SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA INC

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

E99

Classification

1000

Street

337 BUSINESS CIRCLE

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

• SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA (SSA) IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IDENTIFYING AND SECURING ESSENTIAL EYE CARE NEEDS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, FROM A CHILD'S FIRST PAIR OF EYEGLASSES TO EXTENSIVE SIGHT-SAVING TREATMENT AND HIGH-TECH VISION AIDS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. SERVING 16 STATES, SSA FULFILLS ITS MISSION THROUGH THREE CORE PROGRAMS: THE EYE CARE PROGRAM, LOW VISION & BLINDNESS PROGRAM, AND SCREENING PROGRAM. SSA OPERATES WITH A BOARD OF TRUSTEES, A STAFF OF 40, AND A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF MORE THAN 1,300 EYE CARE PROFESSIONALS WHO OFTEN DISCOUNT OR DONATE SERVICES TO SUPPORT SSA PROGRAMS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, STATE AGENCIES, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, SSA REDUCES HEALTH DISPARITIES BY ENSURING INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL VISION SERVICES, TREATMENTS, AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.THE EYE CARE PROGRAM IDENTIFIES AND ADDRESSES UNMET EYE CARE NEEDS AMONG CHILDREN FOLLOWING FAILED SCHOOL VISION SCREENINGS OR REFERRALS FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SCHOOL STAFF, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS. ONCE REFERRED, EACH CHILD RECEIVES INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE ACCESS TO A DILATED EYE EXAM AND ALL RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS. APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 4 CHILDREN IN THE U.S. ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE SOME FORM OF VISION PROBLEM, AND VISION DISORDERS ARE AMONG THE MOST PREVALENT DISABLING CHILDHOOD CONDITIONS, IMPACTING DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.SSA'S NATIONAL FOLLOW-UP EYE CARE MODEL WORKS WITH FAMILIES INDIVIDUALLY TO CONNECT CHILDREN WITH A LOCAL EYE CARE PROVIDER FOR AN INITIAL EXAM AND ONGOING CARE THROUGH THEIR 19TH BIRTHDAY. EACH CHILD IS ASSIGNED A CASE SPECIALIST WHO MANAGES THE ENTIRE PROCESS, INCLUDING COMMUNICATING SCREENING RESULTS, EDUCATING FAMILIES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ONGOING EYE CARE, SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS, PROVIDING REMINDERS, ARRANGING TRANSPORTATION WHEN NEEDED, AND COORDINATING PRESCRIBED TREATMENTS. TREATMENTS MAY INCLUDE PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES, AMBLYOPIA TREATMENT, MEDICATIONS, VISION THERAPY, ONGOING CARE, AND SURGERIES. ALL PROGRAM ACTIVITY IS DOCUMENTED IN SSA'S PROPRIETARY DATABASE, ALLOWING SSA TO TRACK OUTCOMES, SUPPORT RETURNING FAMILIES, AND PROVIDE DETAILED REPORTING TO FUNDERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. INSURANCE COVERAGE IS UTILIZED WHEN APPLICABLE, AND SERVICES NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE ARE DONATED OR PAID BY SSA. CASE SPECIALISTS ALSO ASSIST UNINSURED FAMILIES WITH APPLICATIONS FOR THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP). SSA COLLABORATES WITH STATE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP EYE CARE THROUGH STATEWIDE VISION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ALABAMA'S PROGRAM SERVING ALL KINDERGARTEN, SECOND, AND FOURTH-GRADE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS; MISSISSIPPI'S PROGRAM SERVING ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL KINDERGARTNERS; AND SOUTH CAROLINA'S PROGRAM SUPPORTING PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN STATEWIDE. TO DATE, APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HELPED THROUGH THE EYE CARE PROGRAM IN ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, GEORGIA, TEXAS, AND NORTH CAROLINA. DURING THE 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR, 44,186 CHILDREN RECEIVED THESE SERVICES.THE LOW VISION & BLINDNESS PROGRAM SUPPORTS CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SEVERE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT OR BLINDNESS BY PROVIDING HIGH-TECH VISUAL ASSISTIVE DEVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH A DOCUMENTED MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL NEED. