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Nonprofiteer
← AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND INC

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$2,940,926
Total expenses
$2,392,773
Contributions and grants received
$1,426,925
Grants paid
$79,450
Program service revenue
$659,708
Investment income
$374,722
Other revenue
$479,571
Total assets, end of year
$7,577,651
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,453,645
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$5,124,006
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$1,957,742
Management and general expenses
$203,553
Fundraising expenses
$231,478
Program service expenses (Part III)
$1,957,742

Program services were 81.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $1,266

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $53,976

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $199,358

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,172,325

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $85,665

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ANNUAL CONVENTION

    total $485,938 · related or exempt $485,798 · unrelated business $140

  • 2b · Program service revenue: OTHER PROGRAM FEES

    total $110,285 · related or exempt $110,285

  • 2c · Program service revenue: ADVOCACY

    total $63,485 · related or exempt $63,485

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $121,951 · excluded $121,951

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $252,771

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $0

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $252,771

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $252,771 · excluded $252,771

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $15,912

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $199,358

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $52,299

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$36,387 · excluded -$36,387

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $11,155

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $7,595

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $3,560 · unrelated business $3,560

  • 11a · Other revenue: EQUITY IN ACBES

    total $511,394 · excluded $511,394

  • 11b · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE

    total $1,004 · related or exempt $1,004

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $512,398

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $79,450 · program services $79,450

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $293,030 · program services $189,947 · management and general $68,722 · fundraising $34,361

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $705,808 · program services $591,718 · management and general $48,558 · fundraising $65,532

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $20,085 · program services $16,725 · management and general $1,580 · fundraising $1,780

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $86,944 · program services $68,975 · management and general $10,744 · fundraising $7,225

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $73,594 · program services $57,855 · management and general $8,332 · fundraising $7,407

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $1,281 · program services $1,007 · management and general $145 · fundraising $129

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $31,360 · program services $23,248 · management and general $5,141 · fundraising $2,971

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $17,639 · program services $16,289 · management and general $737 · fundraising $613

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $56,904 · fundraising $56,904

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $28,304 · program services $26,889 · management and general $1,415

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $101,411 · program services $97,881 · management and general $1,197 · fundraising $2,333

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $6,540 · program services $5,141 · management and general $742 · fundraising $657

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $114,661 · program services $104,025 · management and general $5,568 · fundraising $5,068

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $195,118 · program services $170,783 · management and general $12,674 · fundraising $11,661

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $129,280 · program services $96,711 · management and general $19,813 · fundraising $12,756

  • 17 · Travel

    total $111,950 · program services $100,026 · management and general $4,487 · fundraising $7,437

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $179,118 · program services $176,940 · management and general $1,155 · fundraising $1,023

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $15,885 · program services $12,589 · management and general $1,583 · fundraising $1,713

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $26,109 · program services $20,698 · management and general $2,911 · fundraising $2,500

  • 24a · Other expenses: SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

    total $35,512 · program services $29,620 · management and general $3,088 · fundraising $2,804

  • 24b · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

    total $26,729 · program services $21,011 · management and general $3,033 · fundraising $2,685

  • 24c · Other expenses: ADP GRANT - SITE VISITS

    total $3,375 · program services $3,375

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $52,686 · program services $46,839 · management and general $1,928 · fundraising $3,919

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $193,876 · end of year $151,402

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $500,000

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $31,426 · end of year $18,229

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $18,770 · end of year $16,281

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $54,163 · end of year $42,506

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $348,960

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $268,413

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $39,553 · end of year $80,547

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $4,420,869 · end of year $4,599,312

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,572,652 · end of year $2,169,374

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $272,377 · end of year $316,924

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $49,700 · end of year $40,575

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,564,596 · end of year $2,096,146

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,013,151 · end of year $3,085,169

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,431,485 · end of year $2,038,837

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE.

  • MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION SERVICES STRENGTHENED AFFILIATES THROUGH REGULAR PRESIDENTS' ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING WEEKLY SESSIONS THAT PROVIDE A FORUM FOR TIMELY TOPICS AND GUEST PRESENTERS. THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (ACB) COMMUNITY PLATFORM HOSTED APPROXIMATELY 4,800 EVENTS, SUPPORTED BY 230 VOLUNTEERS WHO CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 19,000 HOURS OF SERVICE. PROGRAMMING INCLUDED A BROAD MIX OF SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS SUCH AS BRAILLE INSTRUCTION, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING, HEALTH AND WELLNESS SESSIONS, PEER SUPPORT, AND TOPIC-DRIVEN DISCUSSIONS. TRAINING MODULES WERE ALSO DEVELOPED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY HOSTS AND VOLUNTEERS. SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2020, THE PLATFORM HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN 26,000 EVENTS TO THE COMMUNITY.

    Expenses $455,674

  • CONFERENCE AND CONVENTIONTHE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND'S 64TH ANNUAL CONVENTION WAS A DYNAMIC HYBRID EVENT, COMBINING VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EXPERIENCES WITH OVER 250 WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, BUSINESS MEETINGS, EXHIBITORS, AND TOURS. ELIGIBLE MEMBERS COULD ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSIONS ON PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS, VOTE ON THEM, AND ELECT BOARD MEMBERS. THE CONVENTION ALSO FEATURED INFORMATIVE BREAKOUT SESSIONS ON RELEVANT COMMUNITY ISSUES, AVAILABLE FOR LIVE ATTENDANCE OR THROUGH PODCAST RECORDINGS, ENSURING BROAD ACCESSIBILITY AND ENGAGEMENT FOR ALL ATTENDEES.

