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Nonprofiteer
← BRAILLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by BRAILLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$34,154,981
Total expenses
$25,302,773
Contributions and grants received
$20,334,874
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$9,989,695
Other revenue
$3,830,412
Total assets, end of year
$296,457,223
Total liabilities, end of year
$5,725,011
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$290,732,212
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$18,223,994
Management and general expenses
$3,398,078
Fundraising expenses
$3,680,701
Program service expenses (Part III)
$18,223,994

Program services were 72.0% 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.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $747,500

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $19,587,374

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $10,342

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $6,210,896 · excluded $6,210,896

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $3,275,949 · excluded $3,275,949

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $305,389

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $305,389

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $305,389 · excluded $305,389

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $5,015,707 · other assets $265,767

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

    securities $1,451,444 · other assets $51,231

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $3,564,263 · other assets $214,536

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $3,778,799 · related or exempt $214,536 · excluded $3,564,263

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $31,332

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $23,520

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $7,812 · excluded $7,812

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME

    total $241,262 · excluded $241,262

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $241,262

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,872,351 · program services $494,758 · management and general $966,449 · fundraising $411,144

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $11,166,175 · program services $8,992,128 · management and general $839,643 · fundraising $1,334,404

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $632,584 · program services $500,629 · management and general $60,275 · fundraising $71,680

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,250,595 · program services $1,020,487 · management and general $81,779 · fundraising $148,329

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $942,797 · program services $679,230 · management and general $132,851 · fundraising $130,716

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $107,684 · management and general $107,684

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $143,405 · management and general $143,405

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $221,000 · fundraising $221,000

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $27,717 · management and general $27,717

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $826,847 · program services $280,054 · management and general $533,459 · fundraising $13,334

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $122,714 · program services $83,528 · management and general $33,404 · fundraising $5,782

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $476,204 · program services $347,579 · management and general $95,578 · fundraising $33,047

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,841,093 · program services $1,720,271 · management and general $85,155 · fundraising $35,667

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $325,855 · program services $135,126 · management and general $115,811 · fundraising $74,918

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,270,884 · program services $1,225,133 · management and general $25,418 · fundraising $20,333

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $319,839 · program services $294,252 · management and general $15,992 · fundraising $9,595

  • 24a · Other expenses: EQUIP & FACILITY MAINT

    total $1,372,954 · program services $1,173,015 · management and general $126,489 · fundraising $73,450

  • 24b · Other expenses: DIRECT MAIL

    total $1,082,829 · fundraising $1,082,829

  • 24c · Other expenses: COMMUNITY RELATIONS

    total $483,938 · program services $479,882 · fundraising $4,056

  • 24d · Other expenses: INSTRUCTIONAL PRGM SUPP

    total $362,164 · program services $362,164

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $453,144 · program services $435,758 · management and general $6,969 · fundraising $10,417

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $2,018,150 · end of year $1,312,957

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $561,757 · end of year $1,898,761

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $38,741 · end of year $29,056

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $43,243 · end of year $59,540

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $31,318 · end of year $33,465

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $210,746 · end of year $200,342

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

    $62,395,751

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

    $40,382,952

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $22,301,837 · end of year $22,012,799

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $237,198,495 · end of year $265,855,050

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $865,294 · end of year $1,101,334

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $4,214,838 · end of year $3,953,919

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $2,619,818 · end of year $2,873,168

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $3,338,184 · end of year $2,851,843

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $219,038,034 · end of year $246,379,655

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $42,488,383 · end of year $44,352,557

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

To eliminate barriers caused by blindness and severe sight loss. (See Schedule O)

Activities or mission (Part I)

To eliminate barriers caused by blindness and severe sight loss.

  • (SEE SCHEDULE O)A. Through Braille Institute's Educational Services, 1,415 adults, ages 18 and older, participated in more than 79,000 hours of group classes in two core areas: 1) Daily Living Skills, which teaches adaptive techniques for completing everyday tasks that are critical to staying independent and maintaining quality of life, and 2) Arts & Healthy Living classes, which support emotional and mental well-being. These include classes on topics such as exercise, art, fall prevention, diabetic management, book clubs, discussion groups, and more. 1,992 individuals (including Braille Institute students, low vision professionals, and other community members) attended a variety of seminars, workshops, and professional trainings. Independent Living Skills Instructors provided one-on-one instruction to 335 adults on adaptive techniques for completing routine tasks in the home on their own.B. Braille Institute's Youth Program helped 102 young people (ages 7-19) cultivate self-confidence, independence, and set goals for the future.C. Braille Institute's Child Development program for blind and visually impaired children (ages birth to 6) provided one-on-one services to 196 children and their families.D. Braille Institute's Low Vision Occupational Therapists provided 5,251 one-on-one low vision consultations to 2,015 adults.E. Braille Institute's Orientation and Mobility Specialists provided 3,919 one-on-one training sessions to 761 adults on how to prevent falls and safely navigate their environment using a white cane and sensory awareness.F. Braille Institute's Connection Pointe staff provided 3,964 one-one-one training sessions in the use of mainstream devices with adaptive features and specialized technologies designed for people with a vision impairment to 1,359 students.