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO MAXIMIZE REMAINING VISION, INCREASE FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES, AND IMPROVE INDEPENDENCE. INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW VISION OR BLINDNESS OFTEN FACE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WITH DAILY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS READING, WRITING, TRAVELING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. THESE DEVICES ARE ESSENTIAL BUT ARE NOT COVERED BY MEDICAL INSURANCE AND ARE COST-PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY FAMILIES. SSA WORKS WITH TEACHERS OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, LOW VISION SPECIALISTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, STATE AGENCIES, AND OTHER PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY. EACH RECIPIENT RECEIVES INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT AND MUST HAVE A RECENT EVALUATION FROM A LOW VISION SPECIALIST WHO RECOMMENDS THE MOST APPROPRIATE DEVICE. SSA PROVIDES A RANGE OF HIGH-TECH AND OPTICAL AIDS, INCLUDING VIDEO MAGNIFIERS, REFRESHABLE BRAILLE DISPLAYS, OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-ENABLED DEVICES, MONOCULARS, DOME MAGNIFIERS, AND BIOPTICS.SSA PARTNERS WITH MANUFACTURERS TO LEVERAGE SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNTS AND IN-KIND EQUIPMENT DONATIONS, ALLOWING MORE INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE THESE LIFE-CHANGING DEVICES. LOCAL CLINICS PROVIDE HANDS-ON TRAINING FOR RECIPIENTS AND CAREGIVERS, WITH ADDITIONAL HOME TRAINING AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE WHEN NEEDED. THESE TECHNOLOGIES ALLOW STUDENTS TO BETTER ACCESS EDUCATION, ADULTS TO PURSUE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND OLDER ADULTS TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE AND AGE IN PLACE.HIGH-TECH VISION AND BLINDNESS AIDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO OVER 4,000 RECIPIENTS ACROSS 16 STATES (ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, MISSISSIPPI, TEXAS, GEORGIA, TENNESSEE, CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS, FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, HAWAII, ALASKA, OHIO, SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND NEW YORK). SSA HAS ELIMINATED THE BACKLOG OF CHILDREN WAITING FOR EQUIPMENT ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATES OF ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, AND HAWAII, AS WELL AS IN LARGE AREAS OF TEXAS, METRO ATLANTA, AND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE. ONCE A REGION REACHES THE MAINTENANCE PHASE, SSA CONTINUES SERVING NEWLY DIAGNOSED CHILDREN, CHILDREN WHO MOVE INTO THE AREA, AND THOSE WHO AGE INTO THE PROGRAM, WHILE EXPANDING SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS WHERE APPROPRIATE. DURING THE 2024/25 YEAR, 484 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED 452 HIGH-TECH VISION AND BLINDNESS AIDS AND 87 OPTICAL DEVICES.THE SCREENING PROGRAM WORKS WITH UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE ANNUAL VISION AND HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR PREK-12 STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL VISION AND HEALTH CONCERNS AND CONNECTS CHILDREN WITH APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-UP CARE. VISION SCREENINGS IN ALABAMA, GEORGIA, MISSISSIPPI, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TEXAS ARE CONDUCTED USING STATE-OF-THE-ART PHOTOREFRACTOR TECHNOLOGY, A NON-INVASIVE DEVICE THAT CAPTURES REFRACTION DATA IN LESS THAN ONE SECOND, MINIMIZING CLASSROOM DISRUPTION. APPROXIMATELY 25% OF CHILDREN SCREENED REQUIRE A COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAM AND ARE REFERRED TO THE EYE CARE PROGRAM FOR FOLLOW-UP WITHIN ONE DAY.SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION, MORE THAN 206,000 CHILDREN HAVE RECEIVED VISION SCREENINGS. DURING THE 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR, 25,453 CHILDREN WERE VISION SCREENED AND 8,992 WERE REFERRED FOR COMPREHENSIVE FOLLOW-UP. IN ADDITION TO VISION SCREENINGS, SSA PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR PRESCHOOL THROUGH 12TH-GRADE STUDENTS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS OF ALABAMA. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL NURSING SCHOOLS, SCREENINGS IDENTIFY UNDIAGNOSED AND UNMET MEDICAL CONCERNS THROUGH ASSESSMENTS THAT INCLUDE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT, CHEST AND ABDOMEN EXAMINATIONS, SKIN AND MUSCULOSKELETAL EVALUATIONS, EYES, EARS, NOSE AND THROAT EXAMINATIONS, DENTAL SCREENINGS, VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGS, GLUCOSE TESTING, VITAL SIGNS, SCOLIOSIS SCREENING, AND CHOLESTEROL TESTING. RESULTS ARE PROMPTLY SHARED WITH FAMILIES AND SCHOOL NURSES. URGENT MEDICAL CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED ONSITE, WHILE NON-URGENT ISSUES ARE COORDINATED WITH SCHOOL NURSES FOR FOLLOW-UP. SSA ALSO PROVIDES HEALTH EDUCATION MATERIALS FOCUSED ON VISION, DENTAL HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND EXERCISE. SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION, MORE THAN 224,000 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SCREENED, AND DURING THE 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR, 14,409 CHILDREN RECEIVED HEALTH SCREENINGS ACROSS 14 ALABAMA COUNTIES.

