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Nonprofiteer
← AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$2,304,364
Total expenses
$2,597,511
Contributions and grants received
$1,075,883
Grants paid
$80,950
Program service revenue
$738,217
Investment income
$182,810
Other revenue
$307,454
Total assets, end of year
$5,222,625
Total liabilities, end of year
$637,317
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$4,585,308
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$2,082,710
Management and general expenses
$144,048
Fundraising expenses
$370,753
Program service expenses (Part III)
$2,082,710

Program services were 80.2% 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

    $135

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $47,342

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $257,434

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $770,972

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $78,278

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ANNUAL CONVENTION

    total $463,461 · related or exempt $463,141 · unrelated business $320

  • 2b · Program service revenue: ADVOCACY

    total $210,959 · related or exempt $210,959

  • 2c · Program service revenue: OTHER PROGRAM FEES

    total $63,797 · related or exempt $63,797

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $101,696 · excluded $101,696

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $81,627

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

    securities $0 · other assets $513

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $81,627 · other assets -$513

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $81,114 · excluded $81,114

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $1,814

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

    $257,434

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $54,370

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$52,556 · excluded -$52,556

  • 9a · Gaming: gross income

    $25,000

  • 9b · Gaming: direct expenses

    $6,690

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $18,310 · excluded $18,310

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $12,445

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $7,798

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $4,647 · unrelated business $4,647

  • 11a · Other revenue: EQUITY IN ACBES

    total $280,673 · excluded $280,673

  • 11b · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE

    total $56,380 · related or exempt $56,380

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $337,053

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $80,950 · program services $80,950

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $235,639 · program services $162,386 · management and general $58,289 · fundraising $14,964

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $708,264 · program services $650,751 · management and general $14,973 · fundraising $42,540

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $20,897 · program services $17,948 · management and general $1,636 · fundraising $1,313

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $99,919 · program services $85,986 · management and general $7,769 · fundraising $6,164

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $89,423 · program services $77,365 · management and general $6,845 · fundraising $5,213

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $6,709 · program services $5,769 · management and general $524 · fundraising $416

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $62,402 · program services $41,160 · management and general $18,753 · fundraising $2,489

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $262,082 · fundraising $262,082

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $26,213 · program services $24,902 · management and general $1,311

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $119,515 · program services $107,570 · management and general $1,272 · fundraising $10,673

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $9,359 · program services $8,048 · management and general $730 · fundraising $581

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $118,341 · program services $111,259 · management and general $3,747 · fundraising $3,335

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $162,400 · program services $148,338 · management and general $7,414 · fundraising $6,648

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $48,229 · program services $42,548 · management and general $3,416 · fundraising $2,265

  • 17 · Travel

    total $122,211 · program services $112,416 · management and general $6,943 · fundraising $2,852

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $252,053 · program services $248,945 · management and general $1,717 · fundraising $1,391

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $27,964 · program services $24,704 · management and general $1,878 · fundraising $1,382

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $23,262 · program services $20,118 · management and general $1,755 · fundraising $1,389

  • 24a · Other expenses: SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

    total $40,101 · program services $36,271 · management and general $2,148 · fundraising $1,682

  • 24b · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $37,787 · program services $34,426 · management and general $1,290 · fundraising $2,071

  • 24c · Other expenses: ADP GRANT EXPENSE

    total $22,799 · program services $22,799

  • 24d · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

    total $20,992 · program services $18,051 · management and general $1,638 · fundraising $1,303

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $92,573 · end of year $105,795

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $214,270

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $14,702 · end of year $29,431

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $23,076 · end of year $21,857

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $33,767 · end of year $45,725

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

    $293,485

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

    $259,701

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $43,593 · end of year $33,784

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $4,317,954 · end of year $4,400,020

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $330,658 · end of year $586,013

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $257,520 · end of year $209,341

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $40,230 · end of year $32,000

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $207,342 · end of year $395,976

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,253,376 · end of year $3,231,700

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,312,125 · end of year $1,353,608

Mission and programs · 2023

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.

  • CONFERENCE AND CONVENTIONAMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND INC'S (ACB) 62ND ANNUAL CONVENTION WAS A HYBRID CONVENTION. VIRTUAL SESSIONS WERE HELD PRIOR TO THE IN-PERSON PORTION OF THE CONVENTION. ALL ELIGIBLE ACB MEMBERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION DISCUSSIONS AND ELECT BOARD MEMBERS DURING ACB'S BUSINESS MEETINGS. INFORMATIVE BREAKOUT SESSIONS WERE HELD ON ISSUES OF INTEREST TO OUR COMMUNITY. THERE WERE OVER 150 WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, AND BUSINESS MEETINGS HELD. INDIVIDUALS COULD ATTEND SESSIONS LIVE OR LISTEN TO THE PODCASTED SESSIONS. THERE WERE BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EXHIBITORS, AND MANY TOURS FOR REGISTRANTS TO ATTEND.

    Expenses $482,840 · Revenue $463,141

  • PUBLIC AWARENESS ACB SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED SPANISH LANGUAGE CONTENT FOR EVENTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND AWARENESS INITIATIVES. THE THIRD ANNUAL ACB AUDIO DESCRIPTION AWARDS GALA WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON YOUTUBE AND PEACOCK, ALLOWING ACB TO EXTEND ITS REACH ACROSS THE NATION. ACB MEDIA'S 10 RADIO STATIONS REACHED 21,100 LISTENERS FOR A TOTAL OF 164,800 LISTENING HOURS, AND WORKING WITH THE ACB COMMUNITY EVENT PLATFORM, GENERATED 1,500 UNIQUE PODCASTS WITH OVER 250,000 DOWNLOADS. ITS 40 PODCAST STREAMS (1 IN SPANISH) GENERATED 240,400 LISTENS.

