Nonprofit · EIN 23-7135845
FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC
Tax-exempt · COLUMBIA, MD 21045
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $36,615,169 | $49,532,382 | -$12,917,213 | $110,885,645 | $27,016,811 | $83,868,834 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $35,702,558 | $48,226,411 | -$12,523,853 | $124,009,134 | $31,398,627 | $92,610,507 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $31,063,702
- of which government grants
- $167,647
- Program service revenue
- $2,004,208
- Investment income
- $2,544,692
- Royalties
- $1,407,035
- Net rental income
- $35,179
- Net gain from sales of assets
- -$711,742
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$439,647
- Other revenue
- $1,002,567
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $22,880,201
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $2,416,444
- Other salaries and wages
- $6,983,907
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $11,708,364
- Professional fundraising fees
- $732,305
- Legal fees
- $54,745
- Accounting fees
- $58,255
- Occupancy
- $127,012
- Travel
- $483,233
- Depreciation
- $105,654
- Program services (functional)
- $37,365,626
- Management and general (functional)
- $3,154,757
- Fundraising (functional)
- $9,011,999
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $124,009,134
- Total assets, end of year
- $110,885,645
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $27,016,811
- Net assets, end of year
- $83,868,834
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $600,568
- Publicly traded securities
- $80,569,953
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $20,367,885
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $63,500,949
- Gross receipts
- $70,836,638
- Employees
- 96
- Volunteers
- 2,500
- Year formed
- 1971
- State of legal domicile
- MD
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.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JASON D MENZO | CEO Officer | 32 | $504,560 | $126,140 | $93,231 |
| PETER L GINSBERG | COO Officer | 32 | $364,025 | $91,006 | $85,311 |
| RUSSELL W KELLEY | MANAGING DIRECTOR, RD FUND Key employee | 0 | $0 | $447,300 | $85,994 |
| TODD A DURHAM | SVP CLINICAL & OUTCOMES RESEARCH Key employee | 40 | $324,179 | $0 | $80,261 |
| JEFFREY D KLAAS | CHIEF OF STRATEGY AND INNOVATION Key employee | 40 | $344,934 | $0 | $33,516 |
| CLAIRE M GELFMAN | FORMER CSO (THRU 6/24) Former | 40 | $341,844 | $0 | $31,176 |
| RICHELE DONAT | CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER Key employee | 40 | $324,700 | $0 | $45,263 |
| JUDY TAYLOR | SVP/CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee | 40 | $290,836 | $0 | $74,299 |
| AMY M PALMER LASTER | CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER Officer | 40 | $281,622 | $0 | $27,061 |
| CHRISTOPHER S ADAMS | VP, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $237,414 | $0 | $64,234 |
| MICHELE DIVINCENZO | VP, SCIENTIFIC & ED. CONFERENCES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $239,787 | $0 | $60,971 |
| JEFFRY COLLINS | VP, DATABASE SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $234,136 | $0 | $53,880 |
| ANNA WAGNER | VP, FINANCE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $239,697 | $0 | $22,111 |
| CHAD R JACKSON - SR DIR | PRE-CLINICAL TRANSITIONAL PROG. Highest-paid employee | 40 | $207,565 | $0 | $17,439 |
| ADRIENNE GRAVES PHD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $12,500 | $0 |
24 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN PETROU | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 |
| JASON MORRIS | EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| HAYNES LEA | BOARD SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| STEVEN ALPER | CHAIR, DEVELOPMENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JEFFREY FREED | CHAIR, AUDIT & RISK Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| DAVID NIXON | CHAIR, FINANCE & INVESTMENT; TREAS. Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JONATHAN STEINBERG MD | CHAIR, SCIENCE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MARYROSE SYLVESTER | CHAIR, AT LARGE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| WARREN THALER | CHAIR, NOMINATING & GOVERNANCE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| GORDON GUND | DIRECTOR - CHAIRMAN EMERITUS Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| DAVID BRINT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SCOTT BURT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DARREN DEVOUE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LAURA FIETTA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ROBERT HEIDENBERG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SUBER HUANG MD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARSHA LINK PHD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LAURA MANFRE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRADFORD MANNING | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JANINE MARKS NIXON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| EVAN MITTMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| GEORGE PEINADO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARTHA STEELE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOSHUA STEINBERG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 37 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | From related orgs | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JASON D MENZO | CEO Officer | 32 | $416,489 | $104,122 | $68,385 |
| CLAIRE GELFMAN | CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER Officer | 40 | $392,360 | $0 | $60,801 |
| PETER GINSBERG | COO Officer | 32 | $290,019 | $72,505 | $63,272 |
| RUSSELL W KELLEY | MANAGING DIRECTOR, RD FUND Key employee | 0 | $0 | $347,534 | $64,959 |
| TODD A DURHAM | VP, CLINICAL & OUTCOMES RESEARCH Key employee | 40 | $262,294 | $0 | $60,969 |
| RICHELE DONAT | CHRO Key employee | 40 | $265,633 | $0 | $33,815 |
| JUDY L TAYLOR | SVP, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee | 40 | $227,974 | $0 | $59,043 |
| MICHELE C DIVINCENZO | VP, SCIENTIFIC & EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $199,289 | $0 | $48,895 |
| CHRISTOPHER S ADAMS | VP, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $192,708 | $0 | $50,323 |
| AMY M PALMER LASTER | SVP, SCIENCE STRATEGY & AWARDS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $220,621 | $0 | $16,903 |
| JEFFRY C COLLINS | VP, DATABASE SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $192,978 | $0 | $40,702 |
| CHAD R JACKSON | SR DIR, PRE-CLINICAL TRANSLATIONAL PROG Highest-paid employee | 40 | $197,593 | $0 | $16,231 |
| DAVID BRINT | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JONATHAN STEINBERG MD | VICE CHAIR, RESEARCH Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| KAREN PETROU | EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| MARYROSE SYLVESTER | VICE CHAIR, AT LARGE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVEN ALPER | INTERIM VICE CHAIR, DEVELOPMENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JASON MORRIS | VICE CHAIR, BOARD COMM & DEV/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| BRADFORD MANNING | VICE CHAIR, MARKETING, COMM & SOCIAL MEDIA Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| HAYNES LEA | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| GORDON GUND | DIRECTOR - CHAIRMAN EMERITUS Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT BURT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM CARTY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| DARREN DEVOUE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JASON FERREIRA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFFREY FREED | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ADRIENNE GRAVES PH D | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT HEIDENBERG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JANICE LEHRER-STEIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| MARSHA LINK PHD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| LAURA MANFRE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| EVAN MITTMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID NIXON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| WARREN THALER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JANINE MARKS NIXON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| MARTHA STEELE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| JOSHUA STEINBERG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 6925 OAKLAND MILLS RD701, COLUMBIA, MD 21045-4714
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- JASON D MENZO, 6925 OAKLAND MILLS ROAD 701, COLUMBIA, MD 21045
- Signed the 990
- PETER GINSBERG, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
- Phone
- (410) 423-0600
- Website
- WWW.FIGHTINGBLINDNESS.ORG
- Return prepared by
- GRANT THORNTON ADVISORS LLC
Mission
TO DRIVE THE RESEARCH THAT WILL PROVIDE PREVENTIONS, TREATMENTS AND CURES, FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA, MACULAR DEGENERATION, USHER SYNDROME, AND THE SPECTRUM OF RETINAL DEGENERATIVE DISEASES.
Program accomplishments
- SEE SCHEDULE OExpenses $32,043,327 · grants $22,880,201 · revenue $2,004,208
- SEE SCHEDULE OExpenses $3,681,241
- SEE SCHEDULE OExpenses $1,641,058
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 year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 23-7135845
- 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)
- Group exemption
- Exempt since
- 1973
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Medical research (H410)
- Group exemption
- 2408 (1 member organizations)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $110,885,645
- Income (IRS master file)
- $70,836,638
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $36,615,169 | $49,532,382 | $110,885,645 | XML |
| 990 | June 2024 | $35,702,558 | $48,226,411 | $124,009,134 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $30,437,892 | $51,265,440 | $130,891,355 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | $42,887,836 | $49,175,609 | $145,877,854 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 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 23-7135845).
Questions about FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC
- What is the EIN of FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC is 23-7135845.
- Is FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1973.
- Are donations to FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Group exemption).
- Which annual return does FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS 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 FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS 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 FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS 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 FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names JASON D MENZO.
- Who are the officers and directors of FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 39 people; 13 received compensation from the organization, the highest $504,560 (JASON D MENZO, CEO).
- How much revenue does FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $36,615,169, expenses of $49,532,382 and total assets of $110,885,645 at year end.
Organizations in its group exemption (1)
- FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDESS INC EIN 36-3923922 · COLUMBIA, MD · last filed 990-N for 2024
Other nonprofits in COLUMBIA
- FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS RETINAL DEGENERATION FUND EIN 45-0524687 · last filed 990 for 2025
- MOSES MAX MINDKNIT RESEARCH CENTER EIN 26-2822224 · last filed 990-N for 2025
- HH MEDSTAR HEALTH INC EIN 52-1542230 · last filed 990 for 2025
- WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER CORPORATION EIN 52-1272129 · last filed 990 for 2025
- MEDSTAR-GEORGETOWN MEDICAL CENTER INC EIN 52-2218584 · last filed 990 for 2025
- MEDSTAR HEALTH INC EIN 52-2087445 · last filed 990 for 2025
- MEDSTAR SOUTHERN MARYLAND HOSPITAL CENTER INC EIN 46-0726303 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ST MARYS HOSPITAL OF ST MARYS COUNTY EIN 52-0619006 · last filed 990 for 2025