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Health : Medical Research (Grantmaking)

Foundation Fighting Blindness

Driving research to save and restore sight

two stars

78.25

7168 Columbia Gateway Drive Suite 100
Columbia, MD 21046
tel: (800) 683-5555   Web Site
EIN: 23-7135845

Board Leadership
David Brint
Chairman

CEO
Benjamin Yerxa
Chief Executive Officer

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 78.25 two stars
  Financial 69.51 one star
  Accountability & Transparency 96.00 four stars
This rating was published 06/01/2019 using data provided by the charity on a consolidated pro forma 990 which was verified against 990s received from the IRS.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

The urgent mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degeneration, Usher Syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. Since its inception in 1971, The Foundation has raised over $500 million and funded thousands of research studies at hundreds of prominent institutions. The FFB funds leading-edge research in promising areas such as genetics, gene therapy, retinal cell transplantation, artificial retinal implants, and pharmaceutical and nutritional therapies.

The urgent mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degeneration, Usher Syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. Since its inception in 1971, The Foundation has raised over $500 million and funded thousands of research studies at hundreds of prominent institutions. The FFB funds leading-edge research in promising areas such as genetics, gene therapy, retinal cell transplantation, artificial retinal implants, and pharmaceutical and nutritional therapies.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

one star

69.51

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

96.00

This rating was published 06/01/2019 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 65.8%
  Administrative Expenses 8.6%
  Fundraising Expenses 25.4%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.14
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 4.81
  Program Expenses Growth -4.7%
  Liabilities to Assets 9.6%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Foundation Fighting Blindness on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Foundation Fighting Blindness on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Foundation Fighting Blindness (MD) 78.25 two stars
It's The Journey, Inc. (GA) 92.27 four stars
Autism Research Institute (CA) 92.92 four stars
American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand (IL) 90.87 four stars
Sabin Vaccine Institute (DC) 89.39 three stars

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REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $14,473,852
   Federated Campaigns $148,751
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $8,123,929
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $22,746,532
   Program Service Revenue $116,827
Total Primary Revenue $22,863,359
   Other Revenue $1,707,649
TOTAL REVENUE $24,571,008
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $18,176,887
   Administrative Expenses $2,642,159
   Fundraising Expenses $7,223,164
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $28,042,210
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $-3,471,202
   
Net Assets $139,682,437

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Research $16,496,908 90.8%
Public Health $1,609,251 8.9%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2017-06 06/01/2019 78.25 two stars
2016-06 06/01/2017 80.34 three stars
2015-06 11/01/2016 81.40 three stars
2014-06 06/01/2016 85.40 three stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-06 02/01/2015 88.33 three stars
2013-06 08/01/2014 88.84 three stars
2012-06 02/01/2013 90.74 four stars
2011-06 03/01/2012 82.43 three stars
2010-06 09/20/2011 85.36 three stars
 
CN 1.0
2010-06 07/01/2011 77.63 two stars
2009-06 11/24/2010 72.33 two stars
2008-06 05/01/2009 76.76 two stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 23-7135845
Name in IRS Master File FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC
NTEE Code H41
NTEE Classification Eye Research
NTEE Type Medical Research
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (161) Scientific research (diseases)
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Central - the organization is a parent (group ruling) and is not a church or 501(c)(1) organization.
Group Name FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC
Ruling Date February, 1973
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
  • June, 2013

The data displayed in this profile is provided by the IRS for free in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$354,215 1.26% William T. Schmidt Chief Executive Officer

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Foundation Fighting Blindness (MD) 78.25 two stars
Hearing Health Foundation (NY) 98.23 four stars
Food Allergy Research & Education (VA) 92.54 four stars
International Society for Infectious Diseases (MA) 87.68 three stars
Macula Vision Research Foundation (PA) 86.25 three stars

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Note: This rating represents consolidated financial data for these organizations:

  • Foundation Fighting Blindness
  • Foundation Fighting Blindness Clinical Research Institute (45-0524687)

Charity Contact Info

Foundation Fighting Blindness
7168 Columbia Gateway Drive
Suite 100
Columbia, MD 21046
tel: (800) 683-5555
fax: (410) 423-0600
TTY: (800) 683-5551
EIN: 23-7135845

Mail donations to:
P.O. Box 45740
Baltimore, MD 21297

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

David Brint
Chairman

CEO

Benjamin Yerxa
Chief Executive Officer

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