Lighthouse of Pinellas Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOR 69 YEARS, LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS, INC. HAS PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS IN PINELLAS COUNTY WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS HAS BEEN ACCREDITED SINCE 1994, FIRST BY THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR AGENCIES SERVICING THE BLIND AND VISUALLY HANDICAPPED (NAC) AND CURRENTLY BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION OF THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED (AER). TRAINING IS OFFERED IN OUR SPACIOUS CENTRALLY LOCATED FACILITY, AS WELL AS IN CLIENTS' HOMES, WORKPLACES, AND OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $2.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 63 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 60%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $125,300, cfo
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: 78 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 63.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 48% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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.
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $583,279 spent. THE LARGEST PROGRAM PROVIDED BY LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS IS THE INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM. ITS CORE PURPOSE IS TO OFFER REHABILITATIVE TRAINING AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO ADULTS WHO HAVE LOST OR ARE PROGRESSIVELY LOSING THEIR VISION. THIS TRAINING GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR HOMES AND TO TRAVEL SAFELY IN THE COMMUNITY. AN ASSESSMENT IS COMPLETED TO DETERMINE THE NEED OF EACH INDIVIDUAL BY A TRAINED CASE MANAGER. THIS ASSESSMENT DETERMINES THE REHABILITATIVE TRAINING SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)SERVICES SUCH AS ADJUSTMENT TO BLINDNESS COUNSELING, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING, COMMUNICATION SKILLS TRAINING, PERSONAL AND HOME MANAGEMENT, USE OF ADAPTIVE DEVICES AND TRAINING, AS WELL AS USE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ARE PROVIDED TO EACH PERSON ENROLLED IN THIS PROGRAM. THIS FISCAL YEAR, 178 PEOPLE RECEIVED REHABILITATIVE TRAINING SERVICES IN THE INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM.
- $404,461 spent. THE SECOND LARGEST PROGRAM OFFERED BY LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS IS THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM. WHEN BLINDNESS OR VISUAL IMPAIRMENT OCCURS IN THE LIFE OF A PERSON WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY HAD A CAREER, NOT ONLY MAY A SERIOUS FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OCCUR, BUT DEPRESSION AND A LOSS OF SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-WORTH ARE ALSO VERY LIKELY WITH SUCH A LIFE-CHANGING EVENT. OUR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO HELP EACH PERSON ACHIEVE THEIR AGREED UPON EMPLOYMENT GOALS. SERVICES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS ARE INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENTS, JOB READINESS TRAINING, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING, COMMUNICATION SKILLS TRAINING, USE OF ASSISTIVE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, TRAINING IN ADAPTIVE TECHNIQUES FOR HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT DAILY LIVING, AS WELL AS ADJUSTMENT TO VISION LOSS COUNSELING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THIS TRAINING IS PROVIDED AT THE CENTER AND IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS FISCAL YEAR, 85 PEOPLE RECEIVED SERVICES THAT ASSISTED THEM TOWARDS ACHIEVING THEIR EMPLOYMENT GOALS
- $262,555 spent. THE THIRD LARGEST PROGRAM OFFERED BY LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS IS THE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM WHICH SERVES CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM BIRTH TO 6 YEARS OF AGE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. FOR MOST CHILDREN, 90% OF THEIR LEARNING COMES FROM VISION. A CHILD WHO IS BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED MUST LEARN ABOUT THE WORLD IN OTHER WAYS. OUR COMPREHENSIVE EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN HELP THEM LEARN TO WALK, FEED AND DRESS THEMSELVES, COMMUNICATE AND SOCIALIZE WITH OTHERS, AND GAIN A HEAD START ON A LIFE OF INDEPENDENCE. THE PROGRAM ALSO TEACHES THE CHILD'S FAMILY TO REINFORCE THIS LEARNING AT HOME. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP EACH CHILD'S ABILITY TO ENTER SCHOOL WITH SKILLS EQUAL TO THEIR SAME-AGE PEERS AND TO REDUCE ANY DEVELOPMENTAL GAPS THAT MAY EXIST TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE. CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM UNTIL THE CHILD HAS ACHIEVED THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL OF FUNCTIONING OR UNTIL THE CHILD REACHES THE AGE OF 6 YEARS. THIS FISCAL YEAR 105 CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS WERE SERVED.
- $617,591 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE: INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO PEOPLE WHO NEED ONE-TIME SUPPORT FROM OUR PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM STAFF. ASSISTANCE PROVIDED ARE THINGS SUCH AS A HOME VISIT TO REPLACE OR REPAIR A BROKEN WHITE CANE, APPLYING BRAILLE TOUCH LABELS TO ADAPT APPLIANCES FOR SOMEONE WHO IS VISUALLY IMPAIRED, OR AN INTAKE INTERVIEW FOR OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS SERVICES OR MAY REQUIRE COLLATERAL SERVICES FROM OTHER AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY IN ADDITION TO LIGHTHOUSE SERVICES. THIS FISCAL YEAR, 39 PEOPLE RECEIVED ONE-TIME INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES FROM LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS PROFESSIONAL STAFF. TEEN TRANSITION PROGRAM: TEENAGERS, 14 YEARS OF AGE THROUGH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. SERVICES ARE OFFERED ONCE A WEEK AND TWO SATURDAYS A MONTH DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND FOR FIVE FULL WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER. THIS PROGRAM HELPS EACH YOUNG PERSON LEARN TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE, JOB PLACEMENT, OR VOCATIONAL TRAINING. FIELD TRIPS INTO THE COMMUNITY AND/OR OUTSIDE OF PINELLAS COUNTY ARE OFFERED AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. SKILLS SUCH AS PERSONAL, FINANCIAL, AND HOME MANAGEMENT; HOW TO COMPLETE A JOB APPLICATION; INTERVIEW SKILLS AND USE OF ADAPTIVE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY ARE LEARNED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SUMMER PROGRAM. THE SUMMER PROGRAM ALSO GIVES STUDENTS THE EXPERIENCE OF VISITING COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND PARTICIPATING IN A 4-WEEK PAID WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, TO DEVELOP JOB SKILLS AND GAIN VALUABLE EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE. THIS FISCAL YEAR, 11 YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE TEEN TRANSITION PROGRAM AND 18 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAM FOR AGES 6-14 YEARS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1970.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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