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American Brotherhood for the Blind DBA Blind Children and Adults

EIN 52-1192529 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INTEGRATING THE BLIND INTO SOCIETY

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
108.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
3
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$254,130, executive director

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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 108.6 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 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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. $483,687 spent. BRAILLE PUBLICATIONS AND PROGRAMS - CONDUCTED AND PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES EMPHASIZING BRAILLE AND TACTILE LITERACY, EDUCATION, AND INDEPENDENCE INCLUDING: THE FREE BRAILLE BOOKS PROGRAM WHICH SENDS A NEW BRAILLE BOOK TO OVER 1,950 BLIND CHILDREN EACH MONTH; EARLY PRE-READING AND TACTILE EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR BLIND CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE EIGHT; BRAILLE READERS ARE LEADERS CONTEST TO IMPROVE READING SKILLS AND ENCOURAGE MORE BRAILLE READING; DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRONIC BRAILLE READY (BRF) FILES FOR ONSITE PRODUCTION OF HARD COPY BRAILLE; SHARE BRAILLE.ORG AN ONLINE COMMUNITY TO CONNECT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BRAILLE BOOKS THAT THEY NO LONGER NEED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR BRAILLE READING MATERIAL; OUTREACH TO LOCATE INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF BRAILLE INSTRUCTION; MASS COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS TO RAISE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR REQUIRING ADEQUATE BRAILLE READING AND WRITING INSTRUCTION FOR BLIND CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES MAKING SIMILAR EFFORTS TO MAKE BRAILLE AND BRAILLE INSTRUCTION AVAILABLE TO ALL BLIND PERSONS. ALL BLIND PERSONS AND PERSONS WITH VISUAL DISABILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES (OVER 8.5 MILLION AS REPORTED BY THE U.S. CENSUS DEPARTMENT) ARE POTENTIALLY BENEFITTED BY THESE ACTIVITIES.
  2. $150,871 spent. TOOLS FOR INDEPENDENCE - GAVE WHITE CANES, SLATES AND STYLUSES FOR WRITING BRAILLE, AND BRAILLE CALENDARS AT NO CHARGE TO BLIND INDIVIDUALS UPON REQUEST. APPROXIMATELY TEN THOUSAND SUCH ITEMS WERE DISTRIBUTED DURING THE YEAR.
  3. $2.9 million spent. SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES - CONDUCTED AND PARTICIPATED IN ACTIVITIES TO ELIMINATE MASSIVE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO FULL PARTICIPATION BY BLIND INDIVIDUALS EMBEDDED IN EDUCATION; EMPLOYMENT; TRANSPORTATION; GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES; COMMERCE; RECREATION; HOUSING; RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS; MEDICAL FACILITIES; WEB-BASED AND AUTOMATED KIOSK AND TOUCH-SCREEN BASED INFORMATION SERVICES; AND ALL OTHER FORMS OF EXCLUSION BASED ON NON-VISUALLY ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND TOOLS AND UPON MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF THE TRUE NATURE OF THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY LACK OF EYESIGHT AND THE RESULTANT LOW EXPECTATIONS. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE MULTIFACETED AND INCLUDE: DIRECT SERVICES TO BLIND INDIVIDUALS; SUPPORT FOR PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN; MASSIVE, BROAD-BASED COMMUNICATIONS TO AND INTERACTION WITH INDIVIDUALS, GOVERNMENTAL, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND BUSINESS ENTITIES AIMED AT MAKING WIDESPREAD AND PERMANENT CHANGES TO PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS ABOUT BLINDNESS; LEADERSHIP TRAINING; SUPPORT FOR SELF-ADVOCACY AND SELF-ORGANIZATION GROUPS; LEGAL ACTION TO ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AND GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS; SUPPORT FOR CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEW TACTILE METHODS FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION; EFFORTS TO LOCATE BLIND PEOPLE NEEDING ASSISTANCE; AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES WORKING TOWARD SIMILAR GOALS. ALL BLIND PERSONS AND PERSONS WITH VISUAL DISABILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES (OVER 8.5 MILLION AS REPORTED BY THE U.S. CENSUS DEPARTMENT) ARE POTENTIALLY BENEFITTED BY THESE ACTIVITIES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1944.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.