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Blind Industries & Services of Maryland

EIN 52-0591664 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE SUPPORT THE BLIND COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING STABLE AND REWARDING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, INNOVATIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, ECONOMIC AND PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE, AND APPROPRIATE RESOURCES FOR TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

Income
$12.8 million
Spending
$13.5 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 86%
Employees
466
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$313,892, chief executive officer

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: 42 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 44 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (2)
  1. $6.2 million spent. INDUSTRIES DIVISION, OFFICE STORES, CUTTING & SEWING DIVISIONS, AND VENDING PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO APPROXIMATELY 172 ADULT BLIND AND SEVERELY MULTIPLE DISABLED BLIND.
  2. $2.1 million spent. PROGRAM FOR REHABILITATION, SOCIAL SERVICES AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THE ADULT BLIND AND SEVERELY MULTIPLE DISABLED. PROVIDED TRAINING TO APPROXIMATELY 1,841 BLIND INDIVIDUALS THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND PROVIDED AIDS & APPLIANCES TO APPROXIMATELY 526 BLIND INDIVIDUALS.BISM CONTINUES TO MOVE TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED BY OFFERING THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: CORE PROGRAM BISM'S COMPREHENSIVE ORIENTATION, REHABILITATION, AND EMPOWERMENT (CORE) PROGRAM TEACHES BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADULTS THE SKILLS OF BLINDNESS SO THEY CAN BECOME EMPLOYED, PURSUE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES. CONFIDENCE BUILDING IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THE PROGRAM AND IS REINFORCED WITH EACH ACCOMPLISHMENT. CORE STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT BY BLIND INSTRUCTORS AND LEARN NON-VISUAL METHODS IN A CLASSROOM SETTING. THE CURRICULUM INCLUDES BRAILLE, LONG WHITE CANE TRAVEL, INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND ASSISTIVE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, ADJUSTMENT TO BLINDNESS SEMINARS, PHYSICAL FITNESS, WOODSHOP, AND OFF-SITE TRAINING. THE CORE PROGRAM GENERALLY REQUIRES SEVEN TO TEN MONTHS TO COMPLETE.CORE IS A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM AND WE CONSIDER RESIDENTIAL LIVING THE ESSENTIAL COMPONENT DESIGNED TO INTEGRATE SKILLS DEVELOPED THROUGHOUT TRAINING. STUDENTS LIVE IN APARTMENTS IN AN URBAN SETTING AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHOPPING, MEAL PREPARATION, CLEANING, AND MONEY MANAGEMENT. STUDENTS ALSO ORGANIZE AND PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH, BISM FUNDRAISERS, AND GROUP ACTIVITIES. THROUGH UTILIZATION OF CLASSROOM TAUGHT BLINDNESS SKILLS OUTSIDE OF THE REHABILITATION BUBBLE, OUR STUDENTS LEARN NOT ONLY INDEPENDENCE SKILLS BUT WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY.SENIOR PROGRAM BISM'S SENIOR SERVICES OFFERS LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, SUPPORT GROUPS, RESOURCE MATERIALS, HOME INSTRUCTION, ADAPTED DEVICE DEMONSTRATIONS AND COMMUNITY OUTINGS FOR BLIND AND LOW VISION SENIORS. THE GOAL OF ALL BISM SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAMS IS TO EMPOWER BLIND AND LOW VISION SENIOR CITIZENS WITH THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE NECESSARY TO LIVE AN INDEPENDENT, FULFILLING LIFE.THE SENIORS ACHIEVING INDEPENDENT LIVING (SAIL) PROGRAM'S CURRICULUM INCLUDES CLASSES IN BRAILLE, CANE TRAVEL, INDEPENDENT HOME LIVING, ASSISTIVE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, ADJUSTMENT TO BLINDNESS SEMINARS, GARDENING AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES. WITH THE SKILLS ACQUIRED AT BISM, SENIOR PARTICIPANTS BECOME BETTER EQUIPPED TO MANAGE THEIR DAILY NEEDS, REMAIN IN THEIR OWN HOMES, RESUME SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, INCREASE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND AVOID UNNECESSARY PLACEMENT IN COSTLY ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.W.R.A.P. WORK READINESS ASSESSMENT PROGRAMWRAP PROGRAM IS A TWO-WEEK PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ASSESS INDIVIDUALS IN ALL AREAS OF WORK READINESS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRAINING. WE PROVIDE ASSESSMENTS IN PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEWING, INDEPENDENT LIVING, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY, JOB BASED TECHNOLOGY, BRAILLE (IF APPLICABLE), AND THE CLIENTS HOME BASE. WHILE IN THE HOME WE REVIEW TRANSPORTATION ACCESS, A DESIGNATED ORGANIZED WORK AREA, HOME BASED TECHNOLOGY, AND GENERAL OVERVIEW. WE WILL WORK ON INTERVIEW SKILLS, CAREER GOALS, PROFESSIONAL ETIQUETTE, RESUME CREATION/REFINEMENT, JOB SOFT SKILLS, COVER LETTER TACTICS, INDEED.COM PROFILES, LINKED-IN PROFILES, JOB SHADOWING, AND MEETING WITH BLIND PROFESSIONALS IN SIMILAR FIELDS OF INTEREST.

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

  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 June 2025.

    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 December 1940.

    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.