Braille Institute of America Inc
72% goes to programs $40 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
Braille Institute of America Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Los Angeles, California, registered in 1963, with $83,635,133 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it B+, and it directs about 72% of spending to programs.
741 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90029 EIN 95-1641426 Since 1963
Revenue (FY2024)
$83.6M
▲ 144.9% vs prior year
Human Services median: $293K
Expenses (FY2024)
$30.0M
Net assets
$306.0M
Employees
220
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
B+
BProgram efficiency40% of the rating72% to programs · $40 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Braille Institute of America Inc: 72% to programs · $40 to raise $100 earns a B on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating122 mo reserves · +64% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Braille Institute of America Inc: 122 mo reserves · +64% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Braille Institute of America Inc: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Braille Institute of America Inc: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
To positively transform the lives of those with vision loss.
What they do
(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.
(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.
Contact & location
- Address
- 741 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90029
- City
- Los Angeles
- State
- California
- Category
- Human Services
- Subcategory
- Services for Specific Populations
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $21.0M (FY2013) to $83.6M (FY2024) across 9 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $5.3MNet assets $306.0M
Operating margin
64.1%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$311.3M
Total liabilities
$5.3M
Net assets
$306.0M
Salaries & benefits
$19.4M
65% of expenses
Board members
17
17 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $83,635,133▲145% | $29,987,571▲18.5% | $306,023,040▲5.3% | $311,341,920▲5.0% | 990 |
| 2023 | $34,154,981▲15.5% | $25,302,773▲7.1% | $290,732,212▲11.2% | $296,457,223▲10.8% | 990 |
| 2022 | $29,582,081▼21.5% | $23,614,561▲10.6% | $261,526,417▲7.6% | $267,484,419▲6.8% | 990 |
| 2021 | $37,676,823▲17.5% | $21,348,741▲5.2% | $242,982,726▼12.1% | $250,513,312▼11.2% | 990 |
| 2020 | $32,054,721▼5.9% | $20,298,433▼13.5% | $276,585,597▲57.9% | $282,084,911▲55.1% | 990 |
| 2016 | $34,058,059▲11.6% | $23,465,454▼6.2% | $175,183,433▲17.0% | $181,909,301▲14.6% | 990 |
| 2015 | $30,513,723▲12.1% | $25,020,692▼1.9% | $149,680,917▼1.0% | $158,709,686▼0.8% | 990 |
| 2014 | $27,211,383▲29.5% | $25,504,967▼1.3% | $151,166,130▼1.8% | $159,987,344▼1.0% | 990 |
| 2013 | $21,016,018 | $25,832,689▲1.2% | $153,931,962▲9.6% | $161,666,577▲6.8% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $25,520,051▼7.3% | $140,393,639▲5.2% | $151,381,458▲2.5% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $27,528,204▲2.8% | $133,423,820▼13.7% | $147,682,556▼9.6% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $26,788,588 | $154,542,487 | $163,405,157 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: James D Kales — $426,599 (1.42% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| James D Kales | Ceo | 38 | $426,599 |
| Debra Martin | Cfo | 38 | $350,104 |
| Anthony Taketa | Secretary | 38 | $250,835 |
| Gary Jimenez | Vp Development | 38 | $245,079 |
| William Nelson | Vp People and Culture | 38 | $238,048 |
| Sandy Shin | Vp Marketing & Commun. | 38 | $237,936 |
| Lisa Jimenez | Vp Program & Serv. | 38 | $212,103 |
| Maria Valdivia | Vp Technology | 38 | $203,187 |
| Dhaval Shah | Director of It | 38 | $161,714 |
| Jamie Aung | Controller | 38 | $158,012 |
| Sergio Oliva Alfaro | Vp Program & Serv. (thru 1/24) | 38 | $147,244 |
| Diane Wilkinson | Director | 1 | — |
| Donald Whinfrey | Director | 1 | — |
| Effie D Silva | Director (as 05/25) | 1 | — |
| George E Thomas | Director | 1 | — |
| Harvey Strode | Director | 1 | — |
| James H Jackson | Director | 1 | — |
| James J Rhodes | Chairman | 1 | — |
| Jeanne Olenicoff | Director | 1 | — |
| John G Nuanes | Director | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| True Sense Marketing | Development Marketing | $1,340,325 |
| Olympic Maintenance Co | Cleaning Services | $234,160 |
| Datasparc Inc | It Software Services & Support | $218,099 |
| Robert Half | Temp Agency | $214,131 |
| Allied Universal Security Services | Security Services | $210,143 |
Grants received · $2.2M total
86 grants to Braille Institute of America Inc totaling $2.2M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $150,000 |
| Paypal Charitable Giving Fund | General support | 2024 | $17,847 |
| Santa Barbara Foundation | Education and youth development | 2024 | $12,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $7,632 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Human service | 2023 | $102,750 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $35,680 |
| The San Diego Foundation | For general support | 2023 | $26,021 |
| California Community Foundation | Health | 2023 | $22,303 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Human services | 2023 | $21,510 |
| Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2023 | $20,500 |
| Santa Barbara Foundation | Education and youth development | 2023 | $12,000 |
| National Philanthropic Tr | Human services | 2023 | $10,750 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2023 | $8,149 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2022 | $31,546 |
| The San Diego Foundation | General support | 2022 | $24,708 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Braille Institute of America Inc a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Braille Institute of America Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 95-1641426, based in Los Angeles, California. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Braille Institute of America Inc's EIN?
- Braille Institute of America Inc's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 95-1641426.
- How much revenue does Braille Institute of America Inc report?
- Braille Institute of America Inc reported $83,635,133 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Braille Institute of America Inc's spending goes to programs?
- Braille Institute of America Inc spends about 72% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Braille Institute of America Inc have?
- CharityIndex grades Braille Institute of America Inc B+, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Braille Institute of America Inc's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Braille Institute of America Inc's latest Form 990 is $426,599, paid to James D Kales (Ceo).
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Data for Braille Institute of America Inc (EIN 95-1641426) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.