Passes our checks

National Society to Prevent Blindness

EIN 42-6083207 · Des Moines, IA

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

What it says it does

to prevent blindness and preserve sight

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

Good: 89 out of 100.

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 14.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

Independent board
25 of 25
8 of 8 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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$80,523 spent. Public Education-informing the general public about the basic facts of eye care, health and safety, and motivating them to appropriate action; conducted through mass media such as television, radio, newspapers, and social media, through the distribution of Prevent Blindness publications and through responses to inquiries from the public. Thousands of Iowans participated in health education programs and received information and referral services. In addition we reached a potential audience of almost 1 million Iowans through social networking and media impressions.
$107,366 spent. Community Service-Sponsoring and promoting screening programs for the early detection of signs of eye trouble among preschool children, school age children, and adults, particularly amblyopia in children. Screenings were provided to nearly 20,000 individuals last year. Patient Services, eye glass and eye exam programs were provided to over 60 Iowans.
$26,841 spent. Professional Education-Serving as an authoritative source of information on the latest developments in vision and eye care so that eye care professionals, nurses, scientists, teachers, social workers, and others in the field of blindness prevention can better serve their respective clients. Vision screening training was provided to almost 100 individuals.

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

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 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 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.