Lighthouse Center for Vital Living
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOSTERING VIBRANT LIVES FOR PEOPLE WITH VISION LOSS AND OTHER CHALLENGES TO INDEPENDENCE. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION, THE LIGHTHOUSE OPERATES MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, SERVING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN NORTHERN MN AND NORTHWESTERN WI. AS A RESULT OF OUR COMMITMENT, PEOPLE ARE MAXIMIZING THEIR SELF-RELIANCE AND ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT POSSIBILITIES. OUR PROGRAMS - DELIVERED AT OUR CENTER, IN CLIENTS' HOMES AND IN WORKPLACES - PROVIDE TRAINING, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS THAT EMPOWER THE WHOLE PERSON.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 24.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 54%
- Employees
- 28
- Highest pay
- $87,150, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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 June 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 (5)
- $1.5 million spent. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES WITH DISABILITIES. SERVING 300+ PEOPLE PER YEAR. WE PROVIDE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS, INDIVIDUALIZED TECHNOLOGY TRAINING, DEVICE LOANS AND DEMONSTRATIONS, AND CUSTOMIZED TECHNOLOGY SET UP. FOLLOW-UP RESULTS INDICATE MOST CLIENTS ARE USING TECHNOLOGY DAILY AND REPORT SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
- OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND OTHER INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES, SERVING OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH VISION LOSS AND OTHER DISABILITIES. PROVIDING 1:1 SERVICE TO 200+ PEOPLE PER YEAR, PROMOTING AGING IN PLACE, SAFETY, CONNECTION, QUALITY OF LIFE. DOCUMENTED RESULTS FOR LOW VISION CLIENTS SHOW 15 PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE ON A VALIDATED TOOL MEASURING FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDENCE. FOR CLIENTS ACROSS DISABILITY AREAS, 90%+ REPORT OUR SERVICES HELP THEM SAY IN THEIR HOMES.
- ADJUSTMENT TO BLINDNESS (ATB) REHABILITATION SERVICES: INCLUDES OUR TRANSITION PROGRAM FOR TEENS, ATB TRAINING SERVICES FOR ADULTS AT OUR CENTER OR IN THEIR HOMES. TRAINING IS HIGHLY INDIVIDUALIZED TO EACH PERSON'S NEEDS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING AND WORK. WE SERVE 25-40 TEENS PER YEAR AND 20-60 ADULTS.
- PUBLIC EDUCATION, TALKING BOOK RADIO, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES.
- PUBLIC EDUCATION, TALKING BOOK RADIO, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 1951.
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.