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Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind Inc

EIN 59-0637876 · Tampa, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO MAXIMIZE INDEPENDENCE AND PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
14.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 60%
Employees
52
Highest pay
$123,897, ceo & presid

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: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 (5)
  1. $664,376 spent. TRANSITION PROGRAM: PROVIDES INSTRUCTION TO BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS IN DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES. 184 OLDER ADULTS AND ADULTS UNDER THE AGE OF 55 RECEIVED LIVING INDEPENDENT TRAINING THAT ENABLED THEM TO REMAIN SAFE AND INDEPENDENT IN THEIR OWN HOME. ADDITIONALLY, OVER 3,900 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED INFORMATION OR REFERRAL, ATTENDED OR PARTICIPATED IN AN EVENT, TOUR OR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT, OR VISITED OUR ON-SITE STORE.
  2. $678,937 spent. SERVICE CONTRACTS: PROVIDED REHABILITATION TECHNOLOGY TO 625 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SEEKING TO BECOME EMPLOYED. 158 VISUALLY IMPARIED VETERANS RECEIVED TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE IN THEIR HOME TO USE THEIR COMPUTER OR IPAD.
  3. $650,041 spent. VOCATIONAL SERVICES: PROVIDES JOB PLACEMENT AND COMPUTER TRAINING TO BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPARIED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SEEKING TO BECOME EMPLOYED IN COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT. 66 ADULTS RECEIVED TRAINING TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE OR EMPLOYMENT.
  4. $1.1 million spent. EXPENSES 332,273 EARLY INTERVENTION HELPS TO DEVELOP SKILLS FOR SCHOOL READINESS, IMPROVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND MAXIMIZE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. 43 CHILDREN, FROM BIRTH TO 5 YEARS, RECEIVED TRAINING AT HOME, PRESCHOOL OR A CHILDCARE CENTER TO PREPARE THEM WITH SKILLS NEEDED FOR KINDERGARTEN. 15 CHILDREN, FROM 5 TO 13, IN THE CHILDRENS PROGRAM. EXPENSES 52,656 LOW VISION AIDS AND APPLIANCES PROVIDES A DIRECT SOURCE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CLIENTS TO PURCHASE ADAPTIVE AIDS THAT WILL HELP ENABLE THEM TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY. EXPENSES 664,376 THE TRANSITION PROGRAM ASSISTS BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED YOUTH TO BE READY TO WORK, GO TO COLLEGE OR ATTEND A TECHNICAL SCHOOL UPON COMPLETION OF HIGH SCHOOL. 48 TEENS RECEIVED TRAINING IN CAREER EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGY, INDEPENDENT LIVING AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE OR WORK UPON GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL. EXPENSES 10,817 THE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO SUPPORT OTHER PROGRAMS BY OFFERING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP THERAPY TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR ADJUSTMENT TO VISION LOSS. THE COUNSELOR, WHOM IS VISUALLY IMPAIRED, PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS IN MOVING FORWARD IN THEIR PERSONAL JOURNEY. TRANSITION PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY: WHEN CHRIS LOST HIS SIGHT HE WAS EXTREMELY AFRAID. HOWEVER, WITH THE HELP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE HE IS NOW ABLE TO UTILIZE A WHITE CANE TO GO ANYWHERE HE WANTS IN THE COMMUNITY. HE ESPECIALLY LIKES GOING TO THE GYM WHENEVER HE WANTS. HE SAID THAT HE HAS GONE FROM "FEAR TO EXCITEMENT." THIS STATEMENT REPRESENTS HOW SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR SIGHT AND HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMS. THE LIGHTHOUSE ALLEVIATED THE FEAR AND CREATES PATHWAYS TO INDEPENDENCE WITH NEW SKILLS AND ENHANCES CONFIDENCE. ONE TIME HE WAS GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, AND WE ASKED HIM, "DO YOU FEEL SAFE?" HE RESPONDED, "I FEEL SAFER NOW THAN I DID BEFORE." HE UTILITZES HIS WHITE CANE AND HAS LEARNED TO USE ALL HIS SENSES TO TAKE BACK COMMAND OF HIS WORLD. HE ALSO NOW HAS A SERVICE DOG THAT ASSISTS HIM IN HELPING HIM NAVIGATE HIS COMMUNITY.
  5. EXPENSES 332,273 EARLY INTERVENTION HELPS TO DEVELOP SKILLS FOR SCHOOL READINESS, IMPROVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND MAXIMIZE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. 43 CHILDREN, FROM BIRTH TO 5 YEARS, RECEIVED TRAINING AT HOME, PRESCHOOL OR A CHILDCARE CENTER TO PREPARE THEM WITH SKILLS NEEDED FOR KINDERGARTEN. 15 CHILDREN, FROM 5 TO 13, IN THE CHILDRENS PROGRAM. EXPENSES 52,656 LOW VISION AIDS AND APPLIANCES PROVIDES A DIRECT SOURCE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CLIENTS TO PURCHASE ADAPTIVE AIDS THAT WILL HELP ENABLE THEM TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY. EXPENSES 664,376 THE TRANSITION PROGRAM ASSISTS BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED YOUTH TO BE READY TO WORK, GO TO COLLEGE OR ATTEND A TECHNICAL SCHOOL UPON COMPLETION OF HIGH SCHOOL. 48 TEENS RECEIVED TRAINING IN CAREER EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGY, INDEPENDENT LIVING AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE OR WORK UPON GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL. EXPENSES 10,817 THE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO SUPPORT OTHER PROGRAMS BY OFFERING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP THERAPY TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR ADJUSTMENT TO VISION LOSS. THE COUNSELOR, WHOM IS VISUALLY IMPAIRED, PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS IN MOVING FORWARD IN THEIR PERSONAL JOURNEY. TRANSITION PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY: WHEN CHRIS LOST HIS SIGHT HE WAS EXTREMELY AFRAID. HOWEVER, WITH THE HELP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE HE IS NOW ABLE TO UTILIZE A WHITE CANE TO GO ANYWHERE HE WANTS IN THE COMMUNITY. HE ESPECIALLY LIKES GOING TO THE GYM WHENEVER HE WANTS. HE SAID THAT HE HAS GONE FROM "FEAR TO EXCITEMENT." THIS STATEMENT REPRESENTS HOW SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR SIGHT AND HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMS. THE LIGHTHOUSE ALLEVIATED THE FEAR AND CREATES PATHWAYS TO INDEPENDENCE WITH NEW SKILLS AND ENHANCES CONFIDENCE. ONE TIME HE WAS GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, AND WE ASKED HIM, "DO YOU FEEL SAFE?" HE RESPONDED, "I FEEL SAFER NOW THAN I DID BEFORE." HE UTILITZES HIS WHITE CANE AND HAS LEARNED TO USE ALL HIS SENSES TO TAKE BACK COMMAND OF HIS WORLD. HE ALSO NOW HAS A SERVICE DOG THAT ASSISTS HIM IN HELPING HIM NAVIGATE HIS COMMUNITY.

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 December 1956.

    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.