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Health : Medical Research (Grantmaking)

Foundation Fighting Blindness

Driving research to save and restore sight

three stars

85.99

6925 Oakland Mills Road Suite 701
Columbia, MD 21045
tel: (800) 683-5555   Web Site
EIN: 23-7135845

Board Leadership
David Brint
Chairman

CEO
Benjamin R. Yerxa
CEO

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 85.99 three stars
  Financial 80.60 three stars
  Accountability & Transparency 96.00 four stars
This rating was published 12/23/2020 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.

Impact Information

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GuideStar is Charity Navigator's trusted partner in sharing information on how this organization seeks impact.  GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Platinum Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly sharing information about how they measure their progress and results.  Learn More about Impact Information.
Reported Results
Showing 3 of 5
Total in 2019
Number of unique website visitors
360,354
Number of website pageviews
1,393,500
Average online donation
145
Total number of grants awarded
61
Total dollar amount of grants awarded
15,521,800
This organization has earned a GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by voluntarily sharing the measures of progress and results they use to pursue their mission. Organizations earn Platinum Seals by selecting from a catalog of over 900 expert recognized metrics or by creating a new metric that best fits their work. This information is reported by the organization and displayed publicly on their GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. With over 1.6 million Nonprofit Profiles, 9 million annual visitors and over 200 data partners, GuideStar is the world's leading source of information about nonprofit organizations. A nonprofit itself, GuideStar is dedicated to providing better data for better decisions for a better world.
This impact information is current as of August 2020, when it was provided to us by GuideStar. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

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

Financial

three stars

80.60

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

96.00

This rating was published 12/23/2020 and includes data from FY2019, 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)		 69.6%
  Administrative Expenses 8.2%
  Fundraising Expenses 22.1%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.21
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 4.65
  Program Expenses Growth 9.3%
  Liabilities to Assets 10.0%
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) 85.99 three stars
The Hope Foundation (MI) 93.22 four stars
International Rett Syndrome Foundation (OH) 91.16 four stars
24 Foundation (NC) 86.51 three stars
Monell Chemical Senses Center (PA) 86.22 three stars

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REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $42,364,481
   Federated Campaigns $176,595
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $7,930,243
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $50,471,319
   Program Service Revenue $231,550
Total Primary Revenue $50,702,869
   Other Revenue $2,666,341
TOTAL REVENUE $53,269,210
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $24,357,745
   Administrative Expenses $2,372,539
   Fundraising Expenses $7,079,653
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $33,809,937
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $19,459,273
   
Net Assets $152,963,738

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.

Due to an error on this organization's Form 990, we are unable to display program information.

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2019-06 12/23/2020 85.99 three stars
2018-06 07/01/2019 86.67 three stars
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, 2018
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title Compensation from Affiliates
$357,150 1.05% Benjamin R. Yerxa CEO $63,026

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Foundation Fighting Blindness (MD) 85.99 three stars
Brain Chemistry Labs (WY) 91.23 four stars
The Hope Foundation (MI) 93.22 four stars
Lupus Research Alliance (NY) 91.39 four stars
American Psychiatric Association Foundation (DC) 85.22 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

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
6925 Oakland Mills Road
Suite 701
Columbia, MD 21045
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 R. Yerxa
CEO

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