The Sight Center of Northwest Pennsylvania

What it reported doing in 2024

Prevention of blindness: research confirms that 25% of children enter kindergarten with a visual condition that impedes learning. As part of our mission to prevent blindness, the center provided 1,576 pediatric vision screenings and 923 youth were educated in pre-schools, child-care centers and kindergarten registration events in our seven-county service area from july 1, 2024 through june 30, 2025. Roughly 8% of children screened failed the screenings and were referred for follow-up with an eye care professional. Parents/guardians of all children who failed screenings were contacted with a call and a referral letter and then again at 30,60 and 90 days to support eye health literacy for parents and post-screening to ensure care was provided to the child. This sight center referral rate matches the national benchmarks of 6-8%.in support of its mission to prevent blindness, in 2017 the sight center implemented the national diabetes prevention program (ndpp) created and sponsored by the national centers for disease control and prevention (cdc). Diabetes is the leading cause of severe and permanent vision loss in working-age adults. By preventing or delaying the on-set of type 2 diabetes, we prevent or delay diabetes-related damage to the eyes. The center received and maintained full national cdc recognition for this program for ten data submisson cycles between 2017 and 2021. Full-plus recognition was awarded in 2022 and continues through 2027 making the center's program one of only a handful in the nation with that designation. With continued quality compliance, this standing remains in effect until 2027 when a re-evaluation will take place. Program participants successfully graduate with weight loss at or in excess of the prescribed 5-7% and increase their exercise to a minimum of 150 minutes per week. Participation continues to grow each year, along with additional program partnerships and insurance providers. This helps the sight center administer the program to additional high-risk individuals, diverse populations, and outlying communities. New endeavors include: recognized by the cdc as a national leader in lasting lifestyle change interventions (may 2025), and reaching beyond national program standards of excellence, the sight center established monthly national dpp program graduate support group meetings - because positive lifestyle change is for a lifetime.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 72.6%; rating input score 73
• Program expense ratio: 69.2%; rating input score 69
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.48 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 29; 29th 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: 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: 5%; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.52; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11.6%; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.1% per year; rating input score 100; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -2.1% per year; rating input score 0; 12th percentile among comparable filings