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Nonprofit · EIN 13-5562161

AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC

Tax-exempt · HUNTINGTON, WV 25701

Financials

$8.6M$7.7M2022$9.6M$5.7M2023$9.8M$6M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$9,771,132$6,001,271$3,769,861$40,853,071$1,071,769$39,781,302
June 30, 2024990$9,609,252$5,717,010$3,892,242$35,114,433$1,018,552$34,095,881
June 30, 2023990$8,578,565$7,725,003$853,562$28,748,418$1,125,529$27,622,889
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$7,986,903
Program service revenue
$232,095
Investment income
$1,573,525
Royalties
$32,691
Net gain from sales of assets
$392,940
Net income from fundraising events
-$94,903
Other revenue
-$21,391

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$105,100
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$1,584,598
Other salaries and wages
$2,022,738
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$4,315,346
Professional fundraising fees
$65,591
Legal fees
$18,273
Accounting fees
$34,711
Occupancy
$63,309
Travel
$175,681
Depreciation
$42,969
Program services (functional)
$4,087,369
Management and general (functional)
$1,066,367
Fundraising (functional)
$847,535

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$35,114,433
Total assets, end of year
$40,853,071
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,071,769
Net assets, end of year
$39,781,302
Land, buildings and equipment
$16,445
Publicly traded securities
$36,411,868
Net assets without donor restrictions
$18,241,909
Net assets with donor restrictions
$21,539,393
Gross receipts
$24,550,701
Employees
49
Volunteers
52
Year formed
1921
State of legal domicile
NY

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
ERIC BRIDGESPRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Officer
35$257,322$59,628
SONYA SHIFLETCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Officer
35$209,103$65,638
MATTHEW JANUSAUSKASCHIEF TECHNOLOGY AND PROGRAMS OFFICER
Officer
35$198,370$52,747
STEPHANIE ENYARTCHIEF PUBLIC POLICY AND RESEARCH OFFICER
Officer
35$197,720$42,727
PATSY CARVACHEVP FINANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES
Officer
35$160,396$48,665
ANTHONY STEPHENSASSISTANT VP COMMUNICATIONS
Officer
35$127,775$33,518
RONAK PATELDIRECTOR DIGITAL INCLUSION INNOVATION
Highest-paid employee
35$132,553$6,605
DR ARIELLE SILVERMANDIRECTOR OF RESEARCH
Highest-paid employee
35$117,863$17,550
PAMELA MCGONIGLECHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Officer
35$45,875$0
JOHN LILLYDIRECTOR DIGITAL INCLUSION INNOVATION
Former
35$12,132$622
SARAH HERRLINGERTRUSTEE - VICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MELISSA WEISSETRUSTEE - VICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JON CHESSHIRETRUSTEE - TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
KATIE FREDERICKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
TONY COELHOTRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
14 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
JAMIE DEANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
DIANE FAZZITRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
LOUIS FOXTRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
THEODORE FRANCAVILLATRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
SHARON GIOVINAZZOTRUSTEE - THROUGH MARCH 2025
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
JAMES HANDSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
MELANIE LOCKWOOD HERMANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
KIRAN KAJATRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
DAN KELLYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
MACY LAMBTRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
JANNI LEHRER STEINTRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
MATTHEW SHERWOODTRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
HARSHIL VEDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
VICTORIA WATTSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 34 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
SONYA SHIFLETCHIEF HR & PLANNING OFFICER
Key employee
35$222,259$62,943
STEPHANIE ENYARTCHIEF PUBLIC POLICY&RESEARCH OFFICER
Key employee
35$189,518$51,653
MATTHEW JANUSAUSKASCHIEF TECHNOLOGY & PROGRAMS OFFICER
Key employee
35$198,228$41,916
PATSY CARVACHEVP, FINANCE & BUSINESS SERVICES
Officer
35$189,439$43,367
ERIC BRIDGESPRESIDENT & CEO (AS OF APRIL 2023)
Officer
35$177,813$27,415
JOHN LILLYDIRECTOR, DI INNOVATION
Highest-paid employee
35$131,626$14,356
SYLVIA STINSON-PEREZCHIEF PROGRAM OFF (THRU JUNE 2023)
Highest-paid employee
35$104,917$33,314
ARIELLE SILVERMANDIRECTOR OF RESEARCH
Highest-paid employee
35$116,050$8,922
