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Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children

EIN 25-1095385 · Pittsburgh, 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

THE MISSION OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL FOR BLIND CHILDREN IS TO NURTURE THE UNIQUE ABILITIES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH BLINDNESS AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND A LIFETIME OF LEARNING.

Income
$41.9 million
Spending
$40.2 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
395
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$357,016, secretary and superintende

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 (4)
  1. $26.6 million spent. SPECIALIZED EDUCATIONAL, THERAPEUTIC AND SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO APPROXIMATELY 200 ENROLLED STUDENTS, WHO IN ADDITION TO VISUAL IMPAIRMENT, EVIDENCE ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CHALLENGES. RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMMING IS PROVIDED TO AROUND 20 STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN OUTLYING DISTRICTS. THE SCHOOL IS DIVIDED INTO THREE CURRICULUM PROGRAMS: PRIMARY, MIDDLE, AND SECONDARY. SMALL CLASS SIZES OF NO MORE THAN EIGHT STUDENTS ENSURE STUDENTS RECEIVE THE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION AND INSTRUCTION NECESSARY TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. CLASSROOM TEAMS CONSIST OF A FAMILY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR, CERTIFIED TEACHER OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, PHYSICAL THERAPIST, SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY INSTRUCTOR, BEHAVIOR SUPPORT SPECIALIST, NURSE AND INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES.
  2. $1.8 million spent. THE OUTREACH PROGRAM PROVIDES VITAL INFORMATION, CONSULTATION AND DIRECT SERVICES TO HUNDREDS OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS, AGENCIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INTERMEDIATE UNITS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THE PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO HELPING PARENTS AND EDUCATORS MAKE REAL, TANGIBLE IMPACT IN THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION OF STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT THROUGHOUT WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
  3. $799,262 spent. EACH SUMMER, WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL FOR BLIND CHILDREN OFFERS A SUPPLEMENTAL EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR (ESY) PROGRAM TO BOTH SCHOOL-AGE AND PRESCHOOL STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE SCHOOL. DURING THIS 3-WEEK PROGRAM, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND RELATED SERVICES ARE PROVIDED WHICH ALIGN WITH THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP) GOALS.WITHOUT ADDITIONAL SUMMER PROGRAMMING, CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS AND ADDITIONAL DISABILITIES-SUCH AS COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, AND SENSORY CHALLENGES-OFTEN LOSE THE PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED THROUGH THE ESY PROGRAM HELPS STUDENTS RETAIN AND STRENGTHEN THESE EMERGING SKILLS, SETTING THEM UP FOR A SUCCESSFUL START TO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
  4. $1.1 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES CONSIST OF THE A CHILD'S VIEW: VISION IN EXTRAORDINARY WAYS AND LAVI PROGRAM. "A CHILD'S VIEW: VISION IN EXTRAORDINARY WAYS" EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE CHILDCARE FOR CHILDREN WITH OR WITHOUT VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS FROM THE AGES OF SIX WEEKS TO FIVE YEARS. THIS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BENEFIT ALL CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY LEVEL OR SENSORY IMPAIRMENTS. ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN, A CHILD'S VIEW IS A HIGH QUALITY AND INNOVATIVE CHILDCARE PROGRAM. "LAVI: LEARNING ADVENTURES FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED" IS A LICENSED ADULT TRAINING FACILITY (ATF) FOR GRADUATES OF THE WPSBC AGES 21 TO 59. THE PROGRAM RUNS YEAR-ROUND AT OUR OAKLAND CAMPUS. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS AND SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE RELATED SERVICE CONSULTATIONS AND THE USE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES. THROUGHOUT THE DAY LAVI PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN A VARIETY OF INSTRUCTIONAL, VOCATIONAL, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ADAPTED TO MAXIMIZE PARTICIPATION.

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 1926.

    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.