Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

What it reported doing in 2024

Technology program - vista center's technology program, part of safe and healthy living, is leading the way in bringing technology that was once only available to the sighted community to those who are blind or visually impaired. Vista center's access transform and open up new worlds to vista center's clients.technology lab days - the tech lab is a free one-on-one session designed to demonstrate a variety of devices and help with selecting the best option in a supportive setting.technology user group - these free meetings are scheduled once a month in vista center's palo alto and santa cruz offices. Learn from speakers from assistive technology companies and be in the know about what is new.assistive technology training - this is a one-on-one training session at vista center's palo alto office with vista center's technology specialist. Topics include using a personal computer with the latest assistive software including zoomtext, magic, jaws, ms office with assistive technology and internet explorer with assistive technology. Individual instruction on the latest apple ios and android devices is also available.concierge training in your home - vista center offers individualized instruction in client homes, including a personalized assessment of client training needs and equipment, one-on-one instruction on client personal computers using assistive technology software and teaching clients how to use other devices effectively. Vista center will help clients to select applications that suit their needs and offer training on them. Follow-up services are offered to verify that clients have mastered the skills they need.technology for youth - offering opportunities for youth to learn the latest assistive technology and applications, especially those being used in the classroom. Viptuc (visually impaired persons technology users conference) is for those interested in learning about cutting edge technologies being incorporated in a variety of products, especially the latest smart phones and how that technology is being made accessible to those who are blind or visually impaired.community outreach - vista center is committed to communicating its mission and how it can help all individuals in its service area who are experiencing vision loss, through a comprehensive community outreach program.community outreach - includes presentations and educational events targeted to specific groups including: medical referral sources, including mds, ods and medical groupscommunity centers and civic organizationshealth fairssenior residencesvista center open house events and low vision exposcorporate employee presentationsclassroom outreach and education - vista center's teachers provide education and outreach at k-12 schools to educate students about what vision loss is, how they can help someone who has vision loss and what they should do to take care of their own eye health. Students are offered the opportunity to become volunteers to help someone who is blind.paratransit, public transit and intersection consulting municipal traffic departments and public transportation agencies contract with vista center to formally analyze street intersections for pedestrian safety and to make suggestions as to how they can be modified. Vista center also analyzes bus and train embarkation points and advises on how they may be improved. Vista center's orientation and mobility staff participates on county paratransit agency advisory boards to monitor trends and suggest service improvements.professional staff in-services - are offered to cover a variety of topics including an insight into vision loss, the sighted guide experience, essential communication strategies and strategies for coping with significant vision loss. If an entity's staff works with or assists individuals who are blind or visually impaired, vista center can provide the training that is needed to promote a safe and respectful environment.corporate outreach - vista center provides expertise and reso

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 96.4%; rating input score 96
• Program expense ratio: 79.5%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $5.36 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 93.8%; rating input score 94; 24th 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: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -11.7%; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.92; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.22; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.8%; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.5% per year; rating input score 100; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.6% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings