Research To Prevent Blindness Inc
Research To Prevent Blindness Inc experiences volatile revenue and consistent expense overruns, maintaining assets through prior surpluses.
EIN: 131945117 · New York, NY · NTEE: H410 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Research To Prevent Blindness Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Research To Prevent Blindness Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Research To Prevent Blindness Inc
Research To Prevent Blindness Inc (EIN: 131945117) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code H410. The organization reported total revenue of $6.9M and total assets of $27.3M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Research To Prevent Blindness Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Research To Prevent Blindness Inc with a Mission Score of 70 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Research To Prevent Blindness Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with $26 million in assets, suggesting executive compensation may be reported under other categories or is exceptionally low, warranting further scrutiny.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Research To Prevent Blindness Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant revenue volatility (e.g., $16.4M in 2022 to $4.8M in 2023)
- Expenses frequently exceed revenue in recent years (e.g., 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015)
- Consistent 0% reported officer compensation, which is atypical for an organization of this size and asset base.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Research To Prevent Blindness Inc:
- Strong asset base ($27.3M latest, $26.3M in 2023) providing financial stability.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating consistent compliance.
- Mission-focused NTEE code (H410 - Medical Research) aligns with its name.
Frequently Asked Questions about Research To Prevent Blindness Inc
Is Research To Prevent Blindness Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Research To Prevent Blindness Inc (EIN: 131945117) some concerns. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Research To Prevent Blindness Inc spend its money?
Research To Prevent Blindness Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Research To Prevent Blindness Inc tax-deductible?
Research To Prevent Blindness Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131945117). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Research To Prevent Blindness Inc financially sustainable given recent revenue volatility?
The organization's revenue has fluctuated significantly, from $16.4 million in 2022 to $4.8 million in 2023, while expenses have remained relatively stable. This suggests a potential reliance on investment returns or endowment drawdowns to cover operational costs, raising questions about long-term sustainability if fundraising or investment income remains inconsistent.
How does Research To Prevent Blindness Inc manage to cover expenses when revenue is lower?
In periods where expenses exceed revenue, such as 2023 ($6.6M expenses vs. $4.8M revenue), the organization likely draws from its accumulated assets or investment income. Its substantial asset base of $26.3 million provides a buffer, but consistent deficits could erode this over time.
What is the true executive compensation given the 0% reported officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. It suggests that executive salaries might be categorized differently (e.g., as program or administrative staff salaries) or that the organization relies heavily on volunteer leadership, which would require deeper investigation into their full compensation disclosures.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Research To Prevent Blindness Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Research To Prevent Blindness Inc's revenue has grown by 55.9%, moving from $3.1M to $4.9M. Total assets increased by 63.7% over the same period, from $16.1M to $26.3M. Total functional expenses rose by 56.8%, from $4.2M to $6.7M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Research To Prevent Blindness Inc reported a deficit of $1.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $11.0M in liabilities against $26.3M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 41.7%), resulting in net assets of $15.3M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $4.9M | $6.7M | $26.3M | $11.0M | — | — |
| 2022 | $16.4M | $5.8M | $25.3M | $9.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $4.4M | $6.4M | $24.5M | $15.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $4.8M | $5.1M | $25.1M | $14.9M | — | — |
| 2019 | $4.5M | $5.3M | $22.8M | $13.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $5.4M | $4.0M | $19.5M | $10.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $2.6M | $4.9M | $17.7M | $9.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $3.3M | $4.4M | $15.7M | $5.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $2.1M | $4.4M | $12.9M | $1.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $7.0M | $5.3M | $14.9M | $798K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $2.5M | $5.1M | $12.4M | $85K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $3.3M | $4.1M | $15.5M | $72K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $3.1M | $4.2M | $16.1M | $35K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $4.9M, expenses of $6.7M, and assets of $26.3M (revenue -70.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $16.4M, expenses of $5.8M, and assets of $25.3M (revenue +270.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $4.4M, expenses of $6.4M, and assets of $24.5M (revenue -7.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $25.1M (revenue +6.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $4.5M, expenses of $5.3M, and assets of $22.8M (revenue -15.9% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $5.4M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $19.5M (revenue +107.7% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $4.9M, and assets of $17.7M (revenue -21.8% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $15.7M (revenue +56.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $12.9M (revenue -70.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $7.0M, expenses of $5.3M, and assets of $14.9M (revenue +184.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $12.4M (revenue -23.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $3.3M, expenses of $4.1M, and assets of $15.5M (revenue +4.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $3.1M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $16.1M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Research To Prevent Blindness Inc is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.