    Expenses $433,602 · Revenue $485,798

  • ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS HELPED MOVE CONGRESS TO REINTRODUCE TWO BILLS THAT WERE PART OF ACB'S LEGISLATIVE IMPERATIVES: THE WEBSITES AND SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS ACCESSIBILITY ACT AND THE MEDICAL DEVICE NONVISUAL ACCESSIBILITY ACT. PUT ON THE 2025 HILL DAY, WHERE MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN DOZENS OF MEETINGS WITH CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS TO DISCUSS LEGISLATION THAT WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION. PARTICIPATED IN A COALITION CALL WITH THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS) TO CALL FOR THE RESCISSION OF THE EYEGLASSES EXCLUSION ACT. CELEBRATED THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) WITH THE CONSORTIUM OF CONSTITUENTS WITH DISABILITIES (CCD).

    Expenses $351,267 · Revenue $63,485

  • PUBLIC AWARENESS ATTENDED AND PRESENTED AT NUMEROUS TECHNOLOGY, ADVOCACY, AND DISABILITY-RELATED CONFERENCES PROMOTING ACB'S WORK AND SERVICES. THE FIFTH ANNUAL ACB AUDIO DESCRIPTION AWARDS GALA WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON YOUTUBE AND PEACOCK, EXTENDING ACB'S REACH ACROSS THE NATION. ACB MEDIA'S 10 INTERNET STREAMS HAD OVER 154,400 LISTENING HOURS. ACB'S SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE RESULTED IN OVER 34,300 FOLLOWERS ACROSS SEVEN PLATFORMS WITH CONSISTENT ENGAGEMENT ON DAILY POSTS. ACB'S WEBSITE AND THE AUDIO DESCRIPTION PROJECT WEBSITE ALLOW ACB TO KEEP THE PUBLIC AWARE OF ONGOING ACTIVITIES, CURRENT INITIATIVES, AND NEWS IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND, LOW VISION, OR WHO ARE CONNECTED TO SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY.AUDIO DESCRIPTION PROJECT (ADP)ACB'S AUDIO DESCRIPTION PROJECT SPONSORS A BROAD RANGE OF ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO BUILD AWARENESS OF AUDIO DESCRIPTION. AT THE 2025 AUDIO DESCRIPTION AWARDS GALA, THE AWARDS FOR BEST AUDIO DESCRIPTION WRITER AND NARRATOR WERE GIVEN FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE ADP CELEBRATED THE MEDIA INDUSTRY'S ADVANCEMENT OF AUDIO DESCRIPTION; SERVED ON THE FCC'S DISABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE; SPONSORED ITS ANNUAL ESSAY CONTEST FOR STUDENTS; CONDUCTED SESSIONS OF THE AUDIO DESCRIPTION TRAINING INSTITUTE; AND PARTICIPATED IN THE UNIDESCRIPTION PROJECT'S EFFORT TO CREATE AUDIO DESCRIPTION FOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BROCHURES. THE ADP ALSO LAUNCHED A NEW WEBSITE, FORMED A VIDEO GAMING SUBCOMMITTEE, AND HELD A LIVE KICKOFF FOR THE AD PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD.ACB SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDSIN 2025, ACB IN COLLABORATION WITH AFB DISTRIBUTED $116,200 IN SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING TO 21 BLIND STUDENTS PURSUING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. MANY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE ANNUAL CONVENTION, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD CONNECTIONS WITH PEERS WHO SHARE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. ADDITIONALLY, SEVEN EMERGING LEADERS WERE SELECTED AS JPMORGAN CHASE LEADERSHIP FELLOWS AND DKM FIRST-TIMER AWARD RECIPIENTS, RECEIVING SUPPORT THROUGH MENTORING, TRAINING, AND PEER ENGAGEMENT. THESE INDIVIDUALS ALSO ATTENDED ACB'S CONVENTION, WHERE THEY STRENGTHENED THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND EXPANDED THEIR PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS.INFORMATION AND PEER SUPPORTACB OFFERS ESSENTIAL INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING VISION LOSS, CONNECTING THEM WITH RESOURCES SUCH AS ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY, DAILY LIVING SKILLS, AND ADVOCACY SUPPORT. MANY CALLERS SIMPLY WANT SOMEONE TO TALK TO ABOUT ADJUSTING TO VISION LOSS. TO MEET THIS NEED, ACB HAS CREATED A VIRTUAL PEER SUPPORT COMMUNITY PLATFORM.

    Expenses $717,199 · Grants $79,450 · Revenue $111,289

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Deb Cook Lewis

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    20

  • David Trott

    1ST VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10 + 1 related

  • Kenneth Semien Sr

    2ND VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    15

  • Ray Campbell

    2ND VP (END 7/2025)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • Katie Frederick

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    7

  • Denise Colley

    SECRETARY (END 7/2025)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • Michael Garrett

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5 + 3 related

  • Kim Charlson

    PAST PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4 + 1 related

  • Jeff Thom

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5 + 1 related

  • Donna Brown

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Koni Sims

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Zelda Gebhard

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Christopher Bell

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Gabriel Lopez Kafati

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Terry Pacheco

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4 + 1 related

  • Rachel Schroeder

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Cecily Nipper

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Peter Heide

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Cheryl Cummins

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Timothy Scott Thornhill

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $162,242
    From this org
    $156,144
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,098
    Hours/week
    39 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $156,144
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,249
    Nontaxable benefits
    $849
    Filer's total
    $162,242

  • Nancy Marks Becker

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $148,027
    From this org
    $101,184
    From related orgs
    $13,916
    Other
    $32,927
    Hours/week
    35 + 5 related

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
Filed
1 May 2026
IRS schema version
2025v4.1
Source object
202621259349302492

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