BBB Wise Giving Report for
Foundation Fighting Blindness

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: Foundation Fighting Blindness
Address: 7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100
  Columbia, MD 21046
Phone: 800-683-5555
800-683-5551
Web Address: www.blindness.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1971, Maryland
Affiliates: National Neurovision Research Institute, Macular Degeneration International, National Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation
Stated Purpose: "to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher Syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

FFB reports that it currently funds over 150 research studies at 55 institutions worldwide, including 16 dedicated research centers, nine of which are located within ten eye hospitals in the United States. FFB funds research in a program that includes: cell and molecular mechanisms of disease, clinical and pre-clinical study, genetics, gene therapy, cell based therapy, neuroprotective, and nutritional/environmental therapies. FFB has established the National Neurovision Research Institute (NNRI) as a non-profit support subsidiary. NNRI also supports collaborations among the scientific, clinical, governmental, pharmaceutical, and financial communities. The organization also provides information on retinal degenerative diseases to all who request it and hosts symposia and conferences to increase awareness of these diseases.

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

  
Research 15,367,374
Public health education 2,613,879
Total Program Expenses: $17,981,253
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : William Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*:
 $269,053

Chair of the Board: Gordon Gund
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: CEO, Gund Investments

Board Size: 22

Paid Staff Size: 91

*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, telemarketing, special events, print advertisements, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were 20% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $31,924,485, 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 FFB's audited financial statements (consolidated with affiliates) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 19,509,821
Special events (net) 7,918,130
Bequests 2,392,218
Contributed goods and services 1,249,860
Government revenue 689,700
Federated campaigns 164,756
Contract revenue 76,957
Other 42,069
Investment income 23,080
Program service fees 8,750
Total Income $32,075,341


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 68%  Fund Raising: 25%  Administrative: 7% 

Total income   $32,075,341
  Program expenses $17,981,253
  Fund raising expenses 6,434,147
  Administrative expenses 1,743,006
 
Total expenses   $26,158,406
Income in Excess of Expenses   5,916,935
Beginning net assets   18,631,536
Ending net assets   24,548,471
Total liabilities   12,116,159
Total assets   $36,664,630

Note: For the year ended June 30, 2010, FFB had in-kind income in the amount of $1,249,860 which includes PSAs($727,021), legal services ($257,032) special event support ($206,262), and other ($59,545).

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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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