Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

EIN 23-1365321 · Chester, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ASSISTS AND TEACHES THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY OF DELAWARE COUNTY TO LIVE SAFELY AND INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SERVICES TO THOSE WITH REDUCED VISION IN DELAWARE AND CHESTER COUNTIES BY PROVIDING VISION SCREENINGS, LOW VISION SERVICES, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Income
$729,319
Spending
$860,022
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
16 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 50%
Employees
18
Highest pay
$219,958, 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 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, 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 (6)
  1. $300,826 spent. COMPUTER ACCESS TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL ACCESS TECHNOLOGY BASED ASSESSMENT, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO NUMEROUS BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED STATE AGENCY CUSTOMERS, THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, AND PRIVATE PAY BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS. SUCH INDIVIDUALS HAVE INDICATED EMPLOYMENT, ACADEMIC AND/OR PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE BASED COMPUTER GOALS THAT THEY WISH TO ACHIEVE.
  2. $223,465 spent. SPECIALIZED SERVICES PROVIDES SHOPPING ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION WITH SIGHTED GUIDE AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS. TOTAL SERVICE HOURS FOR 2024 TOTALED 2557 WITH 91 CLIENTS.
  3. $94,464 spent. IDEAL RESIDENTIAL SUMMER PROGRAM FOR 5 VISUALLY IMPAIRED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PREPARE TO TRANSITION TO LIFE AFTER GRADUATION.
  4. $52,447 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE LOW VISION SERVICES, ACCESS TECHNOLOGY, & VISION REHAB THERAPY. PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS PROGRAM, REHABILITATION CENTER, RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION, AND HOME-BOUND REHABILITATION. TOTAL SCREENINGS FOR PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS TOTALED 1529 IN 2024 WITH 157 CLIENTS NEEDING REFERRALS FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING. EYE SAFETY EDUCATION WAS PROVIDED TO 1655 CLIENTS.
  5. adaptive aids income
  6. EXPENSES ALLOCATED AS RENT EXPENSES

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 September 1951.

    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.