Center of Vision Enhancement
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CENTER OF VISION ENHANCEMENT PRIMARY MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES, SUPPORT, HEALTH RESOURCE ACCESS, TRAINING, REFERRALS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR THE BENEFIT OF PERSONS WITH ANY LEVEL OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT SO AS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR HEALTH, SECURITY, HAPPINESS AND USEFULNESS AND THEREBY, INTER ALIA, AMELIORATE THE LACK OF ANY SUCH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. TO MAKE DONATIONS TO AND DISPENSE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH, AND OTHERWISE AID AND SUPPORT PERSONS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND VISION IMPAIRMENT PROGRAMS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS QUALIFIED FOR EXCEPTION.
- Income
- $478,384
- Spending
- $459,228
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $37,905, executive director
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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 78% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
- SUPPORT SERVICES FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND BLIND INDIVIDUALS. APPROXIMATELY 600 INDIVIDUALS SERVED THROUGH OUR ACTIVITIES. DISTRIBUTED MONTHLY INFORMATIONAL MAILINGS. PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION AND PROVIDE REFERRAL SERVICES. GAVE AND SOLD ASSISTANCE AIDS, DEVICES AND SUPPLIES TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND BLIND INDIVIDUALS. HOSTED THE ANNUAL COVE VISION FAIR WITH PRESENTERS, EXHIBITORS AND SERVICE AGENCIES FOR THE BLIND/VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
- $265,649 spent. VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES: PROVIDE ASSESSMENTS AND TRAINING IN THE AREAS OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, ORIENTATION & MOBILITY SKILLS, BRAILLE, AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE ADULT WORK EXPERIENCE AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. SERVICES PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION, BLIND FIELD SERVICES DIVISION.
- $168,742 spent. OLDER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND PROGRAM: GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE INFORMATION & REFERRAL SERVICES, SUPPORT SERVICES, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AIDS, DEVICES, AND TRAINING, TRAVEL TRAINING, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS TRAINING TO PERSONS WITH SEVERE VISION LOSS WHO ARE AGED 55 OR OLDER IN ORDER TO PROMOTE AND ASSIST PERSONS IN REGAINING AN INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLE. SUPPORT GROUPS MEET BOTH IN-PERSON AND REMOTELY. SERVICE AREAS INCLUDE MERCED AND MARIPOSA COUNTIES.
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 March 2008.
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.