    Expenses $336,597

  • MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION SERVICES ACB STRENGTHENED ITS AFFILIATES THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE PEER SUPPORT, FORMALIZED LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND ACB BOARD LIAISONS TO AFFILIATES TO PROMOTE CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION. IN 2023, ACB'S COMMUNITY PLATFORM TRAINED MORE THAN 100 VOLUNTEERS WHO ACTIVELY HOSTED OVER 5,000 COMMUNITY EVENTS VIA ZOOM AND CLUBHOUSE. THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS WERE SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND TOPIC-DRIVEN, FROM ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND PROVIDED PEER SUPPORT. IN 2023, ACB'S COMMUNITY PLATFORM AVERAGED 400 EVENTS MONTHLY AND SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2020, HAS REACHED ITS 15,000TH EVENT. IN 2023, MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 34,300 VOLUNTEER HOURS.

    Expenses $444,798

  • ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS IN 2023, THE ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS TEAM HELD THE ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE WITH BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL COMPONENTS. DURING THE CONFERENCE, THE TEAM HELD ACB'S FIRST ACCESSIBLE CURRENCY RALLY. ACB SUBMITTED COMMENTS ON SEVERAL PROPOSED RULES, INCLUDING TITLE II OF THE ADA AND SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT. THE TEAM WORKED IN COALITION WITH OTHER DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS TO GET KEY LEGISLATION, SUCH AS THE WEBSITES AND SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS ACCESSIBILITY ACT AND THE COMMUNICATIONS, VIDEO, AND TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY ACT, REINTRODUCED IN THE 118TH CONGRESS.AUDIO DESCRIPTION PROJECT (ADP)ACB'S AUDIO DESCRIPTION PROJECT SPONSORS A BROAD RANGE OF ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO BUILD AWARENESS OF AUDIO DESCRIPTION. IN 2023, THE ADP: HELD ITS THIRD AUDIO DESCRIPTION AWARDS GALA, CELEBRATING THE MEDIA INDUSTRY'S ADVANCEMENT OF AUDIO DESCRIPTION; SERVED ON THE FCC'S DISABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE; SPONSORED ITS ANNUAL ESSAY CONTEST FOR STUDENTS; CONDUCTED TWO SESSIONS OF THE AUDIO DESCRIPTION TRAINING INSTITUTE; AND PARTICIPATED IN THE UNIDESCRIPTION PROJECT'S EFFORT TO CREATE AUDIO DESCRIPTION FOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BROCHURES.ACB SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDSIN 2023, ACB AWARDED $80,950 ACROSS 20 SCHOLARSHIPS TO BLIND POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS. ACB PARTNERED WITH THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND (AFB) AND SEVERAL OF OUR AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS, WITH ACB MANAGING THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS OF THESE SCHOLARSHIPS. SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS RANGED FROM $2,500 TO $7,500. THE JPMORGAN CHASE LEADERSHIP FELLOWS AND DKM FIRST-TIMER AWARDS HELPED TO FOSTER FUTURE LEADERS THROUGH MENTORING, TRAINING, AND PEER DEVELOPMENT. THE AWARDEES HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND ACB'S CONFERENCE AND CONVENTION TO CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER, DISCUSS ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE, AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS.INFORMATION AND PEER SUPPORTACB PROVIDES VITAL INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY MEMBERS EXPERIENCING VISION LOSS WHO ARE SEEKING SUPPORT IN A NUMBER OF AREAS, INCLUDING ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, DAILY LIVING SKILLS, AND ADVOCACY-RELATED INQUIRIES. MANY CALLERS ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE THEY CAN TALK TO ABOUT DEALING WITH VISION LOSS. ACB HAS EXPANDED THESE SERVICES OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS BY BUILDING A VIRTUAL PEER SUPPORT COMMUNITY EVENT PLATFORM.

    Expenses $818,475 · Grants $80,950 · Revenue $331,136

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Dan Spoone

    PRESIDENT(JAN-MAR)/INT EXEC DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $69,388
    From this org
    $69,388
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40 + 1 related

  • Deb Cook Lewis

    1ST VP (JAN-MAR)/PRESIDENT(MAR-DEC)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    15

  • David Trott

    TREASURER(JAN-JUL)/1ST VP(JUL-DEC)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10 + 1 related

  • Ray Campbell

    2ND VP/1ST VP(MAR-JUL)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • Denise Colley

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • Michael Garrett

    TREASURER (JUL-DEC)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10 + 1 related

  • Kim Charlson

    PAST PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5 + 1 related

  • Doug Powell

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Jeff Thom

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5 + 1 related

  • Donna Brown

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Koni Sims

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Kenneth Semien Sr

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Christopher Bell

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Gabriel Lopez Kafati

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Terry Pacheco

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5 + 1 related

  • Rachel Schroeder

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Cecily Laney Nipper

    DIRECTOR (JUL-DEC)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Jeff Bishop

    DIRECTOR (JAN-JUL)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Eric Bridges

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (JAN-MAR)

    Total calculated
    $83,096
    From this org
    $76,843
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,253
    Hours/week
    40 + 1 related

  • Nancy Marks Becker

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $142,487
    From this org
    $81,453
    From related orgs
    $17,680
    Other
    $43,354
    Hours/week
    36 + 4 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.

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
2023
Filed
7 May 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.0
Source object
202431359349312388

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