Overview
What is The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc?
The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc, based in Columbia, Maryland, is a dedicated nonprofit organization that funds research to prevent, halt the progression of, and cure blindness caused by retinal degenerative diseases. With an impressive encumbrance of $50 million for active research projects, the organization plans to spend an average of $21 million annually to support future research. As of the end of their fiscal year 2023, they have funded 93 grants being conducted by over 96 investigators at 71 institutions worldwide. Their research focuses on various projects such as mitigating inflammation from intravitreal injections, countering vision loss in preclinical models of retinitis pigmentosa, and deciphering the impact of genetic variants on disease prognosis. Their urgent mission is to drive the research that will provide prevention, treatments, and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.
Official website here: www.fightingblindness.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator Rating: 98%
The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc has achieved a Four-Star out of Four Star rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting its strong commitment to accountability and financial management. With an impressive 99% score in Accountability & Finance, the organization demonstrates rigorous oversight, including a clean audit process and no material diversion of assets. It maintains a high program expense ratio of nearly 80%, indicating that a significant portion of its funds directly supports its mission.
User feedback highlights the Foundation's positive impact on individuals affected by retinal diseases. Many clients express gratitude for the foundation's role in advancing research and providing a supportive community. One review emphasized the hope it offered during challenging times, demonstrating the organization’s effectiveness in addressing the emotional and informational needs of those impacted by visual impairments.
However, there are some limitations noted in user reviews, particularly related to donor communications. A negative review criticized the organization for excessive mailing and selling donor information, which tarnished the experience for at least one individual. While such feedback may reflect a broader concern regarding donor privacy, overall, the Foundation Fighting Blindness appears to be highly regarded for its mission and community involvement.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator and Great Nonprofits.
Is The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc legitimate?
The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.
Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:
Executive Compensation: $2,486,009
Professional Fundraising Fees: $605,928
Other Salaries and Wages: $4,864,908
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.fightingblindness.org
What is the mission statement of The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc?
The Foundation Fighting Blindness is dedicated to driving research that aims to prevent, treat, and find cures for individuals affected by retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. With a mission to provide preventions, treatments, and cures, the organization invests in researchers and their projects, funding over 93 grants being conducted at 71 institutions worldwide. These projects include investigating inflammation mitigation strategies for intravitreal viral vector-mediated inflammation, developing a rationally designed pharmacological approach to counter vision loss, and deciphering the impact of ABCA4 genetic variants on disease prognosis. The Foundation's research grants program plays a crucial role in supporting current and future research, with an average annual spending plan of $21 million.
Official website here: www.fightingblindness.org
Who is the CEO of The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc?
Jason Menzo is the Principal Officer of The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc. The CEO's salary of The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc is $367,118 and their total compensation is $523,027.
Official website here: www.fightingblindness.org
What is the revenue of The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc?
The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc's revenue in 2023 was $30,437,892.
Official website here: www.fightingblindness.org
Who are the executives of The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc during 2023 was $109,715. There are 67 employees and 2500 volunteers at The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc.
Here are 40 key members and their salaries (The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc's CEO's salary is $367,118 and their total compensation is $523,027):
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- Compensation: $248,524
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- Compensation: $367,118
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Official website here: www.fightingblindness.org
Where can I find the form 990 for The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc?
The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2023 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.fightingblindness.org
Learn more at the official website: www.fightingblindness.org
Mission Statement of The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc
The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc, a beacon of hope for those affected by retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases, is dedicated to driving the research that will provide preventions, treatments, and cures for those afflicted. This nonprofit organization's mission is to fund researchers, achieving remarkable success in discovering, testing, and delivering promising therapies to prevent, stop the progression of, and cure blindness due to retinal degenerative diseases.
With encumbrances of $50 million for active research projects and a spending plan that averages $21 million annually, The Foundation Fighting Blindness supports 93 grants being conducted by over 96 investigators at 71 institutions, eye hospitals, and universities in the U.S. and around the world. Some of the research projects funded include evaluating mitigation strategies for intravitreal viral vector-mediated inflammation, determining if an early-onset inflammatory response in retinal pigment epithelial cells precedes photoreceptor degeneration, and deciphering the impact of ABCA4 genetic variants of unknown significance in inherited retinal disease prognosis. These projects aim to prevent or significantly delay retinal degeneration and help patients meet inclusion criteria in clinical trials for ABCA4 therapies.
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Impact
October, 2024
The Foundation Fighting Blindness has a significant impact on the field of retinal degenerative diseases by driving crucial research aimed at preventing, treating, and curing conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, and Usher syndrome. Their commitment to research has led to remarkable advancements and therapeutic breakthroughs that are expanding the possibilities for patients afflicted by these blinding diseases.
With an annual investment averaging $21 million, the foundation funds a wide array of innovative research projects across reputable institutions worldwide. As of the end of fiscal year 2023, they are funding 93 grants overseen by over 96 investigators, indicating a robust collaborative effort in the scientific community. This funding supports pioneering studies that explore critical aspects of retinal health and disease, such as ocular inflammation related to gene therapies and the impacts of genetic variants on disease prognosis.
Research projects funded by the foundation include investigating strategies to mitigate ocular inflammation during gene therapy administration, a novel pharmacological approach to combat vision loss in specific retinal disorders, and the use of computational modeling to clarify the implications of genetic variants for patients. These studies aim to enhance our understanding of retinal diseases and potentially lead to effective therapies that improve or restore vision, showcasing the foundation's critical role as a beacon of hope for individuals and families affected by these challenging conditions.
This information is meant to be a general summary of The Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.
Financials
This financial information is from Propublica.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2023.
- Investment Income: $1,346,765
- Program Service Revenue: $457,678
- Gross Receipts: $119,223,972
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $130,891,355
- Total Liabilities: $30,670,536
- Net Assets: $100,220,819
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Programs
Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.
CONTRACT REVENUE
Revenue
$395,548
PROGRAM FEES
Revenue
$62,130
Organization Details
Founding Year
1971
Phone
(410) 423-0600Principal Officer
Jason Menzo
Main Address
6925 OAKLAND MILLS ROAD 701, COLUMBIA, MD, 21045
Website
www.fightingblindness.orgNTEE Category
Code: H410 - Medical research
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