILLS, INCREASE INDEPENDENCE, AND REMAIN ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.VISIONS UNPAID CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVED MORE THAN 754 CAREGIVERS AND THEIR CARE RECIPIENTS DURING THE YEAR. SERVICES INCLUDED IN-HOME RESPITE, OVERNIGHT RESPITE SERVICES AT THE VISIONS CENTER ON BLINDNESS (VCB), COUNSELING, AND EMERGENCY SUPPLIES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT CAREGIVERS AND HELP INDIVIDUALS REMAIN SAFELY IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES.
  2. $3.5 million spent. VISIONS CENTER ON BLINDNESS (VCB): A TOTAL OF 660 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED PROGRAMS AT VCB, AN INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. PROGRAMS INCLUDED SESSIONS FOR BLIND CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, YOUTH PROGRAMS HELD IN JULY AND AUGUST, AND YEAR-ROUND SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL SERVICES DESIGNED TO PREPARE BLIND YOUTH AND ADULTS FOR EMPLOYMENT, INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTER ON THE VCB CAMPUS OFFERED OVERNIGHT PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES (PRE-ETS) FOR BLIND YOUTH, DAILY LIVING SKILLS AND WORK READINESS TRAINING FOR BLIND ADULTS, AND TECHNOLOGY TRAINING FOR BLIND YOUTH AND ADULTS. VCB ALSO OFFERED ONE-WEEK SESSIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, A 60-DAY WORK READINESS PROGRAM, AND A 15-WEEK PRE-ETS PROGRAM FOR BLIND YOUTH AGES 1822, PRIMARILY FUNDED BY THE NYS COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND, INCLUDING A PAID INTERNSHIP COMPONENT.
  3. $1.8 million spent. VISIONS AT SELIS MANOR: VISIONS EXPANDED THE VARIETY OF CLASSES AND SERVICES OFFERED FOR ADULTS AND OLDER ADULTS, INCLUDING NEW SUPPORT GROUPS PROVIDED BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. PARTICIPATION INCREASED TO 965 INDIVIDUALS REGISTERED FOR SERVICES AT VISIONS AT SELIS MANOR, INCLUDING 703 PARTICIPANTS REGISTERED THROUGH THE OLDER ADULT CENTER.BASED ON SELF-REPORTED SURVEYS, NEARLY 83% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED GREATER LIFE SATISFACTION AS A RESULT OF PARTICIPATION AT VISIONS, WHILE 82% REPORTED MAKING EXERCISE PART OF THEIR REGULAR ROUTINE. MANY PARTICIPANTS ALSO REPORTED INCREASED OPTIMISM, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND SELF-ACCEPTANCE. WELLNESS CHECK-IN CALLS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING DURING HOLIDAYS. FOOD INSECURITY AND SOCIAL ISOLATION REMAINED KEY FOCUS AREAS, ADDRESSED THROUGH THE PROVISION OF BREAKFAST, LUNCH, A FOOD PANTRY, AND EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL CONNECTION AND ENGAGEMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 February 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.