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Taping for the Blind Inc

EIN 74-1698993 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SERVES THE BLIND AND PRINT HANDICAPPED WITH A RADIO READING SERVICE TO HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING AREAS. CLIENTS ARE PROVIDED RADIOS OR CAN LISTEN VIA OUR WEBSITE. ALSO PROVIDES CUSTOM RECORDING SERVICE AND LIVE AUDIO DESCRIPTIONS.

Income
$427,719
Spending
$349,431
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
50.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Volunteers
150

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 50.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $193,396 spent. THE SIGHT INTO SOUND RADIO SERVICE BROADCASTS CONTINUOUSLY, 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR AND IS AVAILABLE ON MULTIPLE PLATFORMS INCLUDING STREAMING ON THE COMPUTER, SMARTPHONES, SMARTSPEAKERS AS WELL AS HD4 AND CH 8.5 VIA HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA.
  2. $59,938 spent. THE SIGHT INTO SOUND CUSTOM RECORDING SERVICE ENABLES OUR LISTENERS TO REQUEST AN AUDIO CD OR MP3 OF SPECIFIC BOOKS, MEDICAL MATERIALS, TEXTBOOKS, INSTRUCTION MANUALS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - MATERIALS THAT ARE NOT OTHERWISE AVAILABLE ON AUDIO. STUDENTS, SENIORS AND MANY OTHERS IN THE HOUSTON AREA AND OTHER STATES COUNT ON OUR CUSTOM RECORDING SERVICES. OUR CUSTOM RECORDING SERVICE IS UNIQUE TO SIGHT INTO SOUND IN THAT WE READ SPECIFIC REQUESTS FROM OUR LISTENERS IN A TIMELY MANNER AT NO CHARGE.
  3. $4,232 spent. OUR DESCRIPTION FOR THE BLIND SERVICE PROVIDES AUDIO DESCRIPTIONS OF THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW & RODEO AND LIVE THEATER PERFORMANCES AROUND HOUSTON. IT OFFERS AN AVENUE TO THE ARTS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED. TO TAKE PART IN THE SERVICE, THE LISTENER IN THE AUDIENCE IS PROVIDED WITH A SMALL HEADSET WHICH PICKS UP THE SIGNAL BROADCAST BY THE DESCRIBER FROM ANYWHERE IN THE FACILITY. WE COLLABORATE WITH THEATRE UNDER THE STARS, BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA, ALLEY THEATRE, MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER AND AD PLAYERS.
  4. $58,608 spent. VOLUNTEER COORDINATING AND TRAINING

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

  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 2024.

    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 October 1967.

    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.