Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Vista Center enables individuals who are blind or visually impaired to achieve their highest potential through evaluation, counseling, education and training which promotes independence and improves quality of life.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $4.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 36%
- Employees
- 48
- Volunteers
- 258
- Highest pay
- $200,683, 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
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 16 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (4)
- $1.7 million spent. SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVING - WITHOUT SIGHT THE MOST ROUTINE TASKS CAN SEEM INSURMOUNTABLE, THE SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAM ASSESSES THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF A CLIENT AND DEVELOPS A CUSTOMIZED PLAN OF ACTION FOR TEACHING THE SKILLS THAT ENABLE INDEPENDENCE.SOCIAL SERVICES - PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THEIR CURRENT SITUATION AND NEEDS. VISTA CENTER'S SOCIAL WORKERS HELP INDIVIDUALS DEVELOP A REHABILITATION PLAN, PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT AND KEEP THE INDIVIDUAL INFORMED ABOUT PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THAT PERSON'S INDEPENDENCE.ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY - VISTA CENTER'S TEACHERS WORK WITH CLIENTS ONMASTERING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CANE USE, CROSSING STREETS, USING PUBLICTRANSPORTATION, WALKING WITH A GUIDE DOG AND NAVIGATING EVERYDAYENVIRONMENTS.DAILY LIVING SKILLS - TRAINING HELPS CLIENTS LIVE SAFELY AND BECOMEMORE INDEPENDENT BY LEARNING SAFE COOKING TECHNIQUES, INDEPENDENTMEDICATION AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT, HOUSEKEEPING, PERSONAL HYGIENE, MONEYAND PAPERWORK MANAGEMENT AND ADAPTING TO EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENTS SOCLIENTS CAN NEGOTIATE DAILY TASKS.COUNSELING AND SUPPORT GROUPS - INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL AND/OR GROUPPROFESSIONAL COUNSELING. SESSIONS HELP CLIENTS ADJUST TO LIVING WITH ADISABILITY.THE HEALTH LIBRARY - AN AFFILIATE OF THE STANFORD HEALTH LIBRARY,OFFERS A VARIETY OF SCIENTIFICALLY-BASED MEDICAL INFORMATION ON VISIONLOSS AND REHABILITATION. SKILLED VOLUNTEERS CAN RESEARCH MEDICAL TOPICSFOR ANY BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON WHO REQUESTS ASSISTANCE.SUPPORT FOR VOCATIONAL SERVICES - VISTA CENTER STAFF SUPPORT VISUALLYIMPAIRED PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING OR RETURNING TO WORK WITH ORIENTATIONTO THE JOB SITE, ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS, TECHNOLOGY TRAINING AND BYLINKING THEM TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT PROVIDE JOB SUPPORT.THE STORE AT VISTA CENTER - IS STOCKED WITH A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS THATCAN HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED ENJOY AND LEAD MOREINDEPENDENT LIVES.VOLUNTEERS - VISTA CENTER'S ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEERS WORK DIRECTLY WITHITS CLIENTS FILLING A VARIETY OF NEEDS. THEY ALSO WORK IN THE STORE ATVISTA CENTER, THE HEALTH LIBRARY OR ASSIST VISUALLY IMPAIRED STAFFMEMBERS.
