The Center for the Partially Sighted

What it reported doing in 2014

The Center for the Partially Sighted helps visually impaired people of all ages lead independent and satisfying lives. We do this by enhancing their remaining sight and providing emotional support and independent living strategies. We offer optometric care, the latest in computer and assistive technology, individual and group counseling sessions, independent living skills training, a low vision store, and a variety of psychosocial services including information and referral, case management and family support.To reach more people throughout Los Angeles County, we have offices in Tarzana, Eagle Rock, Torrance and Culver City. Each year, we serve 2,100 individuals ages 3 months and upwards. No one is turned away because of lack of finances and services are available in English and Spanish.The Center for the Partially Sighted remains a leader in low vision education. We have expanded our internship program to include Occupational Therapy, Social Work interns, and rehabilitation training. We continue to be a primary training site for interns in their final year at the Southern California College of Optometry and we maintain full accreditation by the American Optometric Association for our Low Vision Optometric Residency Program. Recently, we re-introduced our continuing education program for optometrists. It has become one of our most popular education and outreach efforts.We have partnered with the Los Angeles American Diabetes Association and the California Optometric Association to educate people with diabetes and provide them with free vision services. CentraSight, manufacturers of the Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT), has named us a "Center of Excellence" and enlisted us to assist in evaluating and training candidates for the IMT. We are also partners with Indiana University in a 5-year NEI sponsored grant to research street-crossing decision making in people who are visually impaired. This research will in shape interventions to train visually impaired individuals to travel more safely within their communities.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 86.2%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.97 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -16.2%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.27; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.71; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.4%; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.2% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.7% per year; rating input score 100; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.3% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings