Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind

Analysis

Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind is a registered charity in United States, based in Washington, DC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in February 1959, 67 years ago. Its declared purposes cover human services, which this site groups under poverty relief. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind reported income of $6.3m and spending of $6.2m, spending 99% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $3.9m to $6.3m (+62%), an average of +13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2020, when income rose by 31%. Over the whole period it spent 99% of the income it received.

Among 62,758 United States charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind sits at the 92nd percentile: it is larger than about 92% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 93rd percentile, and in the 82nd percentile within DC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Second Chance Center Inc ($6.3m), Chicago White Sox Charities Inc ($6.3m) and Community Arts Stabilization ($6.3m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 9.4% and program service revenue 90% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $200k (3.2% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $3.2m. At year end it held assets of $3.1m against liabilities of $963k, net assets of $2.1m. It reported 86 employees.