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Aurora of Central New York Inc

EIN 15-0543651 · Syracuse, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN CNY BY SERVING THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND DEAF & HARD OF HEARING.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
39 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 60%
Employees
39
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$129,216, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 39.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 December 31, 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. $448,432 spent. INTERPRETER REFERRAL - THE MAJORIE CLERE INTERPRETER REFERRAL SERVICE (MCIRS) IS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A NATIONALLY CERTIFIED INTERPRETER WHO COORDINATES THE PROVISION OF HIGHLY SKILLED AND CERTIFIED SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS FOR A 13 COUNTY AREA ACROSS CENTRAL NEW YORK. A FULL RANGE OF LANGUAGE PREFERENCES ARE PROVIDED BY PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETERS, INCLUDING AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL), SIGNED ENGLISH, GRASSROOTS (MINIMAL LANGUAGE SYSTEM), ORAL AND TACTILE (DEAF/BLIND) SIGNING. TYPICAL ASSIGNMENT SITES INCLUDE: COLLEGE (ALL LEVELS OF STUDY), MEDICAL, SEMINARS, CONFERENCES, ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES (CONCERTS/PLAYS), LEGAL, AND POLITICAL FORUMS.
  2. $469,175 spent. VA MEDICAL CENTER SWITCHBOARD - AURORA MANAGED THE OPERATIONS AND PROVIDED SERVICES FOR THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER SWITCHBOARD UNIT. AURORA RECRUITED, TRAINED, DEVELOPED AND EVALUATED STAFF IN THE PROVISION OF SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR SERVICES.
  3. $487,232 spent. BLIND/DEAF SOCIAL WORK - AT ANY AGE OR STAGE OF LIFE, A LOSS OF VISION OR HEARING CAN IMPACT OVERALL WELL-BEING AND PERSONAL CONFIDENCE. AURORA'S SERVICES PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT, INSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE POSSIBLE.
  4. $746,687 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT VISUAL AND HEARING IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 January 1942.

    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 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.