Lighthouse Guild International Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 47% 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
TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO ATTAIN THEIR GOALS.
- Income
- $28.0 million
- Spending
- $32.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 47%
- Reserves
- 43.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 73%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 176
- Highest pay
- $1.3 million, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 43.9 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 72% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 38% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1547% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 16 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
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
- $15.2 million spent. LIGHTHOUSE GUILD INTERNATIONAL, INC. IS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING VISION LOSS SO THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH OR AT RISK FOR VISION LOSS CAN LIVE FULLY AND INDEPENDENTLY. MOST SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH IT'S AFFILIATE CORPORATIONS: THE JEWISH GUILD FOR THE BLIND D/B/A JEWISH GUILD HEALTHCARE, LIGHTHOUSE INTERNATIONAL, GUILDNET, INC., JGB REHABILITATION CORPORATION, AND JGB MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION SERVICES, INC. EACH YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION ALLOCATES A PORTION OF IT'S ENDOWMENT EARNINGS TO HELP FUND THE OPERATIONS OF IT'S AFFILIATES. IN 2024, THE AFFILIATES SERVED MORE THAN 6,500 CLIENTS BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE LOW VISION AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO 4,300 CLIENTS AT 54,000 SESSIONS. IN ADDITION, 1,200 PEOPLE RECEIVED REHABILITATION SERVICES, 1,100 PARTICIPATED IN TELE-SUPPORT GROUPS AND 475 ENROLLED IN TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOPS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 2014.
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.