SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA INC

Financials

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 September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

337 BUSINESS CIRCLE, PELHAM, AL 35124-1772

In care of

% WARREN C MATTHEWS

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

DAWN DECARLO, 337 BUSINESS CIRCLE, PELHAM, AL 35124

Signed the 990

DAWN DECARLO, PRESIDENT

Phone

(205) 942-2627

Website

WWW.SIGHTSAVERSAMERICA.ORG

Return prepared by

HALEY & WOODS LLP

Mission

TO IDENTIFY AND SECURE TREATMENT FOR UNMET VISION AND HEALTH NEEDS THAT IMPEDE A INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.

Program accomplishments

• SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA (SSA) IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IDENTIFYING AND SECURING ESSENTIAL EYE CARE NEEDS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, FROM A CHILD'S FIRST PAIR OF EYEGLASSES TO EXTENSIVE SIGHT-SAVING TREATMENT AND HIGH-TECH VISION AIDS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. SERVING 16 STATES, SSA FULFILLS ITS MISSION THROUGH THREE CORE PROGRAMS: THE EYE CARE PROGRAM, LOW VISION & BLINDNESS PROGRAM, AND SCREENING PROGRAM. SSA OPERATES WITH A BOARD OF TRUSTEES, A STAFF OF 40, AND A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF MORE THAN 1,300 EYE CARE PROFESSIONALS WHO OFTEN DISCOUNT OR DONATE SERVICES TO SUPPORT SSA PROGRAMS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, STATE AGENCIES, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, SSA REDUCES HEALTH DISPARITIES BY ENSURING INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL VISION SERVICES, TREATMENTS, AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.THE EYE CARE PROGRAM IDENTIFIES AND ADDRESSES UNMET EYE CARE NEEDS AMONG CHILDREN FOLLOWING FAILED SCHOOL VISION SCREENINGS OR REFERRALS FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SCHOOL STAFF, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS. ONCE REFERRED, EACH CHILD RECEIVES INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE ACCESS TO A DILATED EYE EXAM AND ALL RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS. APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 4 CHILDREN IN THE U.S. ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE SOME FORM OF VISION PROBLEM, AND VISION DISORDERS ARE AMONG THE MOST PREVALENT DISABLING CHILDHOOD CONDITIONS, IMPACTING DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.SSA'S NATIONAL FOLLOW-UP EYE CARE MODEL WORKS WITH FAMILIES INDIVIDUALLY TO CONNECT CHILDREN WITH A LOCAL EYE CARE PROVIDER FOR AN INITIAL EXAM AND ONGOING CARE THROUGH THEIR 19TH BIRTHDAY. EACH CHILD IS ASSIGNED A CASE SPECIALIST WHO MANAGES THE ENTIRE PROCESS, INCLUDING COMMUNICATING SCREENING RESULTS, EDUCATING FAMILIES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ONGOING EYE CARE, SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS, PROVIDING REMINDERS, ARRANGING TRANSPORTATION WHEN NEEDED, AND COORDINATING PRESCRIBED TREATMENTS. TREATMENTS MAY INCLUDE PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES, AMBLYOPIA TREATMENT, MEDICATIONS, VISION THERAPY, ONGOING CARE, AND SURGERIES. ALL PROGRAM ACTIVITY IS DOCUMENTED IN SSA'S PROPRIETARY DATABASE, ALLOWING SSA TO TRACK OUTCOMES, SUPPORT RETURNING FAMILIES, AND PROVIDE DETAILED REPORTING TO FUNDERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. INSURANCE COVERAGE IS UTILIZED WHEN APPLICABLE, AND SERVICES NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE ARE DONATED OR PAID BY SSA. CASE SPECIALISTS ALSO ASSIST UNINSURED FAMILIES WITH APPLICATIONS FOR THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP). SSA COLLABORATES WITH STATE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP EYE CARE THROUGH STATEWIDE VISION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ALABAMA'S PROGRAM SERVING ALL KINDERGARTEN, SECOND, AND FOURTH-GRADE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS; MISSISSIPPI'S PROGRAM SERVING ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL KINDERGARTNERS; AND SOUTH CAROLINA'S PROGRAM SUPPORTING PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN STATEWIDE. TO DATE, APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HELPED THROUGH THE EYE CARE PROGRAM IN ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, GEORGIA, TEXAS, AND NORTH CAROLINA. DURING THE 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR, 44,186 CHILDREN RECEIVED THESE SERVICES.THE LOW VISION & BLINDNESS PROGRAM SUPPORTS CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SEVERE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT OR BLINDNESS BY PROVIDING HIGH-TECH VISUAL ASSISTIVE DEVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH A DOCUMENTED MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL NEED. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO MAXIMIZE REMAINING VISION, INCREASE FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES, AND IMPROVE INDEPENDENCE. INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW VISION OR BLINDNESS OFTEN FACE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WITH DAILY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS READING, WRITING, TRAVELING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. THESE DEVICES ARE ESSENTIAL BUT ARE NOT COVERED BY MEDICAL INSURANCE AND ARE COST-PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY FAMILIES. SSA WORKS WITH TEACHERS OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, LOW VISION SPECIALISTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, STATE AGENCIES, AND OTHER PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY. EACH RECIPIENT RECEIVES INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT AND MUST HAVE A RECENT EVALUATION FROM A LOW VISION SPECIALIST WHO RECOMMENDS THE MOST APPROPRIATE DEVICE. SSA PROVIDES A RANGE OF HIGH-TECH AND OPTICAL AIDS, INCLUDING VIDEO MAGNIFIERS, REFRESHABLE BRAILLE DISPLAYS, OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-ENABLED DEVICES, MONOCULARS, DOME MAGNIFIERS, AND