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Vision Sciences Society Inc

EIN 13-4244237 · Novato, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE VISION SCIENCES SOCIETY, INC. (VSS) IS COMMITTED TO PROGRESS IN UNDERSTANDING VISION, AND ITS RELATION TO COGNITION, ACTION AND THE BRAIN. OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO HOST A YEARLY MEETING WHERE BOTH NEW AND ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATORS FROM DIVERSE DISCIPLINES AND SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES PRESENT AND DISCUSS THEIR WORK IN A RELAXED INFORMAL SETTING. OUR INTERDISCIPLINARY NATURE IS REFLECTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ABSTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEE.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$6,725, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
  1. $998,412 spent. THE MAIN PURPOSE/SERVICE OF THE SOCIETY IS TO HOLD AN ANNUAL MEETING THAT BRINGS TOGETHER IN ONE FORUM SCIENTISTS FROM THE BROAD RANGE OF DISCIPLINES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO VISION SCIENCE, INCLUDING VISUAL PSYCHOPHYSICS, NEUROSCIENCE, COMPUTATIONAL VISION AND COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY. THE 2024 ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD AT THE TRADEWINDS ISLAND RESORTS IN ST. PETE BEACH, FLORIDA, MAY 17 - 22, 2024. THERE WERE 1835 ATTENDEES, WITH 1243 PRESENTATIONS GIVEN AT THE MEETING. EACH YEAR, VSS ALSO SELECTS RECIPIENTS FOR 3 RECOGNITION AWARDS. THE YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD IS AWARDED TO AN EARLY-CAREER VISION SCIENTIST WHO HAS MADE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIELD. THE DAVIDA TELLER AWARD IS AWARDED TO A FEMALE VISION SCIENTIST IN RECOGNITION OF HER EXCEPTIONAL, LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FIELD OF VISION SCIENCE. THE KEN NAKAYAMA AWARD IS AWARDED TO ANY VISION SCIENTIST WHO HAS MADE EXCEPTIONAL, LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO VISION SCIENCE. BOTH THE DAVIDA TELLER AND THE KEN NAKAYAMA AWARDS ARE OPEN TO ALL CAREER STAGES. THE NATURE OF THIS WORK FOR ALL AWARDS CAN BE FUNDAMENTAL, CLINICAL, OR APPLIED. ALL AWARD RECIPIENTS RECEIVE A $2,000 AWARD, IF THE RECIPIENT ELECTS TO RECEIVE THE COMPENSATION PORTION OF THE AWARD.THE SOCIETY ALSO AWARDED 87 TRAVEL AWARDS, WHICH RANGE FROM $500 TO $1,000, TO UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE AND POSTDOC STUDENTS, BASED ON EACH APPLICANT'S SCIENTIFIC QUALITY OF THEIR SUBMITTED ABSTRACT, FINANCIAL NEED AND DIVERSITY.THE SOCIETY AWARDED 25 CAREGIVER GRANTS OF $500 HELP OFFSET COSTS OF CHILDCARE AT THE MEETING MAKING IT EASIER FOR MEMBERS WITH CHILDREN TO ATTEND A WIDER RANGE OF MEETING EVENTS.

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

    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 March 2004.

    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.

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