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St Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired

EIN 43-0666768 · Saint Louis, MO

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

THE SOCIETY ENHANCES INDEPENDENCE, EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS AND ENRICHES THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR BLIND.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
94.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 37%
Employees
24
Volunteers
38
Highest pay
$192,297, president an

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 83% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 94.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4581% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 (3)
  1. $465,523 spent. VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES: INDIVIDUALIZED VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR BLIND DUE TO MACULAR DEGENERATION, DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, GLAUCOMA, CATARACT, TRAUMATIC HEAD INJURY AND OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS. REHABILITATIVE NEEDS ADDRESSED INCLUDE HOW TO BEST USE REMAINING VISION; ADAPTIVE DAILY LIVING SKILLS TRAINING; PREVENTION OF INJURIES; EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES; ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATION; AND FAMILY SUPPORT. GROUP SERVICES ADDRESS PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL ISOLATION ISSUES AFFECTING AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO LIVE IN A SAFE, HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT MANNER. THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS ARE REFERRED BY THEIR OPHTHALMOLOGIST OR OTHER EYE CARE SPECIALIST AND MANY ARE DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE EYE CONDITIONS. INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES FROM THE SOCIETY'S STATE OR NATIONALLY CERTIFIED AND/OR LICENSED LOW VISION THERAPISTS, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST, ORIENTATION & MOBILITY SPECIALISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND OTHER RELATED PROFESSIONALS. INDIVIDUALIZED REHABILITATIVE TRAINING, VARIOUS AIDS, EQUIPMENT, DEVICES, TECHNOLOGY AND ADAPTIVE TECHNIQUES ARE USED TO ASSIST IN ADJUSTING TO VISION LOSS OR BLINDNESS IN ORDER TO RESTORE OR MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY LIVING ACTIVITES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT THE SOCIETY'S OFFICES AND IN-HOME. BECAUSE MOST INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE DUE TO THEIR VISION LOSS, THE SOCIETY OFFICES ARE PURPOSELY LOCATED ALONG KEY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROUTES. IN ADDITION, THE SOCIETY PROVIDES TRANSPORTAION ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE ALL INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF INCOME, HAVE ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALIED VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. BECAUSE MOST VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND LOW VISION AIDS ARE NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE OR MEDICARE, CARE SERVICES, DEVICES OR OTHER VISION REHBILITATION AIDS CAN BE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AT REDUCED COST IF THERE IS AN INABILITY TO PAY. VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES: INDIVIDUALIZED VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR BLIND DUE TO MACULAR DEGENERATION, DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, GLAUCOMA, CATARACT, TRAUMATIC HEAD INJURY AND OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS. REHABILITATIVE NEEDS ADDRESSED INCLUDE HOW TO BEST USE REMAINING VISION; ADAPTIVE DAILY LIVING SKILLS TRAINING; PREVENTION OF INJURIES; EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES; ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATION; AND FAMILY SUPPORT. GROUP SERVICES ADDRESS PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL ISOLATION ISSUES AFFECTING AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO LIVE IN A SAFE, HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT MANNER. THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS ARE REFERRED BY THEIR OPHTHALMOLOGIST OR OTHER EYE CARE SPECIALIST AND MANY ARE DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE EYE CONDITIONS. INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES FROM THE SOCIETY'S STATE OR NATIONALLY CERTIFIED AND/OR LICENSED LOW VISION THERAPISTS, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST, ORIENTATION & MOBILITY SPECIALISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND OTHER RELATED PROFESSIONALS. INDIVIDUALIZED REHABILITATIVE TRAINING, VARIOUS AIDS, EQUIPMENT, DEVICES, TECHNOLOGY AND ADAPTIVE TECHNIQUES ARE USED TO ASSIST IN ADJUSTING TO VISION LOSS OR BLINDNESS IN ORDER TO RESTORE OR MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY LIVING ACTIVITES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT THE SOCIETY'S OFFICES AND IN-HOME. BECAUSE MOST INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE DUE TO THEIR VISION LOSS, THE SOCIETY OFFICES ARE PURPOSELY LOCATED ALONG KEY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROUTES. IN ADDITION, THE SOCIETY PROVIDES TRANSPORTAION ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE ALL INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF INCOME, HAVE ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALIED VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. BECAUSE MOST VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND LOW VISION AIDS ARE NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE OR MEDICARE, CARE SERVICES, DEVICES OR OTHER VISION REHBILITATION AIDS CAN BE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AT REDUCED COST IF THERE IS AN INABILITY TO PAY.
  2. $659,517 spent. THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO THE AGENCY ARE EXPERIENCING VISION LOSS DUE TO AN AGE-RELATED OR HEREDITARY EYE CONDITION. THROUGH A LOW VISION CLINIC (DREWS LOW VISION CLINIC) AND LOW VISION SERVICES, EVALUATIONS ARE PROVIDED BY A LICENSED DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY AND CERTIFIED LOW VISION THERAPIST OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST. FUNCTIONAL EYE EXAMS, ADAPTIVE AIDS AND EQUIPMENT ADDRESS WAYS TO BEST UTILIZE REMAINING VISION. THESE ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN COMPLETING DAILY LIVING TASKS INCLUDING MANAGMENT OF TAKING MEDICATION, READING, AND WATCHING TELEVISION. OVER 200 DIFFERENT LOW VISION AIDS ARE AVAILABE AND ARE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AT NO CHARGE IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD SUCH DEVICES. AN EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM IS ALSO AVAILABLE OF THOSE UNABLE TO AFFORD RECOMMENDED LOW VISION EQUIPMENT. IN-HOME FOLLOW UP BY THE LOW VISION THERAPIST OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST PROVIDES REHABILITATIVE LOW VISION TRAINING AND ENSURES THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BEST USE RECOMMENDED LOW VISION EQUIPMENT/AIDS. TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO ANY INDIVIDUAL NEEDING HELP IN GETTING TO THE DREWS LOW VISION CLINIC. THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO THE AGENCY ARE EXPERIENCING VISION LOSS DUE TO AN AGE-RELATED OR HEREDITARY EYE CONDITION. THROUGH A LOW VISION CLINIC (DREWS LOW VISION CLINIC) AND LOW VISION SERVICES, EVALUATIONS ARE PROVIDED BY A LICENSED DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY AND CERTIFIED LOW VISION THERAPIST OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST. FUNCTIONAL EYE EXAMS, ADAPTIVE AIDS AND EQUIPMENT ADDRESS WAYS TO BEST UTILIZE REMAINING VISION. THESE ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN COMPLETING DAILY LIVING TASKS INCLUDING MANAGMENT OF TAKING MEDICATION, READING, AND WATCHING TELEVISION. OVER 200 DIFFERENT LOW VISION AIDS ARE AVAILABE AND ARE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AT NO CHARGE IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD SUCH DEVICES. AN EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM IS ALSO AVAILABLE OF THOSE UNABLE TO AFFORD RECOMMENDED LOW VISION EQUIPMENT. IN-HOME FOLLOW UP BY THE LOW VISION THERAPIST OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST PROVIDES REHABILITATIVE LOW VISION TRAINING AND ENSURES THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BEST USE RECOMMENDED LOW VISION EQUIPMENT/AIDS. TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO ANY INDIVIDUAL NEEDING HELP IN GETTING TO THE DREWS LOW VISION CLINIC.
  3. $407,295 spent. PROVIDING SPEAKERS, LITERATURE, SEMINARS AND OTHER PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES TO COMMUNITY GROUPS; PUBLICATIONS AND DISSEMINATION OF MATERIALS FOCUSED ON HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, VISION LOSS AND DIFFERENT EYE CONDITIONS; SIGHTED, BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED VOLUNTEERS ASSIST THE AGENCY AND THE INDIVIDUALS SERVED THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 1941.

    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.