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National Society to Prevent Blindness

EIN 36-3667121 · Chicago, IL

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

WE PREVENT BLINDNESS AND PRESERVE SIGHT ACROSS ALL AGE SPECTRUMS AND MULTIPLE EYE CONDITIONS. WE FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE NATION'S VISION AND EYE HEALTH BY EDUCATING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING CARE OF THEIR EYES AND VISION, BY PROMOTING ADVANCES IN PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS OF CARE THAT SUPPORT EYE HEALTH NEEDS, AND BY ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC POLICY THAT EMPHASIZES EARLY DETECTION AND ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE EYE CARE.

Income
$14.7 million
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
34.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
133
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$388,838, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 60% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 185% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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 March 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. $1.1 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION/AWARENESS - PREVENT BLINDNESS INCREASES AWARENESS AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING CARE OF THEIR EYES THROUGH BROCHURES, FACT SHEETS, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, NEWSLETTERS, MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, SPECIAL EVENTS, MONTHLY OBSERVANCE CALENDAR, OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA. EACH YEAR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE READ, HEAR OR SEE OUR MESSAGES ABOUT EARLY DETECTION OF EYE DISEASE AND PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS THAT CAN CAUSE PERMANENT LOSS OF SIGHT. SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWS OUTLET PLACEMENTS IMPRESSIONS TOTALED OVER 2 BILLION LAST YEAR.
  2. $991,119 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICE/PATIENT SUPPORT - PREVENT BLINDNESS ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC POLICIES THAT IMPROVE HEALTH SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE AND RESOURCES THAT ENSURE EVERYONE HAS AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND QUALITY EYE CARE OPTIONS. CURRENT EFFORTS INCLUDE ADVOCATING FOR INCREASED SURVEILLANCE OF VISION PROBLEMS, PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, INVESTMENTS IN RESEARCH, ACCESS TO EYE HEALTH CARE, SAFETY IN AND ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS, A STRENGTHENED EYE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE, AND FAIR OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS. WE PROVIDE PATIENT SUPPORT THROUGH EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, FREE/LOW-COST EYE CARE ASSISTANCE THROUGH INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS, AND ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH VISION CHALLENGES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. IN ADDITION, OUR AFFILIATE SYSTEM SCREENED OVER 1 MILLION CHILDREN AND ADULTS NATIONWIDE FOR EARLY DETECTION OF VISION DISORDERS.
  3. $1.9 million spent. HEALTH EDUCATION & TRAINING - PREVENT BLINDNESS SERVES AS AN EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON AREAS RELATED TO EYE HEALTH THROUGH DIRECT VISION PROGRAM REVIEW AND GUIDANCE, AN ANNUAL NATIONAL EYE HEALTH SUMMIT, WEBINARS, ALLIED HEALTH EDUCATION, SURVEILLANCE EFFORTS, ONLINE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, RESEARCH GRANTS, AND PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION AWARDS. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE TARGETED TOWARDS EYE CARE PROFESSIONALS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, TEACHERS, COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS ALONG WITH OTHERS WORKING IN THE FIELD OF BLINDNESS PREVENTION. WE EDUCATED, TRAINED OR CERTIFIED OVER 700,000 PROFESSIONALS AND ORGANIZATIONS LAST YEAR.
  4. $439,122 spent. RESEARCH - TO SUPPORT IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENTS IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF VISION AND EYE HEALTH, PREVENT BLINDNESS MOBILIZES GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR PROTECTING AND INCREASING FUNDING FOR VISION AND EYE HEALTH RESEARCH THROUGH THE NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. PREVENT BLINDNESS MADE MORE THAN 5,000 CONTACTS TO KEY POLICYMAKERS LAST YEAR TO SUPPORT VISION AND EYE HEALTH. THE PREVENT BLINDNESS JOANNE ANGLE INVESTIGATOR AWARD PROVIDES FUNDING FOR RESEARCH INVESTIGATING PUBLIC HEALTH RELATED TO EYE HEALTH AND SAFETY. THIS RESEARCH GRANT PROMOTES THE CORE MISSION OF PREVENT BLINDNESS - PREVENTING BLINDNESS AND PRESERVING SIGHT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 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 October 13, 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 March 2025.

    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 July 1990.

    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 October 21, 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.