  Expenses $4,273,371 · Revenue $2,541,729

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2024

  Revenue

  $4,870,267

  Expenses

  $4,852,260

  Contributions

  $2,359,408

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2023

  Revenue

  $4,738,645

  Expenses

  $4,692,676

  Contributions

  $2,229,397

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2022

  Revenue

  $4,337,981

  Expenses

  $4,303,722

  Contributions

  $1,856,647

  Grants paid

  $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $4,200,616

  Expenses

  $4,390,210

  Assets (EOY)

  $2,119,057

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $3,961,028

  Expenses

  $3,748,403

  Assets (EOY)

  $2,329,851

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $3,866,094

  Expenses

  $3,847,064

  Assets (EOY)

  $2,074,617

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $3,890,222

  Expenses

  $3,733,465

  Assets (EOY)

  $2,066,504

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $3,409,547

  Expenses

  $3,357,657

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,970,469

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $3,646,836

  Expenses

  $3,355,997

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,861,211

• 2015 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,978,913

  Expenses

  $3,035,312

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,591,799

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,608,880

  Expenses

  $2,601,422

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,674,745

• 2013 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,784,383

  Expenses

  $2,863,759

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,690,837

• 2012 · 990

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  $2,659,100

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,766,923

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

• THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER BIRMINGHAM

  $270,500

  2024 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER BIRMINGHAM

  $231,250

  2023 · HEALTH

• THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER BIRMINGHAM

  $177,100

  2022 · GENERAL SUPPORT + SPECIAL PORGRAMS

• THE EYESIGHT FOUNDATION OF ALABAMA

  $170,000

  2023 · VISION SUPPORT

• THE EYESIGHT FOUNDATION OF ALABAMA

  $170,000

  2022 · VISION SUPPORT

• WALKER AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

  $104,208

  2025 · CHILDREN'S SCREENINGS, FOLLOW-UP EYE CARE, ADULT EYE CARE

• WALKER AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

  $102,500

  2024 · CHILDREN'S SCREENINGS, FOLLOW-UP EYE CARE, ADULT EYE CARE

• WALKER AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

  $79,825

  2023 · Children's screenings, follow-up eye care, adult eye care

• WALKER AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

  $64,125

  2022 · Children's screenings, follow-up eye care, adult eye care

• COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS

  $60,000

  2024 · THIS GRANT IS DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL SUPPORT.

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files