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BRAILLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA INC

EIN 95-1641426 LOS ANGELES, CA

Revenue 2024
$83,635,133
Expenses 2024
$29,987,571

Program services were 71.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
P860
Classification
2000
Street
741 N VERMONT AVE

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

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.

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.

  • 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

The first 25 listed. 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
    $83,635,133
    Expenses
    $29,987,571
    Contributions
    $10,512,290
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $34,154,981
    Expenses
    $25,302,773
    Contributions
    $20,334,874
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $29,582,081
    Expenses
    $23,614,561
    Contributions
    $13,942,978
    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

  • 2024 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $37,676,823
    Expenses
    $21,348,741
    Assets (EOY)
    $250,513,312

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $32,054,721
    Expenses
    $20,298,433
    Assets (EOY)
    $282,084,911

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $34,058,059
    Expenses
    $23,465,454
    Assets (EOY)
    $181,909,301

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $30,513,723
    Expenses
    $25,020,692
    Assets (EOY)
    $158,709,686

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $27,211,383
    Expenses
    $25,504,967
    Assets (EOY)
    $159,987,344

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $21,016,018
    Expenses
    $25,832,689
    Assets (EOY)
    $161,666,577

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $25,520,051
    Assets (EOY)
    $151,381,458

  • 2011 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $27,528,204
    Assets (EOY)
    $147,682,556

  • 2010 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $26,788,588
    Assets (EOY)
    $163,405,157

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

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Declared on its 2024 return

Declared as related by

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.