Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To empower people who are blind or visually to lead active, productive and independent lives.
- Income
- $12.3 million
- Spending
- $10.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 40.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
- Employees
- 106
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $198,426, president/ceo - exit 4/25
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 40.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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 April 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 (3)
- $5.1 million spent. Social Enterprises provides meaningful jobs to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Our associates produce top-quality file folders in a light-manufacturing environment and also offer competitive assembly, packaging and shipping to meet unique company specifications. The Clovernook Braille Printing House is recognized as one of the largest volume producers of braille in North America, producing more than 20 million pages annually. Clovernook's Braille Printing House produces a variety of braille materials that include books and magazines for the National Library Service (NLS), a division of the Library of Congress, textbook materials, tactile graphics, religious periodicals, menus, business cards, instruction manuals and more.
- $1.8 million spent. Multi-State Center East is under contract with the Library of Congress, distributes books in adaptive format, including audio, and related materials for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.
- $1.1 million spent. Clovernook Program Services twice monthly offers vision screening services for low income and uninsured adults. Also, in partnership with a local Children's Hospital, Clovernook provides a Pediatric Low Vision Program which is fast becoming a national model for integrated services to children with permanent vision loss. Annually Clovernook Center hosts the Ohio Regional Braille Challenge competition for K-12 students.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 April 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 March 1959.
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.
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.