Sight Savers America Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO IDENTIFY AND SECURE TREATMENT FOR UNMET VISION AND HEALTH NEEDS THAT IMPEDE A INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $4.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 4.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 42
- Volunteers
- 3,070
- Highest pay
- $227,326, ceo
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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (1)
- $4.3 million spent. SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA (SSA) IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IDENTIFYING AND SECURING ESSENTIAL EYE CARE NEEDS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, FROM A CHILD'S FIRST PAIR OF EYEGLASSES TO EXTENSIVE SIGHT-SAVING TREATMENT AND HIGH-TECH VISION AIDS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. SERVING 16 STATES, SSA FULFILLS ITS MISSION THROUGH THREE CORE PROGRAMS: THE EYE CARE PROGRAM, LOW VISION & BLINDNESS PROGRAM, AND SCREENING PROGRAM. SSA OPERATES WITH A BOARD OF TRUSTEES, A STAFF OF 40, AND A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF MORE THAN 1,300 EYE CARE PROFESSIONALS WHO OFTEN DISCOUNT OR DONATE SERVICES TO SUPPORT SSA PROGRAMS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, STATE AGENCIES, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, SSA REDUCES HEALTH DISPARITIES BY ENSURING INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL VISION SERVICES, TREATMENTS, AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.THE EYE CARE PROGRAM IDENTIFIES AND ADDRESSES UNMET EYE CARE NEEDS AMONG CHILDREN FOLLOWING FAILED SCHOOL VISION SCREENINGS OR REFERRALS FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SCHOOL STAFF, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS. ONCE REFERRED, EACH CHILD RECEIVES INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE ACCESS TO A DILATED EYE EXAM AND ALL RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS. APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 4 CHILDREN IN THE U.S. ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE SOME FORM OF VISION PROBLEM, AND VISION DISORDERS ARE AMONG THE MOST PREVALENT DISABLING CHILDHOOD CONDITIONS, IMPACTING DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.SSA'S NATIONAL FOLLOW-UP EYE CARE MODEL WORKS WITH FAMILIES INDIVIDUALLY TO CONNECT CHILDREN WITH A LOCAL EYE CARE PROVIDER FOR AN INITIAL EXAM AND ONGOING CARE THROUGH THEIR 19TH BIRTHDAY. EACH CHILD IS ASSIGNED A CASE SPECIALIST WHO MANAGES THE ENTIRE PROCESS, INCLUDING COMMUNICATING SCREENING RESULTS, EDUCATING FAMILIES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ONGOING EYE CARE, SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS, PROVIDING REMINDERS, ARRANGING TRANSPORTATION WHEN NEEDED, AND COORDINATING PRESCRIBED TREATMENTS. TREATMENTS MAY INCLUDE PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES, AMBLYOPIA TREATMENT, MEDICATIONS, VISION THERAPY, ONGOING CARE, AND SURGERIES. ALL PROGRAM ACTIVITY IS DOCUMENTED IN SSA'S PROPRIETARY DATABASE, ALLOWING SSA TO TRACK OUTCOMES, SUPPORT RETURNING FAMILIES, AND PROVIDE DETAILED REPORTING TO FUNDERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. INSURANCE COVERAGE IS UTILIZED WHEN APPLICABLE, AND SERVICES NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE ARE DONATED OR PAID BY SSA. CASE SPECIALISTS ALSO ASSIST UNINSURED FAMILIES WITH APPLICATIONS FOR THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP). SSA COLLABORATES WITH STATE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP EYE CARE THROUGH STATEWIDE VISION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ALABAMA'S PROGRAM SERVING ALL KINDERGARTEN, SECOND, AND FOURTH-GRADE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS; MISSISSIPPI'S PROGRAM SERVING ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL KINDERGARTNERS; AND SOUTH CAROLINA'S PROGRAM SUPPORTING PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN STATEWIDE. TO DATE, APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HELPED THROUGH THE EYE CARE PROGRAM IN ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, GEORGIA, TEXAS, AND NORTH CAROLINA. DURING THE 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR, 44,186 CHILDREN RECEIVED THESE SERVICES.THE LOW VISION & BLINDNESS PROGRAM SUPPORTS CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SEVERE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT OR BLINDNESS BY PROVIDING HIGH-TECH VISUAL ASSISTIVE DEVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH A DOCUMENTED MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL NEED. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO MAXIMIZE REMAINING VISION, INCREASE FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES, AND IMPROVE INDEPENDENCE. INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW VISION OR BLINDNESS OFTEN FACE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WITH DAILY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS READING, WRITING, TRAVELING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. THESE DEVICES ARE ESSENTIAL BUT ARE NOT COVERED BY MEDICAL INSURANCE AND ARE COST-PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY FAMILIES. SSA WORKS WITH TEACHERS OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, LOW VISION SPECIALISTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, STATE AGENCIES, AND OTHER PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY. EACH RECIPIENT RECEIVES INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT AND MUST HAVE A RECENT EVALUATION FROM A LOW VISION SPECIALIST WHO RECOMMENDS THE MOST APPROPRIATE DEVICE. SSA PROVIDES A RANGE OF HIGH-TECH AND OPTICAL AIDS, INCLUDING VIDEO MAGNIFIERS, REFRESHABLE BRAILLE DISPLAYS, OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-ENABLED DEVICES, MONOCULARS, DOME MAGNIFIERS, AND BIOPTICS.SSA PARTNERS WITH MANUFACTURERS TO LEVERAGE SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNTS AND IN-KIND EQUIPMENT DONATIONS, ALLOWING MORE INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE THESE LIFE-CHANGING DEVICES. LOCAL CLINICS PROVIDE HANDS-ON TRAINING FOR RECIPIENTS AND CAREGIVERS, WITH ADDITIONAL HOME TRAINING AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE WHEN NEEDED. THESE TECHNOLOGIES ALLOW STUDENTS TO BETTER ACCESS EDUCATION, ADULTS TO PURSUE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND OLDER ADULTS TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE AND AGE IN PLACE.HIGH-TECH VISION AND BLINDNESS AIDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO OVER 4,000 RECIPIENTS ACROSS 16 STATES (ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, MISSISSIPPI, TEXAS, GEORGIA, TENNESSEE, CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS, FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, HAWAII, ALASKA, OHIO, SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND NEW YORK). SSA HAS ELIMINATED THE BACKLOG OF CHILDREN WAITING FOR EQUIPMENT ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATES OF ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, AND HAWAII, AS WELL AS IN LARGE AREAS OF TEXAS, METRO ATLANTA, AND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE. ONCE A REGION REACHES THE MAINTENANCE PHASE, SSA CONTINUES SERVING NEWLY DIAGNOSED CHILDREN, CHILDREN WHO MOVE INTO THE AREA, AND THOSE WHO AGE INTO THE PROGRAM, WHILE EXPANDING SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS WHERE APPROPRIATE. DURING THE 2024/25 YEAR, 484 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED 452 HIGH-TECH VISION AND BLINDNESS AIDS AND 87 OPTICAL DEVICES.THE SCREENING PROGRAM WORKS WITH UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE ANNUAL VISION AND HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR PREK-12 STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL VISION AND HEALTH CONCERNS AND CONNECTS CHILDREN WITH APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-UP CARE. VISION SCREENINGS IN ALABAMA, GEORGIA, MISSISSIPPI, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TEXAS ARE CONDUCTED USING STATE-OF-THE-ART PHOTOREFRACTOR TECHNOLOGY, A NON-INVASIVE DEVICE THAT CAPT
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 November 6, 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 August 2003.
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 November 4, 2026.
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