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Vision-Aid Incorporated

EIN 20-1344017 · Lexington, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported a significant diversion of its assets during the year.

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

What it says it does

PROVIDE REHABILITATION AND TRAINING FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
16.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
0
Volunteers
200

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 83% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 75% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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. $551,399 spent. VISION-AID CHARITABLE SERVICES (VACS) BASED IN VISAKHAPATNAM (VIZAG) INDIA IS VISION-AID'S NODAL PARTNER. IN ADDITION TO RUNNING TWO TRAINING CENTERS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED IN VIZAG, VACS ALSO SUPPORTS SEVERAL VIRTUAL PROGRAMS FOR TRAINING OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ALL OVER INDIA. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE TRAINING IN COMPUTERS, SPOKEN ENGLISH, MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES, COMPUTER PROGRAMMING AND TESTING. ALL OF THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS AIM TO ENABLE, EDUCATE AND EMPOWER THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO LIVE WITH INDEPENDENCE AND DIGNITY BY BECOMING GAINFULLY EMPLOYED.
  2. $151,510 spent. VISION-AID WAS INVOLVED IN THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS:COMMUNITY EYE CARE FDN, PUNE-5,877; DIGITAL MAGNIFIFIERS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED-31,250; DR SHROFF EYE HOSPITAL- 2,465; MARKETING FOR DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY CENTER- 495; MOOC'S FEES FOR STUDENTS- 49; NETHRA, VIZAG- 1,271;SANKAR NETRALAYA- 10,542; SMART PHONES PROGRAM- MATCHING TFLF- 4,100; VISION-AID AGRA PROJECT- IOSTAR-PERKINS-31,209; VOLUNTEER HEALTH SERVICES, CHENNAI- 7,382. ALONG WITH ITS PARTNERS, VISION- AID IS PRINCIPALLY INVOLVED IN PROVIDING LOW VISION SCREENING, LOW VISION DEVICES, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND TRAINING IN COMPUTERS, MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY.
  3. $209,167 spent. THE VISION-AID RESOURCE CENTER IN COOPERATION WITH SHG TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD IN KARNATAKA, INDIA, AND HYDERABAD EYE INSTITUTE IN INDIA TO FOSTER INNOVATION IN LOW-COST ADVANCED ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS; TO SET UP A DEVICE FUND, FOR DISTRIBUITON OF LOW-COST AND SUBSIDIZED DEVICES TO POOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PATIENTS; TO DEVELOP ADVANCED TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND FOR EYE CARE PROFESSIONALS.
  4. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF STEM EDUCATION IN BLIND SCHOOLS SO THAT VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS CAN PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE STEM FIELD. THE VISION-AID RESOURCE CENTER AT AGRA AT THE LUI BRAILLE BLIND SCHOOL BRINGS TO THE RESIDENTS A RANGE OF CAPABILITIES OPENING THE DIGITAL WORLD. INCLUDES NEW COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE. THIS GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY AND SCREEN CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN THE DISTRICT OF AGRA, AND MULTIPLE DISABILITIES SO THAT APPROPRIATE SUPPORT AND INTERVENTIONS CAN BE OFFERED TO THEM. THE VISION-AID RESOURCE CENTER AT THE ARAVIND EYE HOSPITAL IN TAMIL NADU, INDIA, PROVIDES LOW VISION SCREENING DEVICES AND TRAINING TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED INFANTS, CHILDREN AND ADULTS. THE CENTER ALSO PROVIDES REHABILITATION SERVICES INCLUDING DIGITAL AND MOBILE TRAINING AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING.
  5. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF STEM EDUCATION IN BLIND SCHOOLS SO THAT VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS CAN PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE STEM FIELD. THE VISION-AID RESOURCE CENTER AT AGRA AT THE LUI BRAILLE BLIND SCHOOL BRINGS TO THE RESIDENTS A RANGE OF CAPABILITIES OPENING THE DIGITAL WORLD. INCLUDES NEW COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE. THIS GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY AND SCREEN CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN THE DISTRICT OF AGRA, AND MULTIPLE DISABILITIES SO THAT APPROPRIATE SUPPORT AND INTERVENTIONS CAN BE OFFERED TO THEM. THE VISION-AID RESOURCE CENTER AT THE ARAVIND EYE HOSPITAL IN TAMIL NADU, INDIA, PROVIDES LOW VISION SCREENING DEVICES AND TRAINING TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED INFANTS, CHILDREN AND ADULTS. THE CENTER ALSO PROVIDES REHABILITATION SERVICES INCLUDING DIGITAL AND MOBILE TRAINING AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING.

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 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 June 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 April 2005.

    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.

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.