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Nonprofiteer
← AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$9,609,252
Total expenses
$5,717,010
Contributions and grants received
$8,195,254
Grants paid
$107,500
Program service revenue
$146,336
Investment income
$1,293,165
Other revenue
-$25,503
Total assets, end of year
$35,114,433
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,018,552
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$34,095,881
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,817,582
Management and general expenses
$1,219,399
Fundraising expenses
$680,029
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,817,582

Program services were 66.8% 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.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $104,263

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $300,000

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $7,790,991

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $843,637

  • 2a · Program service revenue: FEES FOR SERVICES

    total $146,336 · related or exempt $146,336

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,062,921 · excluded $1,062,921

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $47,727 · excluded $47,727

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $15,949,000

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

    securities $15,718,756

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $230,244

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $230,244 · excluded $230,244

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $16,000

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

    $104,263

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $94,370

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$78,370 · excluded -$78,370

  • 11a · Other revenue: ARCHIVE PERMISSION LIBRARY

    total $1,880 · excluded $1,880

  • 11b · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME

    total $1,787 · excluded $1,787

  • 11c · Other revenue: GAIN ON RETIREMENT PLAN

    total $1,473 · excluded $1,473

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $5,140

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $107,500 · program services $107,500

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,305,857 · program services $660,054 · management and general $596,856 · fundraising $48,947

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,199,745 · program services $1,922,395 · management and general $53,645 · fundraising $223,705

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $4,544 · program services $53 · fundraising $4,491

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $245,710 · program services $203,217 · management and general $22,924 · fundraising $19,569

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $239,341 · program services $177,519 · management and general $42,914 · fundraising $18,908

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $26,498 · program services $13,279 · management and general $12,035 · fundraising $1,184

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $51,550 · management and general $51,550

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $260,614 · fundraising $260,614

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $63,220 · management and general $63,220

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $368,480 · program services $245,958 · management and general $105,084 · fundraising $17,438

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $9,421 · program services $4,905 · management and general $629 · fundraising $3,887

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $106,600 · program services $61,563 · management and general $11,844 · fundraising $33,193

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $212,637 · program services $118,413 · management and general $87,515 · fundraising $6,709

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $59,548 · program services $37,915 · management and general $17,227 · fundraising $4,406

  • 17 · Travel

    total $72,720 · program services $39,188 · management and general $13,599 · fundraising $19,933

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $103,949 · program services $94,037 · management and general $3,359 · fundraising $6,553

  • 20 · Interest

    total $17,966 · program services $13,370 · management and general $3,342 · fundraising $1,254

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $45,178 · program services $29,244 · management and general $15,839 · fundraising $95

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $95,762 · program services $61,704 · management and general $26,937 · fundraising $7,121

  • 24a · Other expenses: BAD DEBT

    total $79,592 · management and general $79,592

  • 24b · Other expenses: BOOKS & SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $18,215 · program services $10,626 · management and general $7,128 · fundraising $461

  • 24c · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIPS

    total $16,902 · program services $12,578 · management and general $3,144 · fundraising $1,180

  • 24d · Other expenses: STATE LICENSING FEES

    total $5,461 · program services $4,064 · management and general $1,016 · fundraising $381

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $853,042 · end of year $536,103

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $286,836 · end of year $55,034

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $579,397 · end of year $165,388

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $58,806 · end of year $118,419

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $101,256 · end of year $191,746

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

    $861,222

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

    $801,810

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $99,613 · end of year $59,412

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $26,309,857 · end of year $32,313,532

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $432,181 · end of year $1,135,089

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $27,430 · end of year $539,710

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $960,891 · end of year $425,110

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $84,771 · end of year $137,974

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $79,867 · end of year $455,468

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $9,363,447 · end of year $13,813,948

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $18,259,442 · end of year $20,281,933

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND (AFB) IS TO CREATE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPAND POSSIBILITIES THROUGH ADVOCACY, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

CREATE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES & EXPAND POSSIBILITIES THRU ADVOCACY/THOUGHT LEADERSHIP/PARTNERSHIPS.

