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Cleveland Society for the Blind

EIN 34-0714652 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT AND TOOLS TO NAVIGATE THE VISUAL WORLD.

Income
$17.3 million
Spending
$13.9 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
70.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 36%
Employees
211
Volunteers
176
Highest pay
$469,998, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 70.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 25

    29 of 29 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 December 31, 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. $1.6 million spent. CSC PROVIDES EARLY INTERVENTION & OTHER SCHOOL SERVICES: PARENTS OF 0-3 YEAR OLDS LEARN COMPENSATORY TECHNIQUES TO DEVELOP SKILLS IN COMMUNICATION, INDEPENDENCE & MOVEMENT. CHILDREN AGED 3-5 ATTEND OUR IN-HOUSE PRESCHOOL. FAMILIES OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN ARE EDUCATED HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. CSC STAFF INSTRUCT SCHOOL TEACHERS HOW TO ADAPT THEIR CLASSROOM FOR A CHILD WITH A VISION DISABILITY. YOUNG ADULTS UP TO AGE 23 ARE ENGAGED IN PRE-EMPLOYMENT SKILLS TRAINING (482 CLIENTS SERVED).
  2. $2.8 million spent. CSC PROVIDES CASEWORK & SOCIAL SERVICES ASSISTING CLIENTS IN NAVIGATING NETWORKS TO MEET THEIR NEEDS (1764 CLIENTS SERVED). ONCE NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED, TRAINING AND TECHNIQUES ARE TAUGHT TO IMPROVE DAILY LIVING AND MOBILITY TO INCREASE INDEPENDENCE. COMPUTER TRAINING IS PROVIDED TO TEACH PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND TO USE A COMPUTER USING ASSISTIVE SOFTWARE (546 CLIENTS SERVED). CSC OPERATES A LOW VISION CLINIC EVALUATING AND EDUCATING CLIENTS ABOUT THE OPTICAL AIDS NECESSARY TO UTILIZE REMAINING VISION MORE EFFECTIVELY, STAFFED BY LICENSED OPTOMETRISTS WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON LOW VISION EXAMS (1372 CLIENTS SERVED).
  3. $3.3 million spent. CALL CENTER PRODUCTION SERVICES INCLUDING MANAGEMENT OF A FULLY-FUNCTIONING CALL CENTER WHICH PROVIDES TRAINING AND COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR HAVE OTHER WORK-LIMITING DISABILITIES (EMPLOYMENT OF OVER 93 INDIVIDUALS).
  4. $4.0 million spent. RECREATION ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE OVERALL WELL-BEING, INDEPENDENCE, AND CONFIDENCE WHILE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SOCIALIZE AND BUILD COMMUNITY WITH OTHERS. CSC GREATLY INCREASED RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING OFFERED, ENSURING INDIVIDUALS FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING AND PURPOSE, INCLUDING ALL-DAY PROGRAMMING ON TUESDAYS, EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS WITH GUEST SPEAKERS AND A FULL SUMMER PROGRAM OF FIELD TRIPS (331 CLIENTS SERVED).CSC PROVIDES ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER SERVICES, INCLUDING RETAIL SALES OF AIDS SUCH AS MAGNIFIERS, "TALKING" ITEMS, AND LARGE PRINT ACCESSORIES. THE "EYE-DEA SHOP" RETAIL STORE OFFERS USEFUL PRODUCTS TO HELP PEOPLE WITH VISION LOSS LIVE MORE SAFELY AND ACCOMPLISH DAILY TASKS WITH GREATER EASE. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND ONLINE. (OPEN YEAR-ROUND, SERVING > 1,000 CLIENTS). BRAILLE AND LARGE PRINT MATERIALS ARE PRODUCED AND PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS TO READ INFORMATION NEEDED FOR SCHOOL, BUSINESS, AND LEISURE, STAFFED IN PART BY VOLUNTEERS TRAINED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. A RADIO READING SERVICE IS PROVIDED THROUGH CLEVELAND SIGHT CENTER'S NETWORK ("CSCN") BROADCASTING AS A SUBCARRIER OF SCPN 90.3, ON WVIZ-TV CHANNEL 25.9, AND ON CLEVELANDSIGHTCENTER.ORG. CSC ALSO PROVIDES CUSTOMIZED AUDIO FOR CLIENT NEEDS AT HOME, SCHOOL, AND WORK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1928.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.