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Lions Vision Services a South Carolina Charity

EIN 23-7105526 · Columbia, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LIONS VISION SERVICES EMPOWERS THE UNDER-SERVED BLIND AND VISUALLY- IMPAIRED IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO LIVE SAFE, MEANINGFUL AND FULFILLING LIVES.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$936,327
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
19.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
4
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$79,768, president &

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 19.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 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. $501,715 spent. THE AFFORDABLE EYE SURGERY PROGRAM REPRESENTS THE LARGEST PORTION OF LVS EXPENSES AND OPERATIONS. LVS MAINTAINS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE, INCLUSIVE, AND SUSTAINABLE EYE SURGERY PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, PROVIDING ACCESS TO CRITICAL SIGHT-SAVING SERVICES THAT TREAT A NUMBER OF EYE DISEASES. NOT INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE FIGURES IS ADDITIONAL IN-KIND INCOME AND IN-KIND EXPENSE OF 870,973 PROVIDED TO AND USED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR DISCOUNTED SURGERY SERVICES ACHIEVED THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH OVER 80 OPHTHALMOLOGISTS, ANESTHESIOLOGISTS, AND SURGERY CENTERS AROUND THE STATE.
  2. $29,487 spent. THE SANTEE BLIND FISHING EVENT IS A RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, QUALITY-OF- LIFE ENHANCING EVENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH BLINDNESS OR VISION LOSS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. LVS PROVIDES A WEEKEND RETREAT IN THE SANTEE REGION WHERE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS CONNECT WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE SIMILAR SHARED LIFE EXPERIENCES AND PARTICIPATE IN A CATCH-AND-RELEASE FISHING TOURNAMENT. EXPENSES FOR THE PROGRAM COVER FOOD, LODGING, TRANSPORTATION, AND EQUIPMENT FOR CLIENTS AND VOLUNTEERS.
  3. $251,101 spent. THE AFFORDABLE EYEWEAR PROGRAM PROVIDES EYEGLASSES TO RESIDENTS WITH A DEMONSTRATABLE FINANCIAL NEED AND NO OTHER RESOURCES, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES. LVS WILL PROVIDE A BASIC PAIR OF SINGLE OR LINED BIFOCAL LENSES AT NO COST TO THE CLIENT. SOME OTHER BASIS TYPES OF EYEWEAR DEVICES MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF A LICENSED EYECARE PROFRESSIONAL. CLIENTS WILL BE REFERRED TO A LOCAL OPTOMETRIST IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY ESTABLISHED A PROVIDER TO ENSURE AN ACCURATE PRESCRIPTION. THE LVS EYEGLASSES PROGRAM CURRENTLY PRIORITIZES APPLICATIONS FROM AREAS WHERE THERE IS NO ACTIVE LIONS CLUB. INQUIRIES FROM RESIDENTS IN AREAS NOT CURRENTLY SUPPORTED BY THIS PROGRAM WILL BE REFERRED TO THE NEAREST LIONS CLUB FOR ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION TO THE DIRECT SERVICES WE PROVIDE, LVS CONDUCTS AN ARRAY OF HEALTH AWARENESS, PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND LIONS CLUB RELATED ACTIVITIES WHICH ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION AND ELEVATE THE ROLE OF EYECARE IN CREATING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES FOR ALL SOUTH CAROLINIANS. THESE EDUCATIONAL, SUPPORTIVE, COALITION BUILDING, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS EFFORTS STRENGTHEN THE CORE OF ALL LVS PROGRAMS IN OUR PURSUIT OF ENDING BLINDNESS IN POVERTY. THE AFFORDABLE EYEWEAR PROGRAM PROVIDES EYEGLASSES TO RESIDENTS WITH A DEMONSTRATABLE FINANCIAL NEED AND NO OTHER RESOURCES, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES. LVS WILL PROVIDE A BASIC PAIR OF SINGLE OR LINED BIFOCAL LENSES AT NO COST TO THE CLIENT. SOME OTHER BASIS TYPES OF EYEWEAR DEVICES MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF A LICENSED EYECARE PROFRESSIONAL. CLIENTS WILL BE REFERRED TO A LOCAL OPTOMETRIST IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY ESTABLISHED A PROVIDER TO ENSURE AN ACCURATE PRESCRIPTION. THE LVS EYEGLASSES PROGRAM CURRENTLY PRIORITIZES APPLICATIONS FROM AREAS WHERE THERE IS NO ACTIVE LIONS CLUB. INQUIRIES FROM RESIDENTS IN AREAS NOT CURRENTLY SUPPORTED BY THIS PROGRAM WILL BE REFERRED TO THE NEAREST LIONS CLUB FOR ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION TO THE DIRECT SERVICES WE PROVIDE, LVS CONDUCTS AN ARRAY OF HEALTH AWARENESS, PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND LIONS CLUB RELATED ACTIVITIES WHICH ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION AND ELEVATE THE ROLE OF EYECARE IN CREATING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES FOR ALL SOUTH CAROLINIANS. THESE EDUCATIONAL, SUPPORTIVE, COALITION BUILDING, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS EFFORTS STRENGTHEN THE CORE OF ALL LVS PROGRAMS IN OUR PURSUIT OF ENDING BLINDNESS IN POVERTY.
  4. $16,760 spent. THE VISION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM HELPS BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS WHO NEED VARIOUS FORMS OF LOW VISION EQUIPMENT FOR HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES OR WORKPLACE DEVELOMENT. LVS UTILIZES PARTNERSHIPS WITH VENDORS, DOCTORS, AND DONORS TO BUILD AN INVENTORY OF VISION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS AND A REFERRAL SYSTEM FOR CLIENTS WHO MAY NEED THESE RESOURCES. VISION TECHNOLOGY VARIES GREATLY IN COST AND FUNCTIONALITY BASED ON THE INDIVIDIUAL NEEDS OF EACH CLIENT. ALL CLIENTS MEET WITH A PHYSICIAN TO DETERMINE THE EXACT NEEDS AND MOST PRACTICAL PRESCRITPIONS FOR EACH CLIENT AFTER WHICH LVS PROVIDES THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED ON EITHER A LONG-TERM OR PERMANENT LOAN AT NO COST TO THE CLIENT.
  5. THE VISION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM HELPS BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS WHO NEED VARIOUS FORMS OF LOW VISION EQUIPMENT FOR HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES OR WORKPLACE DEVELOMENT. LVS UTILIZES PARTNERSHIPS WITH VENDORS, DOCTORS, AND DONORS TO BUILD AN INVENTORY OF VISION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS AND A REFERRAL SYSTEM FOR CLIENTS WHO MAY NEED THESE RESOURCES. VISION TECHNOLOGY VARIES GREATLY IN COST AND FUNCTIONALITY BASED ON THE INDIVIDIUAL NEEDS OF EACH CLIENT. ALL CLIENTS MEET WITH A PHYSICIAN TO DETERMINE THE EXACT NEEDS AND MOST PRACTICAL PRESCRITPIONS FOR EACH CLIENT AFTER WHICH LVS PROVIDES THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED ON EITHER A LONG-TERM OR PERMANENT LOAN AT NO COST TO THE CLIENT.

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 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 October 13, 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 June 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 March 1971.

    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 October 21, 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.