Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc
75% goes to programs $29 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Columbia, Maryland, registered in 1973, with $36,615,169 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it C+, and it directs about 75% of spending to programs.
6925 Oakland Mills Rd701, Columbia, MD, 21045 EIN 23-7135845 Since 1973
Revenue (FY2024)
$36.6M
▲ 2.6% vs prior year
Medical Research median: $217K
Expenses (FY2024)
$49.5M
Net assets
$83.9M
Employees
96
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
C+
★★★★
Rated on 4 of 4 criteria.
Held down by its weakest criterion — a strong score on one criterion can't hide a weak one.
How the rating works →BProgram efficiency40% of the rating75% to programs · $29 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 Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc: 75% to programs · $29 to raise $100 earns a B on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
DFinancial health25% of the rating20 mo reserves · -35% 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 Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc: 20 mo reserves · -35% margin earns a D 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 Foundation Fighting Blindness 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 Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Show this grade on your website
A live seal — it updates automatically when the grade changes and links donors to this verified profile.
Mission
See schedule o
What they do
Public health education:during fiscal year 2024, through our chatlos foundation public education program, the foundation aimed to continue to provide education and support to people affected by retinal degenerative diseases. the foundation also fields a team of professionals focused on educating ophthalmologists and optometrists on the latest advancements with the foundation's resources and research on the inherited retinal disease space. to keep our constituents and professionals informed, the foundation publishes extensive content via the website and social media/email channels; distributes a newsletter online and in print; produces and shares educational podcasts with leading experts in the space; and holds quarterly insights forum calls to inform the community about scientific progress. the content produced includes the latest developments in research and clinical trials, as well as personal stories from members of the fighting blindness community. additionally, the foundation holds continuing medical education courses twice a year, focused on providing timely content to eye care professionals. chapters bring the foundation's message and mission to life. in fy24, the foundation supported over 47 volunteer-led chapters in 23 states and expanded out of the us by adding two new chapters in london, uk, and paris, france. our chapters launched a new program, vision connection, an enriching and supportive gathering for the blind and low-vision community. each session covers educational presentations, community engagement, fundraising, and interactive q&a sessions.
My retina tracker registry:the foundation maintains a research database of people and families affected by rare inherited retinal degenerative diseases. the registry is designed to share de-identified information about people with an inherited retinal disease within the ird research and clinical communities to help accelerate the discovery of treatments and cures. during fiscal year 2024, approximately 10,000 additional members were added to the registry, bringing the total number of registered individuals to over 35,000.
Contact & location
- Address
- 6925 Oakland Mills Rd701, Columbia, MD, 21045
- City
- Columbia
- State
- Maryland
- Category
- Medical Research
- Subcategory
- Heart Research
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue declined from $38.3M (FY2013) to $36.6M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $27.0MNet assets $83.9M
Operating margin
-35.3%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$110.9M
Total liabilities
$27.0M
Net assets
$83.9M
Salaries & benefits
$11.7M
24% of expenses
Board members
25
24 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $36,615,169▲2.6% | $49,532,382▲2.7% | $83,868,834▼9.4% | $110,885,645▼10.6% | 990 |
| 2023 | $35,702,558▲17.3% | $48,226,411▼5.9% | $92,610,507▼7.6% | $124,009,134▼5.3% | 990 |
| 2022 | $30,437,892▼29.0% | $51,265,440▲4.2% | $100,220,819▼17.5% | $130,891,355▼10.3% | 990 |
| 2021 | $42,887,836▲44.0% | $49,175,609▲20.7% | $121,462,327▼9.8% | $145,877,854▼6.3% | 990 |
| 2020 | $29,791,479▼15.8% | $40,728,225▼1.0% | $134,596,169▼7.5% | $155,616,058▼2.5% | 990 |
| 2019 | $35,372,887▼33.7% | $41,134,475▲21.3% | $145,559,173▼2.5% | $159,573,247▼3.9% | 990 |
| 2018 | $53,369,210▲114% | $33,924,028▼0.2% | $149,325,494▲17.5% | $166,093,298▲20.4% | 990 |
| 2017 | $24,964,671▲1.5% | $33,997,453▲18.6% | $127,118,849▼7.8% | $137,901,875▼10.6% | 990 |
| 2016 | $24,590,184▼65.8% | $28,675,325▲0.4% | $137,925,708▼3.9% | $154,220,569▼2.8% | 990 |
| 2015 | $71,894,445▲27.4% | $28,566,915▲2.7% | $143,502,760▲42.6% | $158,683,383▲42.0% | 990 |
| 2014 | $56,426,497▲47.1% | $27,822,077▲7.7% | $100,661,084▲43.3% | $111,781,122▲35.0% | 990 |
| 2013 | $38,346,263 | $25,828,393▼0.5% | $70,263,696▲21.7% | $82,788,523▲12.5% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $25,953,576▼12.7% | $57,745,465▲34.3% | $73,618,451▲22.5% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $29,725,362▲14.4% | $42,984,593▲28.7% | $60,105,388▲28.6% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $25,992,472 | $33,409,841 | $46,755,869 | 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: Jason D Menzo — $504,560 (1.02% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jason D Menzo | Ceo | 32 | $504,560 |
| Peter L Ginsberg | Coo | 32 | $364,025 |
| Jeffrey D Klaas | Chief of Strategy and Innovation | 40 | $344,934 |
| Claire M Gelfman | Former Cso (thru 6/24) | 40 | $341,844 |
| Richele Donat | Chief Human Resources Officer | 40 | $324,700 |
| Todd A Durham | Svp Clinical & Outcomes Research | 40 | $324,179 |
| Judy Taylor | Svp/chief Development Officer | 40 | $290,836 |
| Amy M Palmer Laster | Chief Scientific Officer | 40 | $281,622 |
| Michele Divincenzo | Vp, Scientific & Ed. Conferences | 40 | $239,787 |
| Anna Wagner | Vp, Finance | 40 | $239,697 |
| Christopher S Adams | Vp, Communications & Marketing | 40 | $237,414 |
| Jeffry Collins | Vp, Database Systems & Technology | 40 | $234,136 |
| Chad R Jackson - Sr Dir | Pre-clinical Transitional Prog. | 40 | $207,565 |
| Adrienne Graves Phd | Director | 1 | — |
| Bradford Manning | Director | 1 | — |
| Darren Devoue | Director | 1 | — |
| David Brint | Director | 1 | — |
| David Nixon | Chair, Finance & Investment; Treas. | 1 | — |
| Evan Mittman | Director | 1 | — |
| George Peinado | Director | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Fuse Fundraising Group LLC | Direct Marketing Consultant | $627,860 |
| Chicago Downtown Marriott | Venue For Visions 2024 | $298,482 |
| Fairmont Scottsdale Princess | Venue For Ics 2024 | $287,477 |
| Horizon Government | Government Relations Consultant | $240,000 |
| Molecular Media Inc | Av Equipment Rental | $218,718 |
Grants received · $20.3M total
252 grants to Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc totaling $20.3M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Medical research | 2024 | $484,575 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $191,289 |
| Paypal Charitable Giving Fund | General support | 2024 | $75,640 |
| Jewish Communal Fund | In furtherance of grantee's tax-exempt purpose | 2024 | $66,680 |
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Medical / public services | 2024 | $53,950 |
| Denver Foundation | Eye diseases, blindness & vision impairments | 2024 | $48,000 |
| The Rhode Island Community Foundation | Hl - healthy lives (primary) | 2024 | $45,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $36,810 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $30,000 |
| The Us Charitable Gift Trust | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2024 | $28,500 |
| Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund | General support | 2024 | $27,150 |
| American Endowment Foundation | General operating support | 2024 | $15,500 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $15,000 |
| United Heritage Credit Union | Donation to find preventions, treatments, and curese for blinding retinal degenerative diseases | 2024 | $10,000 |
| San Antonio Area Foundation | General support | 2024 | $10,000 |
Grants made · $19.7M in FY2024
38 grants totaling $19.7M in FY2024 — showing the 15 largest. All grants made by Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Fighting Blindness Retinal Degeneration Fund | Research | $8,771,404 |
| Presbyterian Medical Center of the University of Pennsylvania Health | Research | $1,398,985 |
| Regents of the University of California At Irvine | Research | $914,667 |
| Duke University | Research | $900,000 |
| Odylia Therapeutics Inc | Research | $631,039 |
| Fordham University | Research | $539,141 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Research | $500,000 |
| University of Washington Foundation | Research | $474,235 |
| Oregon Health and Science University Foundation | Research | $460,869 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard College | Research | $402,223 |
| Mass General Brigham Incorporated | Research | $396,667 |
| University of Pittsburgh | Research | $375,000 |
| Mitochem Therapeutics Inc | Research | $300,000 |
| University of California Santa Barbara | Research | $300,000 |
| New York Stem Cell Foundation Inc | Research | $296,150 |
Similar organizations in Medical Research
Medical Research
American Urological Association Education and Research Inc
Linthicum, MD
$35.9M
Bannual revenue
Medical Research
Lieber Institute Inc
Baltimore, MD
$31.3M
Bannual revenue
Medical Research
American College of Gastroenterology Inc
Rockville, MD
$29.0M
Bannual revenue
Medical Research
Cvpath Institute Inc
Gaithersburg, MD
$13.1M
Bannual revenue
Medical Research
Cancer Research America Nfcr Inc
Rockville, MD
$11.1M
Bannual revenue
Medical Research
Immune Deficiency Foundation
Hanover, MD
$10.1M
Bannual revenue
Medical Research
Anatomic Gift Foundation Inc
Hanover, MD
$8.3M
Bannual revenue
Medical Research
Baltimore Research & Education Foundation Inc
Baltimore, MD
$7.7M
Bannual revenue
Medical Research
Foundation Fighting Blindness Retinal Degeneration Fund
Columbia, MD
$7.0M
Bannual revenue
Medical Research
Aoac International
Rockville, MD
$6.6M
Dannual revenue
Compare Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc
Frequently asked questions
- Is Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 23-7135845, based in Columbia, Maryland. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc's EIN?
- Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 23-7135845.
- How much revenue does Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc report?
- Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc reported $36,615,169 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc's spending goes to programs?
- Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc spends about 75% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc have?
- CharityIndex grades Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc C+, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc's latest Form 990 is $504,560, paid to Jason D Menzo (Ceo).
More nonprofits in Columbia
Explore more
Data for Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc (EIN 23-7135845) 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.