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Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

EIN 92-0108817 · Anchorage, AK

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

The Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired's mission is to eliminate vision loss as the barrier to employment, community participation or quality of life. We are the only statewide training and resource center for vision rehabilitation for all Alaskans with uncorrectable sight loss. Since 1977 we have been helping clients meet their life and work goals and contribute their talent to family and community. In addition to our Anchorage residential and training facility, we travel to villages and towns throughout the state of Alaska. Our professionally accredited staff works with clients ranging in age from teenagers to senior citizens, offering a variety of professional services and support to communities throughout Alaska.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$897,180
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
10 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
18
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$71,752, executive dir.

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: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (1)
  1. $657,966 spent. The center offers the following services:Assisted Daily Living: Training in personal and household management for independent living.Orientation and Mobility: Safe travel in business and residential areas.Assistive Technology: Adaptive communications involving the use of computers and related electronic devices and reading and writing Braille.Manual Skills: Use of tools and development of problem solving skills.Vocational Services and Worksite Evaluations: Job preparation and vocational training for employment success.Visually Impaired Senior Alaskans (VISA): Living Well With Vision Loss support groups and services providing support to seniors to increase their home safety for independent living.Rural Outreach: Through a State grant, the Center provides rehabilitation training in communities all over Alaska. When vision loss begins impacting daily life like reading, travelling, cooking, or using the computer, the proper rehabilitation training and assistive technology can help. From Utqiagvik to Ketchikan, over 100 Alaskans per year attend our low vision clinic and receive training at no cost in their community or nearby hub. Up to $100 of low vision devices is provided to each individual as needed. While many are referred by their eye doctor, no referral is needed to benefit from our rural outreach. We typically visit a community once per year and rely on our wonderful community partners to get the word out and host our low vision clinic. Optometrists, nurses, care coordinators, Lions Club members, and many others help make our program a success by connecting those in their community who are blind or have vision loss to our services.Low Vision Clinics: The low vision clinic empowers those with vision loss to regain independence by providing education about vision loss, rehabilitation training, and appropriate assistive technology. Our clinics are held regularly in Anchorage and in Wasilla. A typical appointment has the individual meet with our low vision optometrist who will provide recommendations on devices for magnification, reducing glare, and other ways to optimize useable vision. The client then meets with the low vision therapist and has the opportunity to learn about and try low vision devices such as handheld magnifiers, screen readers, and many others to increase independence with daily tasks. For our low vision clinics in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley, a doctor referral is preferred.The Bright Path Program: Vision rehabilitation, vocational training, job preparation, assisted daily living and supervised social activities for youth ages 14-21.Blindness Sensitivity Training: An educational seminar for businesses, organizations, offices, etc. about how to approach blind and visually impaired people in a public setting. Please call to schedule.

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 October 13, 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 June 1985.

    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 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.