Lighthouse of Collier Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF LIGHTHOUSE OF COLLIER, INC. IS TO FOSTER INDEPENDENCE AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE BLIND, VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $866,528
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 37.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 55%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $106,540, 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 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 37.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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 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 (1)
- $720,572 spent. THE LIGHTHOUSE OF COLLIER PROVIDES TRAINING AND REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR BABIES, CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS (WORKING AND NONWORKING) AND SENIORS (OVER 55) WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AT NO CHARGE, TO HELP THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY. THE SERVICES PROVIDED HAVE INCREASED AND THE PROGRAMS PROVIDED CONTINUE TO EXPAND BASED UPON NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. AN INDIVIDUAL MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR SERVICES: MUST BE DIAGNOSED WITH A CORRECTED BILATERAL VISUAL IMPAIRMENT, WHICH CONSTITUTES A SUBSTANTIAL IMPEDIMENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, OR MUST HAVE THE PRESENCE OF A PROGRESSIVE BILATERAL EYE IMPAIRMENT THAT WILL RESULT IN A SUBSTANTIAL IMPEDIMENT TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY. ALL PROGRAMS ARE TAILORED TO THE CLIENT'S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND ARE YEAR- ROUND IN A GROUP AND/OR ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE CLIENT. ALL PROGRAMS ARE YEAR-ROUND IN A GROUP AND/OR ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE CLIENT. OUR ADULT PROGRAMS INCLUDE: - INDEPENDENT DAILY LIVING SKILLS - LOW VISION TRAINING - ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY - ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY - SUPPORT GROUPS - VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION - RECREATION AND LEISURE INDEPENDENT DAILY LIVING SKILLS THE LIGHTHOUSE PROVIDES AN ONGOING, WEEKLY INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS CLASS. THIS COURSE INTRODUCES A VARIETY OF TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES. EXAMPLES OF TOPICS INCLUDE: STRATEGIES TO INCREASE VISUAL ACCESS IN THE HOME; TOOLS AND TIPS FOR SAFELY ACCESSING THE KITCHEN; TIPS FOR IDENTIFYING AND LABELING MEDICATIONS; LOW TO HIGH TECH TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY TO ACCESS MONEY AND PAPERWORK. LOW VISION TRAINING THE MAJORITY OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE SOME REMAINING VISION. WE THEREFORE TEACH CLIENTS TECHNIQUES TO OPTIMIZE USE OF THEIR RESIDUAL VISION; SUCH AS: CONTROLLING GLARE, INCREASING CONTRAST OR ADJUSTING LIGHTING. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE TRAINING IN THE USE OF LOW VISION AIDS, INCLUDING PRESCRIBED OPTICAL DEVICES AND VIDEO MAGNIFIERS. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY THE LIGHTHOUSE OF COLLIER TAKES AN INDIVIDUALIZED, CLIENT DRIVEN APPROACH WITH ALL MEMBERS WHO ENGAGE IN SERVICES. THE CLIENT'S WISHES AND GOALS DRIVE THE SERVICES OFFERED. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES AND MAY LEARN AT A DIFFERENT PACE. THE LIGHTHOUSE OF COLLIER OFFERS INDIVIDUALIZED AND GROUP INSTRUCTION AND MAKES EVERY EFFORT TO ACCOMMODATE SCHEDULING NEEDS. MEETING WITH AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (AT) SPECIALIST AND ENGAGING IN TRAINING ALLOWS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCESSFULLY UTILIZE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THEIR HOME, SCHOOL OR WORK SETTING. INSTRUCTION IS AVAILABLE FOR WINDOWS AND APPLE USERS TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THEIR MACHINES, WRITE EMAILS, UTILIZE CALENDARS, BROWSE THE INTERNET, AND SO MUCH MORE. MEETING WITH AN AT SPECIALIST AND ENGAGING IN TRAINING ALSO ALLOWS THE INDIVIDUAL THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCESSFULLY UTILIZE MOBILE DEVICES (IPHONE, IPAD, ANDROID PLATFORM) AND BENEFIT FROM THE APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE WHICH WERE DESIGNED FOR THOSE WHO ARE BLIND OR WHO LIVE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS. INDIVIDUALS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AT TRAINING ARE ABLE TO INCORPORATE TECHNOLOGY INTO THEIR DAY TO DAY TASKS- PAYING BILLS, MANAGING ACCOUNTS, SHOPPING ON-LINE, AND COMMUNICATING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. INDIVIDUALS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AT TRAINING CAN CONFIDENTLY AND INDEPENDENT MANAGE THEIR OWN TECHNOLOGY NEEDS AND HAVE A COMPETITIVE EDGE IN TODAY'S JOB MARKET. ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY WE ALSO PROVIDE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING (O&M). O&M IS A PROFESSION THAT FOCUSES ON TEACHING INDIVIDUALS WITH VISION LOSS HOW TO SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY NAVIGATE THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. SOME EXAMPLES OF O&M TRAINING INCLUDE: TRAILING WALLS AND FURNITURE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE HOMES, USING THE LONG WHITE CANE TO NAVIGATE CURBS AND SIDEWALKS, WALKING WITH A SIGHTED GUIDE AND/OR USING AUDITORY SKILLS TO SAFELY CROSS INTERSECTIONS. SUPPORT GROUPS ADJUSTMENT TO VISION LOSS CAN BE A JOURNEY. AT THE LIGHTHOUSE, WE OFFER COUNSELING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS AND WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUPS. ALL "ADJUSTMENT TO VISION LOSS" SUPPORT GROUPS ARE FACILITATED BY AN EXPERIENCED STAFF MEMBER WITH VISION LOSS. IN THESE GROUPS, MEMBERS EXPLORE SOLUTIONS TO DEALING WITH VISION LOSS AND MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH OTHERS WHO CAN RELATE. VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION VOCATION REHABILITATION SERVICES ARE DESIGNED FOR ADULT CLIENTS WHO WANT TO EITHER MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT OR OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT. CLIENTS WHO ARE EMPLOYED MAY NEED SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT, TRAINING OR ACCOMMODATIONS TO ENABLE THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK. CLIENTS WHO WISH TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT MAY RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING IN ALL AREAS OF THE CURRICULUM, INCLUDING EXTENSIVE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING. RECREATION AND LEISURE EXPLORING NATURE, CULTURAL AND ART EVENTS, YOGA, HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIVING WORKSHOPS; THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THE LIGHTHOUSE OF COLLIER PROVIDES TO CLIENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OUR RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES PROGRAMMING ALLOWS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES THE CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH OTHER BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALSO EAGER TO EXPLORE NEW ACTIVITIES AND HOBBIES. WHETHER THEY ARE ATTENDING AN AUDIO DESCRIPTIVE MOVIE, HIKING WITH CREW OR CREATING CLAY PROJECTS IN COLLABORATION WITH NAPLES ART CENTER, LIGHTHOUSE OF COLLIER CLIENTS ARE CONSTANT PROOF THAT THE INABILITY TO SEE IN NO WAY CORRELATES WITH AN INABILITY TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. OUR RECREATION AND LEISURE OFFERINGS ALSO INCLUDE: "ARTS AND CRAFT PROGRAMS "YOGA, MEDITATION, AND OTHER EXERCISE OPPORTUNITIES OUR BLIND BABIES PROGRAM PROVIDES EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES TO FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN LIVING WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE 5. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PREPARE THE CHILDREN TO BE AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THEIR PEERS UPON ENTERING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE SUPPORT AND INFORMATION TO THE PARENTS/C
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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