RONAK PATELDIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEV.& STRATEGY
Highest-paid employee
35$119,529$2,055
ANTHONY STEPHENSASSISTANT VP, COMMUNICATIONS
Highest-paid employee
35$104,666$13,296
DEBBIE DENNISCO-CHAIR (THRU NOV 2023)
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
DIANE FAZZICO-VC (THRU JAN 2024);CO-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MELANIE LOCKWOOD HERMANSECRETARY(THRU JAN 2024);CO-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
BARBARA RIFKINDCO-VICE CHAIR (THRU JAN 2024)
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
SARAH HERRLINGERCO-VICE CHAIR (AS OF JAN 2024)
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
THEODORE FRANCAVILLATRUSTEE/TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
KIRAN KAJASECRETARY (AS OF JAN 2024)
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
CHRIS BABCOCKTRUSTEE (THRU NOV 2023)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CONNIE CAMPBELLTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JON CHESSHIRETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JAMIE DEANTRUSTEE (AS OF NOV 2023)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GRANT DOSTERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LOUIS FOXTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KATIE FREDERICKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SHARON GIOVINAZZOTRUSTEE (AS OF JAN 2024)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JAMES HANDSTRUSTEE (AS OF JAN 2024)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JANNI LEHRER-STEINTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ALAN MAYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KENNETH MILLERTRUSTEE (THRU NOV 2023)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CHRISTOPHER PATNOETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MATTHEW SHERWOODTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
HARSHIL VEDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
VICTORIA WATTSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MELISSA WEISSETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 29 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KIRK ADAMSCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Former
35$259,310$42,207
SONYA SHIFLETCHIEF PEOPLE & PLANNING OFFICER
Officer
35$207,997$19,332
MATTHEW JANUSAUSKASCHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
Officer
35$201,112$18,531
MEREDITH GALECHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Former
35$192,119$23,692
STEPHANIE ENYARTCHIEF PUBLIC POLICY & RESEARCH OFFICER
Officer
35$194,513$17,796
SYLVIA STINSON-PEREZCHIEF PROGRAMS OFFICER
Former
35$171,713$25,585
PATSY CARVACHECHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER
Officer
35$150,203$15,384
L JASMINE KIMCHIEF MARKETING & COMMS OFFICER
Former
35$162,413$0
ARIELLE SILVERMANDIRECTOR, RESEARCH
Trustee or director
35$109,135$1,036
JOHN LILLYDIRECTOR, DIGITAL INCLUSION INNOVATION
Trustee or director
35$35,896$2,324
TONY STEPHENSDIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS
Trustee or director
35$1,788$0
ERIC BRIDGESCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Officer
35$0$0
CHRIS BABCOCKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DEBBIE DENNISTRUSTEE/CHAIR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JON CHESSHIRETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LOUIS FOXTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DIANE FAZZITRUSTEE/CO-VICE CHAIR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
TED FRANCAVILLATRUSTEE/TREASURER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
GRANT DOSTERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
KIRAN KAJATRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
KATIE FREDERICKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SARAH HERRLINGERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BARBARA RIFKINDTRUSTEE/CO-VICE CHAIR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JANNI LEHRER-STEINTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MELANIE LOCKWOOD HERMANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MATTHEW SHERWOODTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MELISSA WEISSETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
HARSHIL VEDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0
VICTORIA WATTSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
2$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
1108 3RD AVE STE 200, HUNTINGTON, WV 25701-1577
In care of
% PATSY CARVACHE
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
ERIC BRIDGES, 2900 S QUINCY ST STE 200, ARLINGTON, VA 22206
Signed the 990
PATSY CARVACHE, VICE PRESIDENT FINANCE & BUSINESS
Phone
(212) 502-7600

