National Society to Prevent Blindness
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
we prevent blindness and preserve sight
- Income
- $966,505
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 10.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 630
- Highest pay
- $194,825, 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
Good: 72 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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.
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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 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 (3)
- $668,340 spent. Community Service-Prevent Blindness Wisconsins vision screening program harnesses the collective efforts of volunteers and thousands of partners to support vision health for hundreds of thousands of children across the state. Certified vision screenings detect children and adults with potential vision problems and refer them to further vision care; early detection and treatment of vision problems improves treatment outcomes, prevents permanent vision loss, and ensures children have healthy vision for school success.
- $69,636 spent. Public Health Education-Prevent Blindness Wisconsin provides public education to teach the general public about vision health topics, such as: the importance of healthy vision,common vision problems with their signs,vision safety, the prevention of eye disease, and how to access vision care. Vision health education is provided through presentations to parents, educators, community groups, and others; mass media advertising, including local publications; distribution of Prevent Blindness Wisconsin educational materials; the Prevent Blindness Wisconsin website and more. We also work to improve access to vision care by providing follow-up resources county specific vision care provider guides.
- $108,640 spent. Professional Education and Training-Prevent Blindness Wisconsin builds local vision screening infrastructure and makes vision health a priority in communities across Wisconsin through Professional Education and Vision Screener Training. Vision Screener Trainings certify volunteers and partners to provide vision screening for three years using the most up-to-date visionscreening support as well as vision health education and resources to move individuals to further care after a failed vision screening.
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
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? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
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 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.
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.