    Expenses $13,844,123

  • (SEE SCHEDULE O)Braille Institute's award-winning Library is the official Southern California branch of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, a division of the Library of Congress. With a collection of more than 170,000 titles in digital cartridge and braille formats, the Library is Braille Institute's most used service. 8,271 patrons were provided with books and other support. In addition to checking out 918,870 books, Library patrons received one-on-one and group training in the use of accessible reading technologies, and hosted a variety of clubs, classes, and other events. Braille Institute's comprehensive Library services are available through the main library in our Los Angeles headquarters and through our six centers (Anaheim, Coachella Valley, Laguna Hills, Riverside, San Diego, and Santa Barbara) and through partner institutions.

    Expenses $3,146,161

  • (SEE SCHEDULE O)A. Braille Institute's Special Collection produced and distributed 1,238 "Dots for Tots" braille storybook kits (for children ages 0-6) free to subscribers.B. Braille Institute's award-winning national Braille Challenge competition, which tests braille competency skills, reached 902 students in grades 1-12 across more than 50 media markets in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.C. Braille Institute's national orientation & mobility competition, Cane Quest, reached 323 students in grades 3-12.

    Expenses $1,233,710

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

Listed in Part VII

  • DIANE WILKINSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DONALD WHINFREY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • GEORGE E THOMAS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • HARVEY STRODE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JAMES H JACKSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JAMES J RHODES

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JEANNE OLENICOFF

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JOHN G NUANES

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • LESTER M SUSSMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • LINDA A LAM

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MADHU AYYAGARI

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MICHAEL C CORLEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • PATRICIA BRAMHALL

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • PERCY DURAN III

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • RICHARD NELSON

    DIRECTOR (UNTIL 1/2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • WILLIAM J LINK

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ANTHONY TAKETA

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $274,460
    From this org
    $242,431
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,029
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $239,840
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $2,591
    Deferred
    $15,512
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,517
    Filer's total
    $274,460

  • DEBRA MARTIN

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $156,369
    From this org
    $149,753
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,616
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $149,388
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $365
    Deferred
    $6,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $616
    Filer's total
    $156,369

  • JAMES KALES

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $467,535
    From this org
    $403,465
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $64,070
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $402,661
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $804
    Deferred
    $22,392
    Nontaxable benefits
    $41,678
    Filer's total
    $467,535

  • GARY JIMENEZ

    VP DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $267,496
    From this org
    $236,529
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,967
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $236,529
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $15,559
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,408
    Filer's total
    $267,496

  • LISA JIMENZ

    VP PROGRAM & SERV.

    Total calculated
    $210,959
    From this org
    $186,452
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,507
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $185,575
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $877
    Deferred
    $11,286
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,221
    Filer's total
    $210,959

  • SERGIO OLIVA ALFARO

    VP PROGRAM & SERV.

    Total calculated
    $205,226
    From this org
    $182,614
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,612
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $182,410
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $204
    Deferred
    $10,923
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,689
    Filer's total
    $205,226

  • DHAVAL SHAH

    DIRECTOR OF IT

    Total calculated
    $179,771
    From this org
    $146,286
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,485
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $145,980
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $306
    Deferred
    $8,680
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,805
    Filer's total
    $179,771

  • JAMIE AUNG

    CONTROLLER

    Total calculated
    $171,142
    From this org
    $151,516
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,626
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $150,639
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $877
    Deferred
    $8,548
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,078
    Filer's total
    $171,142

  • KIRSTEN JASNA

    DIR. OF DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $164,184
    From this org
    $141,527
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,657
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $140,650
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $877
    Deferred
    $8,284
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,373
    Filer's total
    $164,184

  • MARIA VALDIVIA

    VP TECHNOLOGY

    Total calculated
    $201,801
    From this org
    $177,741
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,060
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $176,395
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,346
    Deferred
    $10,555
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,505
    Filer's total
    $201,801

  • SANDY SHIN

    VP MARKETING & COMMUN.

    Total calculated
    $250,499
    From this org
    $188,882
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $61,617
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $187,536
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,346
    Deferred
    $12,477
    Nontaxable benefits
    $49,140
    Filer's total
    $250,499

  • REZAUR RAHMAN

    FORMER CFO

    Total calculated
    $132,508
    From this org
    $123,855
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,653
    Hours/week
    0

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $123,493
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $362
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,653
    Filer's total
    $132,508

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 committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 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
2023
Filed
11 November 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202423169349304272

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