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Nonprofiteer
← BRAILLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by BRAILLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$83,635,133
Total expenses
$29,987,571
Contributions and grants received
$10,512,290
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$69,200,289
Other revenue
$3,922,554
Total assets, end of year
$311,341,920
Total liabilities, end of year
$5,318,880
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$306,023,040
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$21,516,098
Management and general expenses
$4,304,561
Fundraising expenses
$4,166,912
Program service expenses (Part III)
$21,516,098

Program services were 71.8% 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.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $247,500

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $10,264,790

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $5,925,559 · excluded $5,925,559

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $3,315,449 · excluded $3,315,449

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $267,257

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $267,257

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $267,257 · excluded $267,257

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $207,133,630

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

    securities $143,858,900

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $63,274,730

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $63,274,730 · excluded $63,274,730

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME

    total $339,848 · unrelated business $10,405 · excluded $329,443

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $339,848

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,886,297 · program services $218,234 · management and general $1,244,558 · fundraising $423,505

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $14,090,081 · program services $11,152,084 · management and general $1,407,770 · fundraising $1,530,227

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $604,229 · program services $496,013 · management and general $45,651 · fundraising $62,565

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,656,377 · program services $1,334,477 · management and general $112,008 · fundraising $209,892

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,209,083 · program services $867,388 · management and general $194,977 · fundraising $146,718

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $106,962 · management and general $106,962

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $122,256 · management and general $122,256

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $30,000 · program services $30,000

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $1,340,325 · fundraising $1,340,325

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,242,033 · program services $743,525 · management and general $468,501 · fundraising $30,007

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $175,732 · program services $106,682 · management and general $63,051 · fundraising $5,999

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $407,432 · program services $325,945 · management and general $81,487

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $2,016,084 · program services $1,890,909 · management and general $89,402 · fundraising $35,773

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $350,536 · program services $120,475 · management and general $110,216 · fundraising $119,845

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,200,190 · program services $1,156,984 · management and general $24,004 · fundraising $19,202

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $319,544 · program services $300,371 · management and general $12,782 · fundraising $6,391

  • 24a · Other expenses: EQUIP & FACILITY MAINT

    total $1,832,481 · program services $1,534,283 · management and general $202,621 · fundraising $95,577

  • 24b · Other expenses: INSTRUCTIONAL PRGM SUPP

    total $396,921 · program services $396,921

  • 24c · Other expenses: COMMUNITY RELATIONS

    total $352,682 · program services $341,702 · fundraising $10,980

  • 24d · Other expenses: DIRECT MAIL

    total $111,204 · fundraising $111,204

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $537,122 · program services $500,105 · management and general $18,315 · fundraising $18,702

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,312,957 · end of year $1,345,222

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,898,761 · end of year $665,285

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $29,056 · end of year $19,056

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $59,540 · end of year $11,881

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $33,465 · end of year $52,968

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $200,342 · end of year $156,018

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

    $65,080,343

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

    $41,583,142

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $22,012,799 · end of year $23,497,201

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $265,855,050 · end of year $280,843,194

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $1,101,334 · end of year $999,617

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $3,953,919 · end of year $3,751,478

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $2,873,168 · end of year $3,039,637

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $2,851,843 · end of year $2,279,243

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $246,379,655 · end of year $255,437,197

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $44,352,557 · end of year $50,585,843

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

To positively transform the lives of those with vision loss. (See Schedule O)

Activities or mission (Part I)

To positively transform the lives of those with vision loss.

  • (SEE SCHEDULE O)A. Through BIA's Educational Services, 2,186 adults, ages 18 and older, participated in more than 82,000 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. 2,800 individuals (including BIA 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 347 adults on adaptive techniques for completing routine tasks in the home on their own.B. BIA's Youth Program helped 106 young people (ages 7-19) cultivate self-confidence, independence, and set goals for the future.C. BIA's Child Development program for blind and visually impaired children (ages birth to 6) provided one-on-one services to 213 children and their families.D. BIA's Low Vision Occupational Therapists provided 11,239 one-on-one low vision consultations to 2,800 adults.E. BIA's Orientation and Mobility Specialists provided 4,045 one-on-one training sessions to 909 adults on how to prevent falls and safely navigate their environment using a white cane and sensory awareness.F. BIA's Access Technology staff provided 3,572 one-on-one training sessions in the use of mainstream devices with adaptive features and specialized technologies designed for people with a vision impairment to 1,412 students.