BIOPTICS.SSA PARTNERS WITH MANUFACTURERS TO LEVERAGE SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNTS AND IN-KIND EQUIPMENT DONATIONS, ALLOWING MORE INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE THESE LIFE-CHANGING DEVICES. LOCAL CLINICS PROVIDE HANDS-ON TRAINING FOR RECIPIENTS AND CAREGIVERS, WITH ADDITIONAL HOME TRAINING AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE WHEN NEEDED. THESE TECHNOLOGIES ALLOW STUDENTS TO BETTER ACCESS EDUCATION, ADULTS TO PURSUE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND OLDER ADULTS TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE AND AGE IN PLACE.HIGH-TECH VISION AND BLINDNESS AIDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO OVER 4,000 RECIPIENTS ACROSS 16 STATES (ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, MISSISSIPPI, TEXAS, GEORGIA, TENNESSEE, CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS, FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, HAWAII, ALASKA, OHIO, SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND NEW YORK). SSA HAS ELIMINATED THE BACKLOG OF CHILDREN WAITING FOR EQUIPMENT ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATES OF ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, AND HAWAII, AS WELL AS IN LARGE AREAS OF TEXAS, METRO ATLANTA, AND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE. ONCE A REGION REACHES THE MAINTENANCE PHASE, SSA CONTINUES SERVING NEWLY DIAGNOSED CHILDREN, CHILDREN WHO MOVE INTO THE AREA, AND THOSE WHO AGE INTO THE PROGRAM, WHILE EXPANDING SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS WHERE APPROPRIATE. DURING THE 2024/25 YEAR, 484 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED 452 HIGH-TECH VISION AND BLINDNESS AIDS AND 87 OPTICAL DEVICES.THE SCREENING PROGRAM WORKS WITH UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE ANNUAL VISION AND HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR PREK-12 STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL VISION AND HEALTH CONCERNS AND CONNECTS CHILDREN WITH APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-UP CARE. VISION SCREENINGS IN ALABAMA, GEORGIA, MISSISSIPPI, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TEXAS ARE CONDUCTED USING STATE-OF-THE-ART PHOTOREFRACTOR TECHNOLOGY, A NON-INVASIVE DEVICE THAT CAPTURES REFRACTION DATA IN LESS THAN ONE SECOND, MINIMIZING CLASSROOM DISRUPTION. APPROXIMATELY 25% OF CHILDREN SCREENED REQUIRE A COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAM AND ARE REFERRED TO THE EYE CARE PROGRAM FOR FOLLOW-UP WITHIN ONE DAY.SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION, MORE THAN 206,000 CHILDREN HAVE RECEIVED VISION SCREENINGS. DURING THE 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR, 25,453 CHILDREN WERE VISION SCREENED AND 8,992 WERE REFERRED FOR COMPREHENSIVE FOLLOW-UP. IN ADDITION TO VISION SCREENINGS, SSA PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR PRESCHOOL THROUGH 12TH-GRADE STUDENTS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS OF ALABAMA. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL NURSING SCHOOLS, SCREENINGS IDENTIFY UNDIAGNOSED AND UNMET MEDICAL CONCERNS THROUGH ASSESSMENTS THAT INCLUDE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT, CHEST AND ABDOMEN EXAMINATIONS, SKIN AND MUSCULOSKELETAL EVALUATIONS, EYES, EARS, NOSE AND THROAT EXAMINATIONS, DENTAL SCREENINGS, VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGS, GLUCOSE TESTING, VITAL SIGNS, SCOLIOSIS SCREENING, AND CHOLESTEROL TESTING. RESULTS ARE PROMPTLY SHARED WITH FAMILIES AND SCHOOL NURSES. URGENT MEDICAL CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED ONSITE, WHILE NON-URGENT ISSUES ARE COORDINATED WITH SCHOOL NURSES FOR FOLLOW-UP. SSA ALSO PROVIDES HEALTH EDUCATION MATERIALS FOCUSED ON VISION, DENTAL HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND EXERCISE. SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION, MORE THAN 224,000 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SCREENED, AND DURING THE 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR, 14,409 CHILDREN RECEIVED HEALTH SCREENINGS ACROSS 14 ALABAMA COUNTIES.
  Expenses $4,273,371 · revenue $2,541,729

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 September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

30-0188234

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

2003

Accounting year ends

September

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Health care (E99)

Assets (IRS master file)

$2,412,986

Income (IRS master file)

$4,911,990

Filing history

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 30-0188234).

Questions about SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA INC

What is the EIN of SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA INC?

The employer identification number (EIN) of SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA INC is 30-0188234.

Is SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA INC tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2003.

Are donations to SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA INC tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA 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 SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA INC due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA INC last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.

Who is the principal officer of SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA INC?

The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names DAWN DECARLO.

Who are the officers and directors of SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA INC?

The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 14 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $202,754 (DAWN DECARLO OD MS MSPH, CEO).

How much revenue does SIGHT SAVERS AMERICA INC have?

On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $4,870,267, expenses of $4,852,260 and total assets of $2,412,986 at year end.

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