BLIND SERVICE ASSOCIATION INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

BLIND SERVICE ASSOCIATION INC

EIN 36-2240484 · Human Services (P860)

What they do

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES VARIOUS SERVICES and ASSISTANCE to THE BLIND and VISUALLY IMPAIRED IN THE CHICAGO AREA. IT PROVIDES READING and RECORDING SERVICES FREE of CHARGE to ITS CLIENTS, IN ADDITION to A NUMBER of OTHER SUCCESSFUL and POPULAR EDUCATION, RECREATIONAL and SUPPORT GROUPS.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $39.60 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders10 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

32.44%of revenue went to mission work39.6% of expenses · Program services

18.00%of revenue went to fundraising22.0% of expenses

$81.84spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

31.40%of revenue went to management and office costs38.4% of expenses

$9.10in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

22.0%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $143,395 for LAURA STOKES-GRAY (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$1,951,383

Mission workProgram services$632,97332.44% of revenue39.6% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$612,79931.40% of revenue38.4% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$351,16318.00% of revenue22.0% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$354,44818.16% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$1,596,93581.84% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 39.6% mission · 38.4% management · 22.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 81.84% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 51.0% mission · 43.4% management · 5.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 183.89% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 54.9% mission · 44.4% management · 0.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 161.42% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 55.7% mission · 38.1% management · 6.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 81.24% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 61.7% mission · 30.7% management · 7.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 55.87% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 65.2% mission · 27.2% management · 7.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 63.46% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$1,951,383

Expenses$1,596,935

Annual surplus $354,448 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$632,973 · 39.6% of expenses

Management and office costs$612,799 · 38.4% of expenses

Fundraising$351,163 · 22.0% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$1,951,383

Expenses$1,596,935

Assets$14,524,914

Income$3,896,008

Contributions$429,211

Mission work (program services)$632,973

Fundraising$351,163

Management and general$612,799

Stocks and bonds$12,505,035

Accounting fees$35,850

Investing fees$66,212

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

LAURA STOKES-GRAYEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $143,395

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (10)

LAURA STOKES-GRAYEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ANTHONY THOMASDIRECTOR

CHRISTINA MCGLEAMDIRECTOR

CHRISTINE TEPPERSECRETARY

DIANA HOFFMANDIRECTOR

JENNIFER REISDIRECTOR

JOHN POWENTREASURER

JOHN P CASEYDIRECTOR

LYLE HAMRICK HARLOWPRESIDENT

THOMAS J LOFTUSVICE PRESIDENT

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1942
Location: 17 NORTH STATE STREET SUITE 1050, CHICAGO, IL 60602
County: Cook
In care of: LYLE HARLOW
Primary officer: LYLE HARLOW, PRESIDENT

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailagowdy@bsachicago.org Phone(312) 236-0808

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: PORTE BROWN LLC
NTEE classification: Human Services (P860)
IRS tax category: Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities