Santa Clara Valley Blind Center Inc

What it reported doing in 2018

The organization is committed to increasing independence, confidence, and quality of life for blind and visually impaired individuals through educational, recreational and rehabilitative programs. See schedule o for more detail.a. Rehabilitation services include individualized/group counseling, peer support, in-home assistance, training with a white cane/dog-guide, daily living skills, medicine management, braille instruction, adaptive technology training, resource access, transportation. Adjustment to vision loss support groups: individual counseling and weekly support and peer sharing groups effectively address the depression, isolation, fear, and anger that accompanies the onset and aid individuals in adapting to progressive vision loss.adapted independent living skills: tailored to each client's specific needs. Adapted techniques for cooking, personal hygiene, home chores, financial management, labeling, etc. Orientation and mobility training: 1:1 training to use a white cane and public transportation. Teaches the skills and confidence to travel safely and independently.access technology training and equipment: instruction in magnification & lighting techniques that enable those with low vision to read newspapers, prescriptions, bills, recipes, tv listings etc. More advanced solutions, are taught when greater magnification or text-to-speech synthesis is needed. Some equipment is available for loan.b. Education services include community outreach, educational meetings, and information and referral. Addresses the strong need that clients express for socialization with their peers, an important element in helping overcome anger and fear as they adjust to losing their sight. Clients learn from, and are inspired by one another, develop social connections, and improve their quality of life. Vision loss counselor-teachers provide the community with information about vision loss, explain our services, train care providers, and participate in health/services fairs. Support for family/friends of the blind is also available.the center maintains an ongoing collection of informational materials and a database of resources to address the broad range of concerns of individuals, and families regarding vision loss. Because access to any information is difficult for the blind, we also collect information on community services, discount programs, food programs, legal aid, housing, disability rights, health services, etc. And render it accessible. Clients can call for information, get information at the weekly client meeting, and/or access information in our reading room/resource library, where they have free use of adapted reading devices and can read or get copies of materials. The weekly client meeting is also a forum through which other service providers may speak to our clients or dispense information. All new clients are given a resource list and a list of free services.opportunities for the blind are also featured in inspirational media.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 55.1%; rating input score 55
• Fundraising efficiency: $25.77 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • 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: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -179.2%; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
• Officer compensation ratio: 26.7%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -15.5% per year; rating input score 0; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -17.4% per year; rating input score 0; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -19.5% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings