CENTER FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

CENTER FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED INC

EIN 58-1168874 · Blind & Visually Impaired Centers (P86)

What they do

THE CENTER for THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED (CVI) PROVIDES VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES to INDIVIDUALS of ALL AGES and ALL DEGREES of VISION LOSS WHO RESIDE, WORK or ATTEND SCHOOL IN THE 13-COUNTY METRO ATLANTA AREA. SERVING NEARLY 1,000 CLIENTS and THEIR FAMILIES ANNUALLY, CVIS HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF of CERTIFIED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS, VISION TEACHERS, LOW VISION THERAPISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, VOCATIONAL SPECIALISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, and ORIENTATION and MOBILITY SPECIALISTS WORK TOGETHER to ENSURE THAT EACH PERSON ACQUIRE SKILLS and INFORMATION NEEDED to SUCCEED AT SCHOOL and WORK, BE ACTIVE MEMBERS of THEIR COMMUNITIES, and LIVE SAFELY and INDEPENDENTLY. A STAFF of 21 and MORE THAN 200 VOLUNTEERS WORK TOGETHER to ACHIEVE THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION THROUGH THE BEGIN, FLORENCE MAXWELL LOW VISION CLINIC and COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES PROGRAMS.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $63.30 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 leaders23 people are listed in the latest report.

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

Money made simple

68.94%of revenue went to mission work63.3% of expenses · Program services

12.05%of revenue went to fundraising11.1% of expenses

$108.95spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

27.95%of revenue went to management and office costs25.7% of expenses

$1.78in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

88.4%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.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $220,715 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $245,297 for MELISA KENNEDY (PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 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$2,466,924

Mission workProgram services$1,700,65868.94% of revenue63.3% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$689,61527.95% of revenue25.7% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$297,36612.05% of revenue11.1% of expenses

Total expenses$2,687,639108.95% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

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: 63.3% mission · 25.7% management · 11.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 108.95% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 59.0% mission · 27.7% management · 13.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 104.53% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 60.9% mission · 22.9% management · 16.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 110.53% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 74.3% mission · 20.1% management · 5.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 115.01% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 78.1% mission · 14.5% management · 7.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 87.26% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 64.6% mission · 20.1% management · 15.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 124.73% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 73.8% mission · 24.2% management · 2.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 91.22% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 78.9% mission · 17.5% management · 3.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 151.74% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$2,466,924

Expenses$2,687,639

Annual shortfall $220,715 Expenses were higher than revenue 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)$1,700,658 · 63.3% of expenses

Management and office costs$689,615 · 25.7% of expenses

Fundraising$297,366 · 11.1% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$2,466,924

Expenses$2,687,639

Assets$4,780,542

Income$2,750,758

Contributions$2,180,818

Mission work (program services)$1,700,658

Fundraising$297,366

Management and general$689,615

Executive compensation (total)$219,160

Accounting fees$23,800

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

MELISA KENNEDYPRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER · 20 hrs/week $245,297Base $212,000 · Other $33,297

BARBARA WILLIAMS UNTIL 072025FINANCE DIRECTOR · 20 hrs/week $115,182Base $111,395 · Other $3,787

WINDY CRUZ UNTIL 082025PROGRAM DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $110,520Base $109,868 · Other $652

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 (23)

MELISA KENNEDYPRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

BARBARA WILLIAMS UNTIL 072025FINANCE DIRECTOR

WINDY CRUZ UNTIL 082025PROGRAM DIRECTOR

JOHN W THOMAS MDTRUSTEE

AMINA GREATHOUSETRUSTEE

WILLIAM J PERGOLINITRUSTEE

THOMAS L PENNELLATRUSTEE

NINA MEYERS JOHNSONTRUSTEE

MONTAGUE L COSMO BOYD IVVICE CHAIR & TREASURER

MICHAEL COHNTRUSTEE

BOB PENNINGTONCHAIR

MARY ANN COOKTRUSTEE

KATHERIN BAILEY LYNCHTRUSTEE

BRADLEY HENDERSONTRUSTEE

JODI D TAYLORTRUSTEE

JAMES SCOTT MATHEWS IIICHAIR (UNTIL 6/2024)

G BAKER HUBBARDTRUSTEE

EMMA H BARRYTRUSTEE

ELIZABETH WILLS QUINNTRUSTEE

DAVID B PRICETRUSTEE

CYNTHIA MOKOTOFFTRUSTEE

BRIDGETT SUTTLESECRETARY

BRIAN R HUBANDTRUSTEE

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1973
Location: 739 W PEACHTREE STREET NW, ATLANTA, GA 30308-0000
County: Fulton
In care of: MELISA KENNEDY
Primary officer: MELISA KENNEDY, PRESIDENT & CEO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(404) 602-4286

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: WARREN AVERETT LLC
NTEE classification: Blind & Visually Impaired Centers (P86)
IRS tax category: Blind & Visually Impaired Centers