  • EDUCATION AND TRAININGBUILDING ON AFB'S DECADES OF EXPERIENCE ADVOCATING FOR ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY, ACCESSWORLD IS AFB'S FREE WEB-BASED, INDUSTRY-LEADING QUARTERLY TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE WHICH SERVES AS A PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE SOURCE REGARDING THE INTERSECTION OF DISABILITY AND TECHNOLOGY, PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO INDUSTRY LEADERS, PROFESSIONALS, AND CONSUMERS IN ORDER TO ADVOCATE FOR AND CREATE A DIGITALLY INCLUSIVE FUTURE.THE AFB TALENT LAB CONTINUED TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY CONSULTING SERVICES TO ENTITIES RANGING FROM NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES, WITH SERVICES RANGING FROM WEB AND MOBILE ACCESSIBILITY AUDITS, REMEDIATION ADVISORY, BEST PRACTICES, AND TRAINING IN DISABILITY INCLUSION. THE AFB TALENT LAB ALSO CONTINUED TO CLOSE THE INDUSTRY-WIDE ACCESSIBILITY SKILLS GAP BY TRAINING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT WITH AN ACCESSIBILITY AND DIGITAL INCLUSION SPECIALTY. ADDITIONALLY, THE AFB TALENT LAB WORKED WITH COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THROUGH A MULTI-PHASED STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN DIGITAL INCLUSION.

    Expenses $1,510,235 · Grants $27,500 · Revenue $48,349

  • KNOWLEDGE BUILDING AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATIONTHROUGH RESEARCH AND DATA, WE UNDERSTAND COMPLEX PROBLEMS AND IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE SOLUTIONS. PRIORITIZING A CONSUMER-CENTERED APPROACH WITH SCALABLE IMPACT, AFB IS PURSUING AND CATALYZING FORWARD-LOOKING KNOWLEDGE GENERATION ON KEY ISSUES FACING PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION BY FOSTERING COLLABORATIONS WITH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND OTHER RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS AND BY CONDUCTING INDEPENDENT RESEARCH. PRIORITY ISSUE AREAS MAY INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO) POLICY RESEARCH AND APPLIED RESEARCH IN EDUCATION; MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY; REHABILITATION SERVICES; AGING AND VISION LOSS; DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS; AND TECHNOLOGY.IN FY2024, AFB PUBLISHED THE SECOND PHASE OF THE BARRIERS TO DIGITAL INCLUSION STUDY, A DIARY STUDY EXAMINING THE DIGITAL EXPERIENCES OF 20 BLIND/LOW-VISION PARTICIPANTS IN REAL TIME OVER A TEN-DAY PERIOD. THE AFB RESEARCH TEAM BEGAN A DELPHI STUDY TO IDENTIFY CONSENSUS VIEWS OF AN EXPERT PANEL ON HOW AI IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. LASTLY, AFB PUBLISHED A RESEARCH BRIEFS SERIES THAT INCLUDES USER-FRIENDLY SUMMARIES OF ALL AFB'S RECENT RESEARCH STUDIES, AND TOPICAL FACT SHEETS REVIEWING AFB'S RESEARCH ON IMPORTANT TOPICS FOR ADVOCACY.AFB'S JOURNAL OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT & BLINDNESS (JVIB), THE INTERNATIONAL PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL OF RECORD IN THE BLINDNESS FIELD, WHICH HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS PUBLICATION SINCE 1907, DELIVERS PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH AND PEER-REVIEWED BEST PRACTICE INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS. THE JOURNAL ALSO FEATURES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND COMMENTARIES FROM AUTHORITATIVE EXPERTS ON CRITICAL TOPICS. IN 2024 (VOLUME 118), THE FINAL ISSUE OF THE YEAR FEATURED THE SPECIAL ISSUE ON EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS FOR CVI. CVI STANDS FOR CEREBRAL VISUAL IMPAIRMENT; IT IS ALSO CALLED BRAIN-BASED VISUAL IMPAIRMENT, CORTICAL VISUAL IMPAIRMENT, AND NEUROLOGIC VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. THE PUBLISHED ISSUE INCLUDED NUMEROUS PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH ARTICLES AND PRACTICE PIECES, AS WELL AS COMMENTARIES FROM EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGE RANGES WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES WITH CVI FROM THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. THE ISSUE WAS GUEST EDITED BY AMANDA LUECK, PH.D., PROFESSOR EMERITA, SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY; AND CORINNA BAUER, PH.D., INVESTIGATOR, SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR; AND INSTRUCTOR OF OPHTHALMOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY, HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL.

