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Deaf Blind Service Center

EIN 91-1357750 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMITTED TO ASSISTING DEAF-BLIND PEOPLE MAINTAIN HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE/DEGREE OF PERSONAL AUTONOMY.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
9
Volunteers
46
Highest pay
$71,456, executive di

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    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 (5)
  1. $383,387 spent. THE SUPPORT SERVICE PROVIDER (SSP) PROGRAM IS THE CORNERSTONE OF DBSC. SSPS ARE TRAINED, SIGHTED GUIDED, FLUENT IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND PROVIDERS OF VISUAL AND ENVIROMENTAL INFORMATION SO THAT DEAF-BLIND PEOPLE CAN DO THEIR BANKING, SHOP, PAY BILLS AND PERFORM OTHER ESSENTIAL ERRANDS INDEPENDENTLY. THE SSPS PROVIDES THIS VISUAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION ENABLING THE DEAF-BLIND PERSON TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES AND DECISIONS AND SO THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE MAINSTREAM COMMUNITY. DBSC TRAINS AND MATCHES SSPS WITH DEAF-BLIND INDIVIDUALS AT NO COST TO THE DEAF-BLIND PERSON. DBSC IS ALSO CONTRACTED WITH OFFICE OF DEAF AND HEARING (ODHH) AND CITY OF SEATTLE.
  2. $120,807 spent. AT DBSC, WE BELIEVE IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE DEAF-BLIND INDIVIDUAL HAVE A CHOICE AT THE COMMUNITY, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. FOR INSTANCE, BEING UNABLE TO SECURE A PROPER SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER, A QUALIFIED SSP, AND/OR ACCESSING TECHNOLOGY ARE ONLY A FEW OF MANY MAJOR BARRIERS. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADVOCACY THAT ENABLE DEAF-BLIND PEOPLE TO IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO INTERACT WITH SOCIETY: SELF-ADVOCACY AND PRIVATE POLICY ADVOCACY.
  3. $811,465 spent. INTERPRETING SERVICES. IT'S CRITICAL THAT DEAFBLIND INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO QUALIFIED DB INTERPRETERS WHO ARE PROFICIENT IN USING PTASL OR PROTACTILE ASL AND TACTILE COMMUNICATION. THE ORGANIZATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECRUITING HIGHLY QUALIFIED PTASL INTERPRETERS TO MEET THE COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF THEIR CLIENT SO THEY CAN SUCCESSFULLY ACCESS INFORMATION. DBSC IS COMMITTED TO FACILITATING HIGH QUALITY COMMUNICATION ACCESS FOR BOTH DEAFBLIND AND HEARING CONSUMERS. THE DEAFBLIND INTERPRETER SERVICE FOCUSES ON PEOPLE WITH BOTH VISION LOSS AND HEARING LOSS ONLY.
  4. $65,860 spent. 'PROFESSIONAL TO PROFESSIONAL' SERVICES FOR DEAF-BLIND (DB) INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT SERVICE PROVIDERS (PSSP) AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION FACILITATORS (PCF). A PSSP PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION, GUIDING, AND VISUAL/ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION. A PCF COPIES SIGN LANGUAGE FROM A VIDEOPHONE CALLER TO A DEAF-BLIND PERSON THROUGH CLOSE VISION OR TACTILE SIGN LANGUAGE. A PCF ALSO SHARES THE VISUAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SEEN ON THE VIDEO SCREEN.
  5. 'PROFESSIONAL TO PROFESSIONAL' SERVICES FOR DEAF-BLIND (DB) INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT SERVICE PROVIDERS (PSSP) AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION FACILITATORS (PCF). A PSSP PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION, GUIDING, AND VISUAL/ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION. A PCF COPIES SIGN LANGUAGE FROM A VIDEOPHONE CALLER TO A DEAF-BLIND PERSON THROUGH CLOSE VISION OR TACTILE SIGN LANGUAGE. A PCF ALSO SHARES THE VISUAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SEEN ON THE VIDEO SCREEN.

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 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 June 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 November 1991.

    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.