irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $627EDUCATION & INFORMATION TO VOLUNTEERS: THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES CONTINUING EDUCATION TO A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF BRAILLE TRANSCRIBERS AND TAPE NARRATORS
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Ask An Expert
Technical support forum where members can submit questions and receive guidance from experienced braille professionals.
Braille Formats Certification
Offers a certification exam testing proficiency in Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Transcription, 2016. Requires prior NLS or CNIB certification and includes a graded transcription project.
Free Webinars
Regularly scheduled, no-cost webinars on braille transcription topics, open to all and archived for member access.
Prison Braille Program
Provides incarcerated transcribers with access to training materials, webinars, conference resources, and technical support through mailed or offline-shared content.
Professional Development Conference
Annual in-person conference offering workshops for braille transcribers, teachers of the visually impaired, and accessibility professionals across North America.
Training Bureau
Offers on-site, customized training for braille transcriber teams, including topics like tactile graphics and Braille Formats, delivered by NBA experts at client facilities.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Accessible Reading Materials Production and Distribution 6 activities
- Delivers ongoing education through webinars and eLearning resourcesProduces and maintains a library of live and recorded webinars on braille-related topics, including Braille Formats and Unified English Braille, with free public access to select sessions and member-exclusive access to archived content via a Learning Management System.
- Offers on-site training for braille professionals and institutionsProvides in-person braille training and technical assistance to agencies such as school districts, state programs, and braille production centers to improve local capacity in braille material preparation.
- Produces and distributes instructional publications for braille professionalsCreates and sells print, braille, and digital training materials, including the Braille Formats Study Guide and expert-authored publications based on conference workshops, to support skill development and adherence to current braille standards.
- Provides professional development training for braille transcribersOffers annual in-person and virtual professional development conferences, workshops, and webinars on braille transcription standards, code revisions, production techniques, and assistive technology to enhance the skills of braille professionals nationwide.
- Provides technical support and forums for braille transcribersOperates a technical support forum and distributes technical bulletins to assist braille transcribers with real-time problem-solving and adherence to evolving transcription standards.
- Supports braille training in correctional facilitiesProvides specialized training, publications, webinar access, and member-rate benefits to enrolled prison braille programs through non-internet-based service models, supporting incarcerated transcribers in producing accessible materials.
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Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- Offers certification in Braille FormatsAdministers a certification exam to assess proficiency in current braille transcription standards, issues electronic certificates, and maintains a public list of certified transcribers to validate professional competency.
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Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Provides financial support for braille professionals' educationOffers the Mary Archer Scholarship Fund and educational awards to assist individuals with costs associated with accessing NBA training programs, services, and professional development opportunities.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Publishes a peer-reviewed professional journal on braille transcriptionProduces The Bulletin, a quarterly peer-reviewed journal distributed in PDF and BRF formats to members and prison braille programs, featuring expert articles on braille accessibility, transcription practices, and industry developments.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Recognizes individuals through annual awardsAdministers the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Guiding Light Award for Devotion (G.L.A.D.) to honor individuals who have made exceptional contributions to braille transcription, including with life membership, conference registration, and public recognition.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$1.39M
Contributions & grants$1.22M88%
Program service revenue$35K3%
Investment income$126K9%
Other revenue$11K
expenses
Total expenses$437K
Program expenses50%
Admin / overhead30%
Fundraising20%
Salaries & benefits$198K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$5.77M
Cash$249K
Investments$5.52M
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$5.77M
Liquid reserves158.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -31.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER CLEMENS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EFFEC 11.2025 | 40 | $90K |
| DAVID W SHAFFER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THROUGH 11.2025 | 20 | $87K |
board members · 8
- ANNA WERNER — DIRECTOR
- BETTY MARSHALL — DIRECTOR
- DONALD WINIECKI — DIRECTOR
- JAMES WILLIAMS — DIRECTOR
- JAN CARROLL — DIRECTOR
- KATHLEEN CANTRELL — PRESIDENT ELECT
- MICHAEL GUNNER — DIRECTOR
- PATRICK JANSON — IMMED. PAST PRESIDENT
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Ask An Expert Partner — Online forum where members receive guidance and support from experienced practitioners.
- Board of Directors Partner — Individuals serving in a volunteer leadership capacity for the organization.
- Braille Authority of North America Partner — Relies on Braille Formats guidelines published by BANA as the standard for its certification exam.
- CNIB Foundation Partner — Accepts CNIB Foundation certification as a prerequisite for its Braille Formats certification.
- Margaret 'Meg' Wagner Partner — Fund and award established in honor of Margaret 'Meg' Wagner to recognize devotion in braille transcription work.
- Mary Archer Government — Past President of the National Braille Association and namesake of the Mary Archer Scholarship Fund
- Mary Archer Partner — Fund established in memory of Mary Archer, former NBA President, to support braille transcription education.
- NBA National Office Partner — Acts as the central coordinating body for on-site training requests between agencies and instructors.
- National Library Service Partner — Requires NLS certification in Literary Braille Transcription as a prerequisite for its Braille Formats certification.
- Pinellas Braille Group of Pasadena Florida Partner — Meg Wagner enrolled in a transcriber course with this organization and later mentored transcribers in the region.
- Professional Development Conference Network — Hosts the Lifetime Achievement Award banquet and collaborates with NBA to honor award recipients.
- prison braille program managers Partner — Collaborates with prison braille program managers to deliver training and resources to incarcerated transcribers.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Capacity Building Through Volunteer Educationmethodology: capacity_building_through_volunteer_educationBy training braille transcribers and supporting their professional development, the organization increases the quantity and quality of braille materials available to individuals who are visually impaired, because skilled volunteers are essential for scalable, accurate braille production.
- Decentralized Service Delivery via Organizational and Community Partnershipsmethodology: decentralized_service_deliveryBy embedding braille training and support within local organizations, prisons, and community networks, the organization expands access to braille services in diverse and underserved settings, because localized implementation increases reach and sustainability without requiring centralized delivery.
- Scholarship and Recognition as Sustained Engagement Toolsmethodology: recognition_and_scholarship_modelBy honoring long-term contributors and funding education through memorial scholarships, the organization reinforces commitment among braille transcribers and encourages continued participation, because recognition and legacy-based investment strengthen motivation and retention in volunteer-intensive fields.