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175 Cremona Drive Suite 100
Santa Barbara CA 93117
Santa Barbara CA | IRS ruling year: 2000 | EIN: 31-1682275
Surgical Eye Expeditions INTERNATIONAL, INC. is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization that provides medical, surgical, and educational services by volunteer ophthal ... (More)
Surgical Eye Expeditions INTERNATIONAL, INC. is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization that provides medical, surgical, and educational services by volunteer ophthalmic surgeons with the primary goal of restoring sight to blind individuals worldwide. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 100%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores: 90% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
The IRS is significantly delayed in processing nonprofits' annual tax filings (Forms 990). As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for SEE International is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations. Please check with the charity directly for any questions you may have.
SEE International has earned a 100% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
This Accountability & Finance score represents IRS Form 990 data up until FY 2019, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us.
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Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Not ApplicableBoard Composition - 16/16 - 25/25 ptsBoard Composition - 16/16 - 25/25 pts
Charity Navigator looks for at least 3 board members, with more than 50% of those members identified as independent (not salaried).
The presence of an independent governing body is strongly recommended by many industry professionals to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Audit or Financial Review - Audited - 20/20 ptsIndependent Audit or Financial Review - Audited - 20/20 pts
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
| Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
|---|---|
| $1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
| $500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
| Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 3/3 ptsConflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Board Meeting Minutes - Documented - 3/3 ptsBoard Meeting Minutes - Documented - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed - 3/3 ptsDocument Retention and Destruction - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Listed - 3/3 ptsWhistleblower Policy - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Website - Listed - 3/3 ptsWebsite - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 1.20% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 1.20% - 15/15 pts
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization’s solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
| Liabilities to Assets Ratio | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| Less than 50% | Full Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Partial Credit |
| 60% or more | No Credit |
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense Ratio - 90.99% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 90.99% - 25/25 pts
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
| Program Expense Percentage | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| 70% or higher | Full Credit |
| 60% - 69.9% | Partial Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Zero Points for Program Expense Score |
| Below 50% | Zero Points for Both Program Expense AND Liabilities to Assets Scores |
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2019
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Activities:
Activity data not reported from the IRS
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (SEE International) or EIN (311682275) in the 'Search Term' field.
This organization was impacted by COVID-19 in a way that effected their financial health in 2020. This normally would have reduced their star rating. Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them, and doing this pauses our revision of their rating. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal.
SEE International reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Grants Received
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
The largest change to SEE's financial structure came with the decision to focus on expanding our donor network and revenue diversity by launching a commercial campaign comprised of two nationally aired commercials in 2020. These commercials were two of the most ambitious fundraising projects our team has ever worked on in the history of SEE, and were intended to inform the nation about SEE’s mission, helping us grow to our fullest potential and increasing the number of lives we touch every year. Through these commercials, a new network of supporters was inspired to join us in taking action against preventable blindness. In 2020, the commercials garnered almost 2,000 donations, 92% of which were from brand-new donors!
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
Short-term, international clinics at on-site locations have always been a core part of SEE's programming. Travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, however, have made this aspect of our organization's services much harder to carry out. To adapt, we have both shifted some of our focus to efforts that aren't restricted in this manner, as well as made adjustments to the services that are to make sure they can still be run as safely as possible.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on how we approach international aid. To continue enacting transformative change in the lives of visually impaired individuals, we adapted to prioritize efforts like our Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery Training program, Kibuye Retinoblastoma Program, and our Direct Supply Support program. In addition, our local sight-restoring program, Santa Barbara Vision Care, is taking meticulous measures to ensure the safety of our staff and patients. Plexiglass barriers have been erected and PPE masks secured to keep members of our staff healthy.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
In addition to the increased emphasis on supporting our surgical partners abroad, SEE will be maintaining the adaptations made to our local sight-restoring clinics. We anticipate continuing to be flexible and adaptable into the future such that we can stay on top of any challenges and changes we may face.
