Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Blinded Veterans Association
Address:	477 H Street NW
	Washington, DC 20001
Phone:	202-371-8880 800-669-7079
Web Address:	www.bva.org

Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

BVA operates a field service program comprised of blinded veterans who travel around the United States finding and counseling blinded veterans and their families. These field service representatives encourage veterans to take charge of their lives, link veterans with services, medical and rehabilitation training, job training and placement, and other benefits. The organization reports that it produces a BVA Bulletin which is offered free of charge to blinded veterans. The BVA Bulletin is a quarterly publication through which blinded veterans and their families keep in touch and stay informed about services, benefits, and legislative updates. Furthermore, through funding from the Kathern F. Guber Scholarship program, BVA annually awards scholarships to spouses and dependent children of blinded veterans. The organization's regional offices offer blinded veterans and their families opportunities for recreation, social activities, and support groups. Some ($973,426 or 26%) of BVA's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, BVA's program expenses were:

Education	2,520,005
Field service programs	1,252,152
Total Program Expenses:	$3,772,157

Chief Executive : Thomas H. Miller, Executive Director

Compensation*:

$115,076

Chair of the Board: Samuel L. Huhn
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired

Board Size: 11

Paid Staff Size: 31

*2010 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, Internet appeals, and grant proposals.

Fund raising costs were 23% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $5,957,958, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

BVA incurred joint costs of $2,010,951 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $982,453 was allocated to fund raising expenses, $973,426 was allocated to program expenses, and $55,072 was allocated to administrative expenses.

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.

The following information is based on BVA's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Source of Funds
Contributions	5,957,958
Investment return	960,924
Other	276,219
Total Income	$7,195,101

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 72%  Fund Raising: 26%  Administrative: 2%

Total income				$7,195,101
	Program expenses			$3,772,157
	Fund raising expenses			1,341,101
	Administrative expenses			101,412
Total expenses				$5,214,670
Income in Excess of Expenses				1,980,431
Beginning net assets				7,947,530
Ending net assets				9,927,961
Total liabilities				268,799
Total assets				$10,196,760

Note: According to BVA's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, the organization received in-kind contributions in the amount of $791,065 for donated air time.