Operation Sight
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 46% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
OPERATION SIGHT IS A NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY-INTEGRATED PROGRAM WITH THE GOAL TO RESTORE VISION AND IMPROVE LIVES OF QUALIFIED, UNINSURED SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS SUFFERING FROM CATARACTS OR URGENT, SIGHT-THREATENING RETINAL DISORDERS REQUIRING SURGICAL INTERVENTION.
- Income
- $124,341
- Spending
- $265,543
- Spent on programs
- 46%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $52,247, 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
Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (diseases, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 114% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1546% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (diseases, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (3)
- $122,240 spent. OPERATION SIGHT'S GOAL IS TO AID LOW-INCOME, UNINSURED PERSONS WITH OPERABLE CATARACTS BY ELIMINATING THE DISPARITY THAT COMES WHEN PREVENTABLE BLINDNESS IS A PRODUCT OF POVERTY. RESTORING A PARTICIPANTS VISION AND ENHANCING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE WILL HAVE A DIRECT COMMUNITY IMPACT, AS CATARACT PATIENTS CAN RETURN TO THE WORKFORCE, INCREASE TAX REVENUE, DECREASE THEIR NEED FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND PROVIDE STABILIZATION OF THEIR FAMILY STRUCTURES. IN ITS FISCAL YEAR 2022, OPERATION SIGHT PERFORMED 62 CATARACT SURGERIES. THANKS TO IN-KIND DONATIONS FROM ALCON, OPERATION SIGHT PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED ALL OF THE PHARMACEUTICALS NECESSARY TO PRE- AND POST-OPERATIVE CARE FOR FREE.
- IN 2015, OPERATION SIGHT BEGAN PROVIDING FREE SURGERY FOR URGENT, SIGHT THREATENING RETINAL DISORDERS REQUIRING SURGICAL INTERVENTION. IN ITS FISCAL YEAR 2022, OPERATION SIGHT PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED 8 RETINAL SURGERIES AND IN ITS MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR 2021, PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED 7 RETINA SURGERIES.
- OPERATION SIGHT NOT ONLY PARTNERS WITH THE VOLUNTEER OPHTHALMOLOGISTS WHO PROVIDE SURGERY, BUT ALSO WITH VOLUNTEER OPTOMETRISTS AND FREE MEDICAL CLINICS. THESE EYECARE PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE FREE EYE EXAMS TO POTENTIAL OPERATION SIGHT PARTICIPANTS AS WELL AS POST-OPERATIVE EXAMS, CARE, AND PRESCRIPTIONS FOR GLASSES. REFERRALS FOR FREE OR LOW-COST PRESCRIPTION GLASSES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE OPERATION SIGHT PROGRAM COORDINATOR.IN ITS FISCAL YEAR 2022, OPERATION SIGHT PERFORMED 1 YAG PROCEDURE.
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 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? 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2012.
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.