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Braille Institute Of America Inc

Learn about this cause: What are the reviews? Is it Legit? Do I like the mission? What is the CEO's salary?

EIN: 951641426 ✦ Los angeles, CA ✦ Designated as a 501(c)(3)

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Overview

What is Braille Institute Of America Inc?

The Braille Institute of America Inc, based in Los Angeles, California, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers for individuals with blindness and severe sight loss. Through their educational services, they offer group classes in daily living skills and arts & healthy living to over 1,300 adults, providing adaptive techniques for independence and emotional well-being. Their youth program helps young people cultivate self-confidence, and the child development program supports blind and visually impaired children. Additionally, they offer one-on-one consultations for low vision rehabilitation, independent living skills instruction, and training on mainstream devices with adaptive features. The organization's outreach extends to 1,850 adults and 1,128 students through various seminars, workshops, and competitions, including their award-winning national Braille Challenge. The Braille Institute's mission is to empower individuals with vision impairments to live fulfilling lives.


Official website here: www.brailleinstitute.org

What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?

Charity Navigator rating: 99%, Four-Star out of Four Star rating.

The Braille Institute of America Inc has received an impressive 99% rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting its strong commitment to accountability and financial health. With a perfect score of 100 in the Accountability & Finance category, the organization has demonstrated excellent governance practices, including an entirely independent board and robust financial oversight mechanisms. This high level of transparency and responsible resource management contributes to its overall credibility and reliability as a nonprofit.

User feedback from Great Nonprofits highlights the positive impact the Braille Institute has on individuals facing vision loss. A former student shared their transformative experience, emphasizing the supportive staff who equipped them with the skills and confidence to live independently despite their challenges. This personal testimony underlines the organization's effectiveness in fostering resilience and community among its participants.

While the Braille Institute enjoys a solid reputation and positive user experiences, it is essential to consider ongoing community engagement and support. The organization scored 85 in the Culture & Community category, indicating room for improvement in fostering inclusivity and equity strategies. Overall, the Braille Institute stands out as a commendable nonprofit dedicated to empowering visually impaired individuals.


This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator and Great Nonprofits.

Is Braille Institute Of America Inc legitimate?

Braille Institute Of America Inc is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Braille Institute Of America 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: $1,781,200
Professional Fundraising Fees: $108,000
Other Salaries and Wages: $10,076,037

For more financial information, click here


Official website here: www.brailleinstitute.org

What is the mission statement of Braille Institute Of America Inc?

The Braille Institute of America Inc is dedicated to eliminating barriers caused by blindness and severe sight loss. Through their educational services, they offer group classes for adults, teaching adaptive techniques for daily living skills and arts and healthy living. These classes empower individuals to maintain independence and improve mental and emotional well-being. The organization also provides one-on-one training sessions for fall prevention and independent living skills instruction. Their youth program helps young people cultivate self-confidence and independence, while their child development program supports blind and visually impaired children. The institute also offers consultations for low vision rehabilitation and training in the use of specialized technologies for individuals with vision impairments. The Braille Institute's national competitions, Braille Challenge and Cane Quest, test braille competency skills and orientation and mobility respectively, reaching a significant number of students.


Official website here: www.brailleinstitute.org

Who is the CEO of Braille Institute Of America Inc?

James P Kales is the Principal Officer of Braille Institute Of America Inc. The CEO's salary of Braille Institute Of America Inc is $26,113 and their total compensation is $27,158.


Official website here: www.brailleinstitute.org

What is the revenue of Braille Institute Of America Inc?

Braille Institute Of America Inc's revenue in 2023 was $29,582,081.


Official website here: www.brailleinstitute.org

Who are the executives of Braille Institute Of America Inc and what are their salaries?

The average compensation at Braille Institute Of America Inc during 2023 was $54,391. There are 218 employees and 314 volunteers at Braille Institute Of America Inc.


Here are 26 key members and their salaries (Braille Institute Of America Inc's CEO's salary is $26,113 and their total compensation is $27,158):


James J Rhodes (Chairman)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
George E Thomas (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Patricia Bramhall (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Michael C Corley (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Jeanne Olenicoff (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
James H Jackson (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Linda A Lam (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Richard A Nelson (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
William J Link (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Percy Duran Iii (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
John G Nuanes (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Harvey Strode (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Diane Wilkinson (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Lester M Sussman (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0
Peter Mindnich (President)
  • Compensation: $453,334
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $54,374
Reza Rahman (Cfo)
  • Compensation: $225,146
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $46,600
Anthony Taketa (Secretary)
  • Compensation: $223,860
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $43,197
James Kales (Chief Executive Officer (From 12/22))
  • Compensation: $26,113
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $1,045
Gary Jimenez (Vp Development)
  • Compensation: $227,609
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $30,092
Lisa Jimenez (Vp Program & Serv.)
  • Compensation: $177,031
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $23,702
Sergo Oilva Alfaro (Vp Program & Serv.)
  • Compensation: $173,163
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $21,125
Sandy Shin (Vp Marketing & Communication)
  • Compensation: $180,688
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $58,686
Maria Valdivia (Vp Technology)
  • Compensation: $170,792
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $23,608
Dhaval Shah (Director Of It)
  • Compensation: $143,389
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $27,218
Jamie Aung (Controller)
  • Compensation: $143,745
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $26,303
Cindy Chan (Director Planned Giving)
  • Compensation: $145,902
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $17,655


Official website here: www.brailleinstitute.org

Where can I find the form 990 for Braille Institute Of America Inc?

Braille Institute Of America Inc's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2023 and can be accessed here.


Official website here: www.brailleinstitute.org

Learn more at the official website: www.brailleinstitute.org

Mission Statement of Braille Institute Of America Inc

The Braille Institute of America Inc is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers caused by blindness and severe sight loss. Its mission is to empower individuals affected by vision impairment, enabling them to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Through various educational services, the institute offers group classes in daily living skills and arts and healthy living, allowing over 1,300 adults to enhance their ability to complete essential tasks and support their emotional and mental well-being.

Furthermore, Braille Institute's Youth Program aims to cultivate self-confidence, independence, and future goals for young people, aged 7 to 19. The Child Development program, designed for blind and visually impaired children, offers one-on-one services to 183 children and their families, ensuring a nurturing environment for their development. Additionally, the organization's Low Vision Rehabilitation Occupational Therapists provide consultations to help adults adapt to their environment using specialized technologies. Furthermore, the Connection Pointe team offers one-on-one training sessions for students on the use of mainstream devices with adaptive features.

Braille Institute also organizes competitions like the Braille Challenge and Cane Quest, reaching 853 and 284 students, respectively, in grades 1-12. These events serve to test the participants' skills in braille competency and orientation and mobility, fostering a sense of community and achievement. By offering a wide range of programs tailored to the needs of individuals with vision impairment, the Braille Institute of America Inc continues to be a beacon of hope, empowering them to overcome the challenges of blindness and live fulfilling lives.

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Impact




October, 2024

Braille Institute of America Inc. significantly impacts individuals facing blindness and severe sight loss by eliminating barriers to independence and enhancing quality of life. Through its comprehensive Educational Services, the organization provides tailored programs that empower adults and children alike, fostering essential skills and self-confidence.

In the realm of adult education, over 1,300 individuals participated in extensive group classes, accumulating more than 71,000 hours focused on Daily Living Skills and emotional well-being through Arts & Healthy Living classes. This training not only teaches vital adaptive techniques for everyday tasks, but also nurtures mental health through community engagement and creative expression.

The organization also offers personalized support with Orientation & Mobility (O&M) specialists, who provided nearly 4,300 training sessions to assist adults in navigating their environments safely. Independent Living Skills Instructors further enhanced autonomy by delivering individual instruction to help 250 adults manage everyday routines independently.

Braille Institute’s commitment extends to youth, with programs designed to bolster self-confidence and goal-setting among 83 young people. For younger children, the Child Development program offered one-on-one support to 183 kids, empowering families with essential resources early in life.

Additionally, the organization supports adults with low vision through Occupational Therapy consultations and training sessions focused on adaptive technologies. Through its notable national Braille Challenge competition and the Cane Quest event, Braille Institute engages younger generations in fostering braille literacy and mobility skills, benefiting hundreds of students across the country.

Overall, Braille Institute of America Inc. plays a crucial role in building a more inclusive society, ensuring that individuals with visual impairments can lead independent, fulfilling lives.




This information is meant to be a general summary of Braille Institute Of America 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.

Revenue
$29,582,081 (2023)
Expenses
$23,614,561 (2023)
Efficiency

Other financial information:

This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2023.

  • Investment Income: $11,101,458
  • Gross Receipts: $34,767,197

Assets and Liabilities:

  • Total Assets: $267,484,419
  • Total Liabilities: $5,958,002
  • Net Assets: $261,526,417

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Organization Details

Founding Year

1961

Principal Officer

James P Kales

Main Address

741 N VERMONT AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CA, 90029

NTEE Category

Code: P860 - Human services

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