Better Business Bureau Report for
Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired

Better Business Bureau Report issued June 2011
Better Business Bureau Report expires June 2013


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Address: 2045 Gilbert Avenue
  Cincinnati , OH 45202
Phone: (513) 221-8558
(888) 687-3935
Web Address: www.cincyblind.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1911, Ohio
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: Offering blind and visually impaired people the opportunity to seek independence.

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BBB Accreditation

              

A BBB Accredited Charity since 05/25/2011.

BBB has determined that in addition to meeting BBB's 20 Standards for Charity Accountability, Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired adheres to the BBB Code of Business Practices, which includes a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any complaints.  Charities that display the BBB Accredited Charity Seal pay a fee for review / monitoring and for support of BBB's services to the public. 

BBB accreditation does not mean that the charity's programs or services have been evaluated or endorsed by BBB or that BBB has made a determination as to the charity's competency in performing services.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) offers comprehensive services for people with vision loss at any age.  According to the charity, in 2009, CABVI served 4,122 through its program services.

Social Service Program offers assessment of needs and planning for services as well as counseling, information, and support groups to help in the emotional adjustment to vision lost.

The Low Vision Service Program provides clinical evaluation by a low vision optometrist and instruction in the use of prescribed low vision aids by certified low vision specialists.

Computer Access Service Program offers instruction in adaptive computer skills and use of access technology, including synthetic speech, large print, and Braille devices to help people who are blind or visually impaired participate in school, work, and the community.

Early Childhood and Youth Services Program help parents of young children who are blind or visually impaired learn about their child’s eye condition and how to help their child adapt and develop. The program also provides music therapy, orientation and mobility instruction, and consultation with teachers and other service provides.

Orientation and Mobility Service Program provides instruction in how to travel safely and independently, including the use of a white cane, public transportation systems, and gathering information through the use of the other senses.  Rehabilitation Teaching Service Program provides instruction in independent living skills including communication (Braille, typing), home management (cooking, cleaning, etc.), and personal management (grooming, money identification).

Radio Reading Services Program provides access to current information for people who are print-impaired through WRRS broadcasts, personal readers, and personalized talking print (a telephone information retrieval system).  Talking Book Machine Service Program distributes Library of Congress tape players to allow people who are blind, visually impaired, and print impaired to read recorded books and magazines for the National Library Service.

Volunteer Services Program provide volunteers who read printed materials in homes, offices, schools, or senior facilities, visit and provide companionship, and/or serve as sighted guides for outings.

Industries Program employs people who are blind or visually impaired in a variety of positions, including assembly, packaging, and converting machine operation.

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For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired's program expenses were:

Rehabilitation and Social Services 2,622,037
Industries Program 1,601,823
Base Supply Center 632,443
Broadcast and Other Information Services 305,584
Total Program Expenses: $5,161,887

 

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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Mr. John H. Mitchell, Executive Director
Compensation*:
$156,506

Chair of the Board: Dr. Michael Lichstein, Ph.D.
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Clinical Psychologist

Board Size: 29

Paid Staff Size: 132

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

direct mail appeals, invitations to fundraising events, print advertisements, television appeals, radio appeals, grant proposals, Internet, planned giving arrangements
Fundraising costs were 12% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,184,246, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
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Tax Status

              

This charity is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
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Financial

              

The following information is based on Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Gross Profit Industry Sales 3,476,970
Return on Investments 1,534,229
Gross Profit Base Supply Sales 1,133,147
Grants, Contributions, and Special Events, Net 535,103
Government Agency Fees 454,260
United Way 308,946
Bequests 303,597
Change in Value of Perpetual Trusts 71,922
Donated Facilities 36,600
Client Fees 18,888
Gross Profit from Rehab Aid Sales 7,374
Miscellaneous 5,668
Total Income $7,886,704


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 80%  Fund Raising: 2%  Administrative: 18% 

Total income   $7,886,704
  Program expenses $5,161,887
  Fund raising expenses 141,298
  Administrative expenses 1,173,509
 
Total expenses   $6,476,694
Income in Excess of Expenses   1,410,010
Beginning net assets   16,898,175
Ending net assets   18,308,185
Total liabilities   1,511,779
Total assets   $19,819,964


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