    Expenses $1,508,327 · Grants $80,000 · Revenue $64,052

  • RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, AND PUBLIC SUPPORTAFB IS WORKING TO ENSURE THAT POLICYMAKERS, BUSINESS LEADERS, PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITIES, AND PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCATES UNDERSTAND THE KEY TRENDS, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CHANGING ATTITUDES AND TRANSFORMING INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICE.THE AFB PUBLIC POLICY AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PPRI), COLLABORATES WITH POLICYMAKERS IN CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO ENSURE AMERICANS WITH VISION LOSS HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY. AFB'S ADVOCACY STRATEGY IS BACKED BY RESEARCHERS AND EXPERTS WITH PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN LIVING WITH VISION LOSS. IN FY 2024, AFB FOCUSED ON ADVOCACY TO MAKE TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSPORTATION MORE ACCESSIBLE AND USABLE. WORKING CLOSELY WITH COALITION PARTNERS IN THE TRANSPORTATION SPACE, PPRI RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ACCESSIBILITY AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS. PPRI CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS ACCESSIBILITY THROUGH LEGISLATION, PARTICIPATING IN A FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND RESPONDING TO FEDERAL RULEMAKING. AFB'S RESEARCH ON WEB AND APPLICATION ACCESSIBILITY, EDUCATION DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THE EXPERIENCES OF ADULTS DURING THE PANDEMIC CONTINUED TO INFORM AFB'S ADVOCACY PRIORITIES.

    Expenses $799,020 · Revenue $33,935

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Debbie Dennis

    CO-CHAIR (THRU NOV 2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Diane Fazzi

    CO-VC (THRU JAN 2024);CO-CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • Melanie Lockwood Herman

    SECRETARY(THRU JAN 2024);CO-CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • Barbara Rifkind

    CO-VICE CHAIR (THRU JAN 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Sarah Herrlinger

    CO-VICE CHAIR (AS OF JAN 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • Theodore Francavilla

    TRUSTEE/TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • Kiran Kaja

    SECRETARY (AS OF JAN 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • Chris Babcock

    TRUSTEE (THRU NOV 2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Connie Campbell

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jon Chesshire

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • Jamie Dean

    TRUSTEE (AS OF NOV 2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Grant Doster

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Louis Fox

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Katie Frederick

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Sharon Giovinazzo

    TRUSTEE (AS OF JAN 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • James Hands

    TRUSTEE (AS OF JAN 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Janni Lehrer-Stein

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Alan May

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kenneth Miller

    TRUSTEE (THRU NOV 2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Christopher Patnoe

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Matthew Sherwood

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Harshil Ved

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Victoria Watts

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Melissa Weisse

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Patsy Carvache

    VP, FINANCE & BUSINESS SERVICES

    Total calculated
    $232,806
    From this org
    $189,439
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $43,367
    Hours/week
    35

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $189,439
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $33,950
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,417
    Filer's total
    $232,806

  • Eric Bridges

    PRESIDENT & CEO (AS OF APRIL 2023)

    Total calculated
    $205,228
    From this org
    $177,813
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,415
    Hours/week
    35

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $177,813
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $15,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,415
    Filer's total
    $205,228

  • Sonya Shiflet

    CHIEF HR & PLANNING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $285,202
    From this org
    $222,259
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $62,943
    Hours/week
    35

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $222,259
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $54,234
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,709
    Filer's total
    $285,202

  • Stephanie Enyart

    CHIEF PUBLIC POLICY&RESEARCH OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $241,171
    From this org
    $189,518
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $51,653
    Hours/week
    35

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $189,518
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $42,404
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,249
    Filer's total
    $241,171

  • Matthew Janusauskas

    CHIEF TECHNOLOGY & PROGRAMS OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $240,144
    From this org
    $198,228
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $41,916
    Hours/week
    35

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $198,228
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $33,508
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,408
    Filer's total
    $240,144

  • John Lilly

    DIRECTOR, DI INNOVATION

    Total calculated
    $145,982
    From this org
    $131,626
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,356
    Hours/week
    35

  • Arielle Silverman

    DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH

    Total calculated
    $124,972
    From this org
    $116,050
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,922
    Hours/week
    35

  • Ronak Patel

    DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEV.& STRATEGY

    Total calculated
    $121,584
    From this org
    $119,529
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,055
    Hours/week
    35

  • Sylvia Stinson-Perez

    CHIEF PROGRAM OFF (THRU JUNE 2023)

    Total calculated
    $138,231
    From this org
    $104,917
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,314
    Hours/week
    35

  • Anthony Stephens

    ASSISTANT VP, COMMUNICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $117,962
    From this org
    $104,666
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,296
    Hours/week
    35

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 · 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
SYLVIA STINSON-PEREZ, WHO SERVED AS THE CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER UNTIL JUNE 2023, RECEIVED A SEVERANCE PAYMENT OF $20,650 DURING 2023.

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

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.

  • AFB SPECIAL FUND INC

    501(C)(3) · VISUAL SUPPORT · NY · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

  • HELEN KELLER'S DARING ADVENTURE LLC

    FUNDRAISING · DE · income $61,000 · assets $11,636

    Directly controlled by AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
5 March 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202500659349300115

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