Blinded Veterans Association

What it reported doing in 2024

Public education and communicationthe bva bulletin sits at the heart of all bva national communications and public relations efforts. This is a quarterly periodical sent to all bva members, their families, libraries, health care institutions, veteran service organizations, and va blind rehabilitation service providers for whom the organization has updated contact information. The bulletin educates on past and present issues and events relating specifically, to blinded veterans. It covers general topics about veterans as well as general topics about blindness (i.e. Technology, social issues, etc.). Additionally, bva uses one major trifold brochure to share its message to the organization's stakeholders. Average circulation of these communications resources, in all requisite formats, for this fiscal year alone, exceeded tens of thousands produced and distributed. The bva website received on average 35,000 unique visitors and 93,000 page views during this fiscal year. Most visits originated through the google search engine and 57% of all users were new compared to 47% during the preceding timeframe. The bva website is constantly evolving in an ongoing effort to increase accessibility and assist in fulfilling the organization's mission. Bva maintains social media accounts on major sites such as facebook, x, linkedin, instagram, and youtube. Bva currently commands a social media audience of over 18,000 followers. Bva uses social media in an effort to educate and advocate to its followers about the organization's activities, legislative news, and issues facing blinded veterans and their families. Social media fosters collaboration with partner organizations and educates bva followers about the helpful resources available. Bva's monthly e-newsletter campaign informs thousands of supporters, donors, and members about recent bva activities while providing a digest of monthly news shared on social media. Bva allocates a portion of its direct marketing expenses to public education, and management and general funds according to aicpa statement of position 982 (sop 982). Accounting for costs of activities of not-for-profit organizations and state and local governmental entities that include fundraising, now codified in fasb accounting standards codification 958-720, not-for-profit entities other expenses (asc 958-720). Bva undertakes a preliminary analysis of its activities to determine if the purpose, audience, and content criteria are met, and, if so, applies a systematic and rational joint cost allocation methodology. Bva makes its financial information available to the general public and watchdog agencies. Bva adheres to the requirements set forth by the combined federal campaign (#10513), the better business bureau wise giving alliance, and guidestar.org. Bva is proud to display its seal awarded by the better business bureau (bbb) as an accredited charity. Bva hosts an annual convention each august in conjunction with the department of veteran's affairs blind rehabilitation services annual conference. This allows direct interaction between leaders and members of both organizations, exposure to the latest rehabilitation technology, policies, research, and fosters collaboration on behalf of all blinded and visually impaired veterans. During each annual convention, bva presents awards to honor outstanding achievements. A blinded veteran with proven outstanding employment performance and adjustment to daily living receives the major general melvin j. Maas achievement award. A volunteer receives the david l. Schnair award for outstanding contribution to the bva volunteer program. A bva member who provides the most outstanding contribution to the growth and development of his/her regional group receives the irving diener award. Certificates of appreciation are awarded to individuals, groups, and employers who provided outstanding services to blinded veterans and/or to bva at the national level. The annual convention provides education sessi

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 52.5%; rating input score 52
• Program expense ratio: 55.5%; rating input score 56
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.59 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 41.6%; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 9.49; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.7%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -14.6% per year; rating input score 0; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -8.4% per year; rating input score 0; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.2% per year; rating input score 100; 20th percentile among comparable filings