Not Currently Scored
SEE International cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
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SEE International reported its three largest programs on its FY 2019 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
INTERNATIONAL VISION PROGRAMSEE International transforms lives by restoring sight to those in need. SEE envisions a world where everyone has access to vision care, regardless of who they are, where th ... (More)
INTERNATIONAL VISION PROGRAMSEE International transforms lives by restoring sight to those in need. SEE envisions a world where everyone has access to vision care, regardless of who they are, where they live, or their ability to pay. Over the past 45 years, SEE has restored sight to over half a million people around the world. During 2019, our volunteers performed more than 60,000 major eye surgeries and 96,000 eye exams, in 46 countries.Care is provided free of charge to the patient thanks to our valued donors, crucial volunteer medical teams, and global partners. When preventable blindness is left untreated, independence is lost not only by the afflicted individual, but also by his or her family and caretakers; approximately 75% of visually impaired people require assistance with everyday tasks. The services provided by see empower our patients and their families to fully contribute to their communities, and return to active participation in life and society. (Less)
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
SANTA BARBARA VISION CARE PROGRAMSEE serves its local community through its Santa Barbara Vision Care Program. In 2019, more than 7,000 people received free eye care from the program. Since the incept ... (More)
SANTA BARBARA VISION CARE PROGRAMSEE serves its local community through its Santa Barbara Vision Care Program. In 2019, more than 7,000 people received free eye care from the program. Since the inception of the program, we have served more than 64,000 low- (Less)
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
EDUCATION DIVISIONSEE offers courses on Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) that is a low-cost, low-tech form of cataract extraction that saves time, money, and energy should phacoemulsific ... (More)
EDUCATION DIVISIONSEE offers courses on Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) that is a low-cost, low-tech form of cataract extraction that saves time, money, and energy should phacoemulsification not be an option or the equipment breaks down. Due (Less)
SEE International cannot currently be evaluated by our Culture & Community methodology because we have not received data from the charity regarding its Constituent Feedback or Equity Practices strategies.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
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SEE International has earned a 100% for the Leadership & Adaptability beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableMission - 10/10 ptsMission - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
We provide essential and transformative eye care and surgery around the world and right here at home. We bring medical volunteers and partners together to care for the people who need it most. Our teams work side-by-side with local doctors and clinics to improve access to high-quality eye care and surgery. Together we break the cycle of hardship that blindness and visual impairment cause, making patients, families, and communities healthier and stronger.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
The large-scale goal of our organization is the complete elimination of preventable blindness around the world.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals - 20/20 ptsGoals - 20/20 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SEE is putting more focus into efforts that supply our partners, such as our Direct Supply Support program in Nepal and India.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: SEE is also reinvesting internally, particularly within the Development and Programs departments, to expand our ability to fundraise, advocate, and provide sight-restoring care.
Goal Type: Invest in the capacity of our organization (financial, management, technical, etc.).
Goal Three: SEE is expanding the scope of its educational efforts. By training eyecare professionals in the most efficient, effective surgical techniques, our impact can be scaled dramatically.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Leadership Development - 15/15 ptsLeadership Development - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
SEE has primarily invested in its leadership by providing a number of options for professional growth and development. Members of our leadership team frequently attend conferences and training courses to better their understanding of their roles, hone their skills, and improve their occupational outcomes. Examples of this include HR training conferences, financial literacy courses, and remote management training.
Mobilizing for Mission - 15/15 ptsMobilizing for Mission - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Raising Awareness
Community Building
SEE has mobilized through marketing and advocacy campaigns. We are constantly looking for new avenues through which we can inform and educate the public about the needs of individuals suffering from vision loss or impairment. To do so, we frequently partner with organizations like the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, as well as local clinics and institutions, such as Goleta Valley Optical, or the Santa Barbara and Goleta Unified School Districts.
Adaptability Story - 30/30 ptsAdaptability Story - 30/30 pts
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on how we approach international aid. It has become abundantly clear that short-term clinics abroad are not always a feasible means of providing sight-restoring care to communities in need. To continue enacting transformative change in the lives of visually impaired individuals, we adapted to prioritize efforts like our Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) Training program, Kibuye Retinoblastoma Program, and our Direct Supplies Support program. A great example of this adjustment is the MSICS course we ran in June, during which SEE trained a Nigerian doctor in this essential technique for the first time. Dr. Egbula Eni traveled to Ghana from Nigeria to seek training in MSICS from one SEE’s most trusted partners, Dr. Thomas Baah. Over the course of the month-long training, 102 sight-restoring surgeries were performed. This proliferation of skills and education is an integral part of SEE’s mission to establish sustainable eyecare and we intend to build on this success in the future.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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