Mission

THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND AFB IS TO CREATE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPAND POSSIBILITIES THROUGH ADVOCACY THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • EDUCATION AND TRAINING - FOR 25 YEARS ACCESSWORLD HAS SERVED AS A VITAL SOURCE FOR CONSUMERS AND DEVELOPERS ON VALUABLE INSIGHT AND INFORMATION ENCOMPASSING ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION. THE FREE QUARTERLY ONLINE MAGAZINE AND MONTHLY PODCAST PUBLISHES RELEVANT CONTENT AT THE INTERSECTION OF DISABILITY AND TECHNOLOGY WITH THE AIM TO MAKE THE WORLD MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL. THE AFB TALENT LAB CONTINUED TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY CONSULTING SERVICES TO ENTITIES RANGING FROM NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES WITH SERVICES RANGING FROM WEB AND MOBILE ACCESSIBILITY AUDITS REMEDIATION ADVISORY BEST PRACTICES AND TRAINING IN DISABILITY INCLUSION. THE AFB TALENT LAB ALSO CONTINUED TO CLOSE THE INDUSTRYWIDE ACCESSIBILITY SKILLS GAP BY TRAINING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT WITH AN ACCESSIBILITY AND DIGITAL INCLUSION SPECIALTY. ADDITIONALLY THE AFB TALENT LAB WORKED WITH COMDPUTER SCIENCE STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THROUGH A MULTI-PHASED STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN DIGITAL INCLUSION.
    Expenses $1,430,245 · grants $29,500 · revenue $137,149
  • KNOWLEDGE BUILDING & INFORMATION DISSEMINATION - THROUGH RESEARCH AND DATA WE UNDERSTAND COMPLEX PROBLEMS AND IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE SOLUTIONS. PRIORITIZING A CONSUMER-CENTERED APPROACH WITH SCALABLE IMPACT AFB IS PURSUING AND CATALYZING FORWARD-LOOKING KNOWLEDGE GENERATION ON KEY ISSUES FACING PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION BY FOSTERING COLLABORATIONS WITH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND OTHER RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS AND BY CONDUCTING INDEPENDENT RESEARCH. PRIORITY ISSUE AREAS MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO POLICY RESEARCH AND APPLIED RESEARCH IN EDUCATION; MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY; REHABILITATION SERVICES; AGING AND VISION LOSS; DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS; AND TECHNOLOGY. IN FY2025 AFB PUBLISHED A WHITE PAPER HIGHLIGHTING FINDINGS FROM AN EXPERT CONSENSUS STUDY ON HOW AI IS LIKELY TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE WHITE PAPER INCLUDED A SET OF GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR MORE DISABILITY-INCLUSIVE AI. WE BEGAN DESIGNING A SURVEY ASSESSING HOW AMERICANS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES ARE USING AI AND HOW AI IS IMPACTING THEIR LIVES. FINALLY WE HOSTED THREE RESEARCH WEBINARS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT OUR RESEARCH AND HOW THEY CAN APPLY IT IN ADVOCACY AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.
    Expenses $1,457,195 · grants $40,000 · revenue $82,020
  • RESEARCH ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC SUPPORT - AFB IS WORKING TO ENSURE THAT POLICYMAKERS BUSINESS LEADERS PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITIES AND PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCATES UNDERSTAND THE KEY TRENDS CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHANGING ATTITUDES AND TRANSFORMING INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICE. THE AFB PUBLIC POLICY AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE PPRI COLLABORATES WITH POLICYMAKERS IN CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS WELL AS CORPORATE PARTNERS TO ENSURE AMERICANS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY. AFBS ADVOCACY STRATEGY IS BACKED BY RESEARCHERS AND EXPERTS WITH PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH BLINDNESS. IN FY 2025 AFB FOCUSED ON ADVOCACY TO MAKE TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSPORTATION MORE ACCESSIBLE AND USABLE. WORKING CLOSELY WITH COALITION PARTNERS IN THE TRANSPORTATION SPACE PPRI RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ACCESSIBILITY AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND PARTICIPATED IN EFFORTS TO PRODUCE ACCESSIBLE GUIDELINES AND DATA COLLECTION. PPRI CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS ACCESSIBILITY THROUGH LEGISLATION AND RESPONDING TO FEDERAL RULEMAKING. PPRI ALSO SHARED PRINCIPLES ON INCLUSIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WITH POLICYMAKERS AND TECH COMPANIES. AFBS RESEARCH ON WEB AND APPLICATION ACCESSIBILITY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCES DURING THE PANDEMIC CONTINUED TO INFORM AFBS ADVOCACY PRIORITIES. AFBS JOURNAL OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT & BLINDNESS JVIB THE INTERNATIONAL PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL OF RECORD IN THE BLINDNESS FIELD WHICH HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS PUBLICATION SINCE 1907 DELIVERS PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH AND PEER-REVIEWED BEST PRACTICE INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS. THE JOURNAL ALSO FEATURES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND COMMENTARIES FROM AUTHORITATIVE EXPERTS ON CRITICAL TOPICS AS WELL AS BOOK REVIEWS OF CURRENT TITLES OF INTEREST TO THE BLINDNESS FIELD. IN 2025 VOLUME 119 THE FINAL ISSUE OF THE YEAR FEATURED PART ONE OF A TWO-PART SPECIAL ISSUE ON ADVANCEMENTS AND INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS.THE PUBLISHED ISSUE INCLUDED NUMEROUS PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH ARTICLES AND PRACTICE PIECES FROM UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD AS WELL AS BOOK REVIEWS AND COMMENTARIES FROM EXPERTS IN THE FIELD INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION. THE ISSUE WAS GUEST EDITED BY STACY M. KELLY ED.D. TVI COMS CATIS PROFESSOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.
    Expenses $1,199,929 · revenue $70,418

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026Not due yet
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990 on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
13-5562161
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1922
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Human services (P860)
Assets (IRS master file)
$40,853,071
Income (IRS master file)
$24,550,701

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025$9,771,132$6,001,271$40,853,071XML
990June 2024$9,609,252$5,717,010$35,114,433XML
990June 2023$8,578,565$7,725,003$28,748,418XML
990June 2022$14,945,621$12,400,249$25,098,067IRS
990June 2021–––IRS
990June 2020–––IRS
990June 2019–––IRS
990June 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 13-5562161).

Questions about AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC

What is the EIN of AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC is 13-5562161.
Is AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1922.
Are donations to AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
Who is the principal officer of AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names ERIC BRIDGES.
Who are the officers and directors of AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 29 people; 10 received compensation from the organization, the highest $257,322 (ERIC BRIDGES, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER).
How much revenue does AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $9,771,132, expenses of $6,001,271 and total assets of $40,853,071 at year end.

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