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Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank

EIN 84-0890204 · Aurora, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LIONS EYE BANK'S MISSION IS TO FULFILL THE WISHES OF EYE DONORS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HELP ANOTHER OVERCOME BLINDNESS THROUGH TRANSPLANTATION AND RESEARCH. OUR DEDICATION TO THIS MISSION ALLOWS EYE, ORGAN AND TISSUE DONORS IN COLORADO AND WYOMING TO PROVIDE OVER 2,500 SIGHT-RESTORATIVE TRANSPLANTS EACH YEAR.

Income
$6.9 million
Spending
$6.6 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
34.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
79
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$160,179, executive director

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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    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

    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. $5.6 million spent. EYE TISSUE RECOVERY AND TRANSPLANTATION: THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE EYE BANK IS TO FULFILL THE WISHES OF EYE DONORS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HELP ANOTHER IN NEED. DONATED EYE TISSUES ARE FIRST PLACED WITH RECIPIENTS ON A LOCAL TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST. IF A SUITABLE RECIPIENT CANNOT BE FOUND LOCALLY, A SEARCH IS CONDUCTED WITH OTHER EYE BANKS IN THE UNITED STATES. IF A SUITABLE RECIPIENT STILL CANNOT BE FOUND, A SEARCH IS CONDUCTED THROUGH INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS TO FIND A RECIPIENT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. IN THIS WAY, NO TRANSPLANTABLE CORNEA IS EVER WASTED. TISSUES THAT CANNOT BE TRANSPLANTED FOR MEDICAL REASONS CAN OFTEN BE PLACED IN RESEARCH PROGRAMS.INTERNATIONAL SURGERY FUND: THIS FUND DEFRAYS COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL TISSUE PLACEMENT, SUCH AS INCREASED SHIPPING FEES, ADDITIONAL TESTING AND A LOWER COST REIMBURSEMENT. WITHOUT THIS VITAL SUPPORT, EYE TISSUES UNABLE TO BE PLACED WITH RECIPIENTS IN THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE DESTROYED. THE FUND ALSO SUPPORTS HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS OF LOCAL TRANSPLANT SURGEONS WHO DONATE THEIR TIME AND SKILLS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. ADDRESSING THE WORLDWIDE NEED, THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LIONS EYE BANK HAS HELPED ESTABLISH EYE BANKING PRACTICES AND DONATION PROGRAMS ON EVERY CONTINENT.EYE SURGERY FUND: ESTABLISHED IN 1983, THE EYE SURGERY FUND ASSISTS PATIENTS WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO COVER MEDICALLY NECESSARY CORNEAL SURGERY. CANDIDATES ENTER THE PROGRAM THROUGH SPONSORSHIP FROM THEIR LOCAL LIONS CLUB. THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LIONS EYE BANK REVIEWS THE APPLICATION AND MAY ASSIST WITH A GRANT TOWARD SURGERY COSTS. IN ADDITION, THE EYE BANK WORKS TO NEGOTIATE WAIVERS OR FEE REDUCTIONS FROM SURGEONS AND HOSPITALS TO MATCH MONEY AWARDED THROUGH THE FUND.
  2. $645,956 spent. EYE, ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION EDUCATION: THE EYE BANK BRINGS EYE, ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION EDUCATION TO A VARIETY OF AUDIENCES THE EYE BANK RELIES ON TO FULFILL ITS MISSION. THESE INCLUDE PHYSICIANS, NURSES, CORONERS, FUNERAL DIRECTORS, HOSPICES AND HOSPITALS. RMLEB ALSO SPREADS THE DONATION MESSAGE TO THOUSANDS THROUGH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS AND OTHER PUBLIC VENUES.REGIONAL DONOR REGISTRY SUPPORT: THE EYE BANK SUPPORTS 50% OF THE MAINTENANCE COSTS OF THE DONOR REGISTRIES IN OUR SERVICE AREA, ELECTRONIC DATABASES WHERE RESIDENTS CAN REGISTER THEIR INTENT TO BECOME EYE, ORGAN AND TISSUE DONORS.

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 November 6, 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 September 1984.

    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 November 4, 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.