    Expenses $14,875,614

  • (SEE SCHEDULE O)BIA'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 BIA's most used service, with 7,886 patrons receiving books and other support. In addition to checking out 792,972 books, Library patrons received one-on-one and group training in the use of accessible reading technologies, and BIA hosted a variety of clubs, classes, and other events. BIA'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 $3,637,219

  • (SEE SCHEDULE O)A. BIA's Special Collection produced and distributed 1,478 "Dots for Tots" braille storybook kits (for children ages 0-6) free to subscribers.B. BIA's award-winning national Braille Challenge competition, which tests braille competency skills, reached 1,320 students in grades 1-12 across more than 50 media markets in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia.C. BIA's national orientation and mobility competition, Cane Quest, reached 378 students in grades 3-12.

    Expenses $3,003,265

As filed on the 2024 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 (THRU 07/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • William J Link

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Russel Harder

    DIRECTOR (AS OF 09/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Roberto Medrano

    DIRECTOR (AS OF 06/25)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Effie D Silva

    DIRECTOR (AS 05/25)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Anthony Taketa

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $275,342
    From this org
    $250,835
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,507
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $250,835
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $15,856
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,651
    Filer's total
    $275,342

  • Debra Martin

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $373,889
    From this org
    $350,104
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,785
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $350,104
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $23,256
    Nontaxable benefits
    $529
    Filer's total
    $373,889

  • James D Kales

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $469,113
    From this org
    $426,599
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $42,514
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $426,599
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $23,256
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,258
    Filer's total
    $469,113

  • Gary Jimenez

    VP DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $269,077
    From this org
    $245,079
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,998
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $245,079
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $15,931
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,067
    Filer's total
    $269,077

  • William Nelson

    VP PEOPLE AND CULTURE

    Total calculated
    $264,950
    From this org
    $238,048
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $26,902
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $238,048
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,902
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,000
    Filer's total
    $264,950

  • Dhaval Shah

    DIRECTOR OF IT

    Total calculated
    $183,479
    From this org
    $161,714
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,765
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,714
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,381
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,384
    Filer's total
    $183,479

  • Jamie Aung

    CONTROLLER

    Total calculated
    $175,212
    From this org
    $158,012
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,200
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $158,012
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,794
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,406
    Filer's total
    $175,212

  • Lisa Jimenez

    VP PROGRAM & SERV.

    Total calculated
    $231,048
    From this org
    $212,103
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,945
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $212,103
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,621
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,324
    Filer's total
    $231,048

  • Maria Valdivia

    VP TECHNOLOGY

    Total calculated
    $224,340
    From this org
    $203,187
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,153
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $203,187
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $12,304
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,849
    Filer's total
    $224,340

  • Sandy Shin

    VP MARKETING & COMMUN.

    Total calculated
    $271,322
    From this org
    $237,936
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,386
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $237,936
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $15,495
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,891
    Filer's total
    $271,322

  • Sergio Oliva Alfaro

    VP PROGRAM & SERV. (THRU 1/24)

    Total calculated
    $148,499
    From this org
    $147,244
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $1,255
    Hours/week
    38

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $51,986
    Bonus
    $95,258
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,255
    Filer's total
    $148,499

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
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment

Answered no

  • 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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Part I, Line 4a
SERGIO OLIVA ALFARO RECEIVED A SEVERANCE PAYMENT OF $95,258. THIS PAYMENT IS REPORTED AS OTHER REPORTABLE COMPENSATION ON PART II, COLUMN B(III).

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
2024
Filed
14 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202513189349314686

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