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Visual Compassion Inc

EIN 26-2174933 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Visual Compassion provides free and/or low cost vision care services and products to underserved communities. As part of community vision care services and products, we provide job training and work therapy for individuals completing rehabilitation in addiction and substance abuse. Operational costs are achievable by supplying international ministries with vision products and program services, which multiplies volume of material goods and thus greatly lowering cogs.

Income
$283,424
Spending
$326,933
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 40%
Employees
3
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$135,000, 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $186,917 spent. Visual Compassion provides free and low cost vision care services and products to underserved communities through 2 optometric clinics. (Yale clinic closed 10/31/24) The services include vision screenings, diabetic health screenings, glaucoma screenings, eye exams, visual perception evaluations to offer 50% + of our selection for free. The remaining frames start at $10 - $35. Lenses start at $10. These services are available due to our donations and the job training component of our programs listed in 4b. In 2015, we replicated our program in Fond-des-Negres, Haiti and we are please to say that it is going well. We have stopped our screenings and increased our clinic exams during the COVID-19 period. We continue to support referral vouchers from community organizations for free and/or low cost vision exams. 2017 eye exams for $20 were performed helping families across Houston. We often have people drive 1-2.5 hours to take advantage of the services we offer. 38 Free exams were given to the recovery community of Houston.
  2. $53,405 spent. Visual Compassion provides job training and working internships in vision care sales and the production and assembly of eye glasses. The training program is focused on individuals transitioning out of rehabilitation programs for addiction, substance abuse, incarceration and single mothers. We still train the community how to use vision services with our community program.
  3. $26,702 spent. Visual Compassion helps optically train missionaries then supply missionaries and mission trips with very low cost eyeglasses products for use in areas often underserved or never served. We produce most of these items in our labs. We also make all of the local mission program glasses in house for the Houston area programs.

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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 April 2008.

    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 November 4, 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.