- $924,267 spent. SCHOOL AND YOUTH SERVICES - BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM THEIR SIGHTED PEERS IN THEIR DESIRE FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH OTHERS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. THE SCHOOL AND YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES THEM WITH THE TOOLS, STRATEGIES, CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE TO BUILD THE FUTURE THAT THEY DREAM OF AND THAT IS POSSIBLE.FAMILY AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES - PLANNED EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR A FAMILY DAY OF FUN! THEY ENJOY AMUSEMENT PARKS, VISITING THE ZOO, GOING FISHING, KAYAKING, ICE SKATING AND A WHOLE LOT MORE!WHEN I GROW UP - OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED YOUTH TO "SEE" THEIR FUTURE POSSIBILITIES BY GETTING TO KNOW BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADULTS WHO HAVE SUCCEEDED IN A SIGHTED WORLD.TEENS TOGETHER PLUS - IS A MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUP FOR VISTA CENTER'S BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED YOUTH WHO ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 22 YEARS OLD. IT IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH PEERS, BUILD SOCIAL SKILLS, RECEIVE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST RELATED TO BLINDNESS.BRAILLE CHALLENGE - IS A CELEBRATION OF BRAILLE LITERACY IN THE FORM OF A CONTEST AMONG BLIND SCHOOL CHILDREN. THE CONTESTANTS ARE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES ONE THROUGH TWELVE. WINNERS PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL BRAILLE CHALLENGE SPONSORED BY THE BRAILLE INSTITUTE.INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS - TEACHERS OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION OF BLIND CHILDREN. THE ORGANIZATION CONTRACTS WITH NUMEROUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE THEIR BLIND EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION SERVICES. THE ORGANIZATION'S SERVICES INCLUDE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY, TECHNOLOGY FOR YOUTH, TEACHERS OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES.
- $867,323 spent. LOW VISION SERVICES - WHEN SOMEONE IS SLOWLY LOSING SIGHT, LOSING FAITH IN ONE'S ABILITY TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY BECOMES A REAL FEAR. BY CONDUCTING EVALUATIONS, WHICH RESULT IN RECOMMENDATIONS AND EDUCATION TO ENHANCE THE USE OF REMAINING VISION, VISTA CENTER'S SPECIALLY TRAINED LOW VISION OPTOMETRISTS PROVIDE DEVICES, SERVICES AND SUPPORT THAT ALLEVIATE FEAR AND RESTORE HOPE.LOW VISION CLINIC - THE INDIVIDUAL'S FUNCTIONAL VISION WILL BE EVALUATED BY VISTA CENTER'S LOW VISION OPTOMETRIST WHO WILL RECOMMEND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT TO ASSIST IN DAILY LIFE ACTIVITIES. THESE ADAPTIVE AIDS CAN ASSIST WITH READING, WRITING, WATCHING TELEVISION, SEEING STREET SIGNS AND MANY OTHER DAILY ACTIVITIES.LIGHTING EVALUATIONS AND CONTRAST TRAINING - VISTA CENTER'S OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WILL PROVIDE AN EVALUATION TO DETERMINE THE BEST LIGHTING FOR ITS CLIENTS' HOME ENVIRONMENTS AND FOR COMPLETING A TASK. THE USE OF CONTRAST IN CLIENT HOMES WILL ALSO BE DEMONSTRATED TO MAKE DAILY TASKS EASIER.LOW VISION AIDS AND DEVICES TRAINING - APPROPRIATE MAGNIFYING DEVICES AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT ARE DEMONSTRATED AND RECOMMENDED TO ALLOW THE CLIENT TO MAXIMIZE THE USE OF REMAINING VISION.LOW VISION EXPO - EVENT PROVIDES SPEAKERS FROM THE OPHTHALMOLOGY COMMUNITY, THE TECHNOLOGY FIELD AND A VARIETY OF VENDORS DEMONSTRATING THE LATEST IN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
- $53,001 spent. TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM - VISTA CENTER'S TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM, PART OF SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVING, IS LEADING THE WAY IN BRINGING TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS ONCE ONLY AVAILABLE TO THE SIGHTED COMMUNITY TO THOSE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. VISTA CENTER'S ACCESS TRANSFORM AND OPEN UP NEW WORLDS TO VISTA CENTER'S CLIENTS.TECHNOLOGY LAB DAYS - THE TECH LAB IS A FREE ONE-ON-ONE SESSION DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE A VARIETY OF DEVICES AND HELP WITH SELECTING THE BEST OPTION IN A SUPPORTIVE SETTING.TECHNOLOGY USER GROUP - THESE FREE MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED ONCE A MONTH IN VISTA CENTER'S PALO ALTO AND SANTA CRUZ OFFICES. LEARN FROM SPEAKERS FROM ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES AND BE IN THE KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS NEW.ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING - THIS IS A ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING SESSION AT VISTA CENTER'S PALO ALTO OFFICE WITH VISTA CENTER'S TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST. TOPICS INCLUDE USING A PERSONAL COMPUTER WITH THE LATEST ASSISTIVE SOFTWARE INCLUDING ZOOMTEXT, MAGIC, JAWS, MS OFFICE WITH ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNET EXPLORER WITH ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY. INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION ON THE LATEST APPLE IOS AND ANDROID DEVICES IS ALSO AVAILABLE.CONCIERGE TRAINING IN YOUR HOME - VISTA CENTER OFFERS INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION IN CLIENT HOMES, INCLUDING A PERSONALIZED ASSESSMENT OF CLIENT TRAINING NEEDS AND EQUIPMENT, ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION ON CLIENT PERSONAL COMPUTERS USING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE AND TEACHING CLIENTS HOW TO USE OTHER DEVICES EFFECTIVELY. VISTA CENTER WILL HELP CLIENTS TO SELECT APPLICATIONS THAT SUIT THEIR NEEDS AND OFFER TRAINING ON THEM. FOLLOW-UP SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO VERIFY THAT CLIENTS HAVE MASTERED THE SKILLS THEY NEED.TECHNOLOGY FOR YOUTH - OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO LEARN THE LATEST ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE BEING USED IN THE CLASSROOM. VIPTUC (VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS TECHNOLOGY USERS CONFERENCE) IS FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGIES BEING INCORPORATED IN A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY THE LATEST SMART PHONES AND HOW THAT TECHNOLOGY IS BEING MADE ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED.COMMUNITY OUTREACH - VISTA CENTER IS COMMITTED TO COMMUNICATING ITS MISSION AND HOW IT CAN HELP ALL INDIVIDUALS IN ITS SERVICE AREA WHO ARE EXPERIENCING VISION LOSS, THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM.COMMUNITY OUTREACH - INCLUDES PRESENTATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS TARGETED TO SPECIFIC GROUPS INCLUDING:MEDICAL REFERRAL SOURCES, INCLUDING MDS, ODS AND MEDICAL GROUPSCOMMUNITY CENTERS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONSHEALTH FAIRSSENIOR RESIDENCESVISTA CENTER OPEN HOUSE EVENTS AND LOW VISION EXPOSCORPORATE EMPLOYEE PRESENTATIONSCLASSROOM OUTREACH AND EDUCATION - VISTA CENTER'S TEACHERS PROVIDE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AT K-12 SCHOOLS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT VISION LOSS IS, HOW THEY CAN HELP SOMEONE WHO HAS VISION LOSS AND WHAT THEY SHOULD DO TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN EYE HEALTH. STUDENTS ARE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME VOLUNTEERS TO HELP SOMEONE WHO IS BLIND.PARATRANSIT, PUBLIC TRANSIT AND INTERSECTION CONSULTING MUNICIPAL TRAFFIC DEPARTMENTS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES CONTRACT WITH VISTA CENTER TO FORMALLY ANALYZE STREET INTERSECTIONS FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW THEY CAN BE MODIFIED. VISTA CENTER ALSO ANALYZES BUS AND TRAIN EMBARKATION POINTS AND ADVISES ON HOW THEY MAY BE IMPROVED. VISTA CENTER'S ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY STAFF PARTICIPATES ON COUNTY PARATRANSIT AGENCY ADVISORY BOARDS TO MONITOR TRENDS AND SUGGEST SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS.PROFESSIONAL STAFF IN-SERVICES - ARE OFFERED TO COVER A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING AN INSIGHT INTO VISION LOSS, THE SIGHTED GUIDE EXPERIENCE, ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES AND STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH SIGNIFICANT VISION LOSS. IF AN ENTITY'S STAFF WORKS WITH OR ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED, VISTA CENTER CAN PROVIDE THE TRAINING THAT IS NEEDED TO PROMOTE A SAFE AND RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT.CORPORATE OUTREACH - VISTA CENTER PROVIDES EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES TO CORPORATE PARTNERS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES.
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
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 June 2025.
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 October 1947.
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.