BBB Wise Giving Report for
Braille Institute of America

BBB Wise Giving Report issued April 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires April 2013


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Braille Institute of America
Address: 741 North Vermont Avenue
  Los Angeles, CA 90029
Phone: 323-663-1111
800-272-4553
Web Address: www.brailleinstitute.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1929, California
Affiliates: Braille Insitute of America, Inc. Charitable Gift Annuity Fund

Stated Purpose: "to eliminate barriers to a fulfilling life caused by blindness and severe sight loss."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

BI meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

BI offers educational and rehabilitation services including low vision rehabilitation, child development services, youth and career services, braille literacy programs, adjustment to vision loss counseling and independent living programs. BI operates the Southern California Regional Library of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (a service of the Library of Congress). BI's braille publishing unit operates and produces recorded media in audio formats.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, BI's program expenses were:

  
Educational programs and services 13,876,000
Library services 3,012,000
Public education 1,540,000
Braille publishing, net 1,265,000
Total Program Expenses: $19,693,000
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Leslie E. Stocker, Jr., President
Compensation*:
 $298,325

Chair of the Board: Lester M. Sussman
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Managing Director, Resources Audit Solutions, Resources Global

Board Size: 25

Paid Staff Size: 321

*July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 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, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were 12% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $22,535,000, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
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Tax Status

               

This organization 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 BI's audited financial statements (consolidated with affiliate) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Bequests 18,721,000
Investment income 3,819,000
Contributions 3,406,000
State library appropriation 711,000
Trusts 408,000
Rent and miscellaneous 12,000
Total Income $27,077,000


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 78%  Fund Raising: 11%  Administrative: 11% 

Total income   $27,077,000
  Program expenses $19,693,000
  Fund raising expenses 2,697,000
  Administrative expenses 2,662,000
 
Total expenses   $25,052,000
Income in Excess of Expenses   2,025,000
Beginning net assets   125,562,000
Other Changes in Net Assets 5,814,000
Ending net assets   133,401,000
Total liabilities   13,666,000
Total assets   $147,067,000

Note: In the above financial summary, "other changes in net assets" includes realized/unrealized investment gains, net ($8,624,000), change in the value of beneficial interests ($-128,000), change in pension liability ($-773,000), and depreciation ($-1,909).

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An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

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