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The Jewish Guild for the Blind
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 131623854 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE P860 · Human Services · Large ($10M-$50M) · lighthouseguild.org
revenue
$10.2M
expenses
$5.8M
net assets
$48.0M
employees
235
volunteers
40
program ratio
75%
mission · from form 990

TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO ATTAIN THEIR GOALS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Lighthouse Guild is a nonprofit organization providing vision care, rehabilitation, and support services for people who are visually impaired. Formed in 2013 through the merger of Jewish Guild Healthcare and Lighthouse International, it offers clinical services, assistive technology training, behavioral health, and educational programs. The organization operates primarily in New York and Florida, with a national outreach through telehealth and technology initiatives.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $310K
    EDUCATION AND RESEARCH SUPPORT: SIXTEEN MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS OF $10,000 EACH WERE AWARDED THIS YEAR TO HELP LEGALLY BLIND STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO COLLEGE OR SUPPORT THEIR POST-GRADUATE EDUCATION, AS WELL AS FACILITATE THEIR CAREER DEVELOPMENT. JEWISH GUILD HEALTHCARE ALSO PRESENTED THE BRESSLER PRIZE IN VISION SCIENCE TO RECOGNIZE A CLINICIAN-SCIENTIST WHOSE LEADERSHIP, RESEARCH AND SERVICE RESULTED IN TRANSLATION OF MEDICAL OR SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE INTO SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR REHABILITATION OF PEOPLE WITH VISION LOSS.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Behavioral Health Services
Specialized psychiatric services including telehealth, with the only multi-disciplinary psychiatric clinic in the U.S. focused on blindness.
Children’s Vision Health Program
First national tele-support group for parents of children with vision loss, providing resources and community support.
GED Support Program
Volunteer-led program assisting visually impaired students in preparing for and taking GED exams, including reading test materials aloud.
Guild Scholar Program
National scholarship program supporting legally blind young adults in transitioning to college, post-graduate education, and career development.
GuildCare Adult Day Health Care Program
Provides comprehensive medical care and daily activities for adults with vision loss in Manhattan, Niagara Falls, Albany, and Buffalo.
Lighthouse Guild Technology Center
The largest premier assistive technology resource in the U.S., offering assessments, training, and access to cutting-edge technology for people who are visually impaired.
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Vision Rehabilitation Services 4 activities
    • Assistive technology training and access
      Operates the Lighthouse Guild Technology Center, the largest premier assistive technology resource in the U.S., offering assessments, training, and access to emerging and basic technologies. Conducts in-person and online workshops on navigation devices such as StellarTrek and map/navigation apps for independent travel.
    • Community forums and peer support for blind and low vision individuals
      Hosts monthly in-person and live online forums where blind and low vision individuals connect, share experiences, and learn about assistive technology in a supportive community setting.
    • Comprehensive healthcare and rehabilitation services
      Operates the Diagnostic Treatment Center providing medical, diabetes, and low vision rehabilitation services, and the first multi-disciplinary psychiatric clinic specializing in blindness in the U.S. Delivered continuous mental health care via telehealth during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Comprehensive support services across the lifespan
      Provides medical, social, academic, and career services, scholarships, and support groups for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, from childhood through adulthood.
  • Adult Day Health Care Programs 1 activity
    • Adult day health care for individuals with vision loss
      Reopened GuildCare Adult Day Health Care program locations in Manhattan, Niagara Falls, Albany, and Buffalo, offering comprehensive medical care and daily activities for adults with vision loss.
  • High School Equivalency Preparation 1 activity
    • Educational support for students with vision loss
      Provides academic services and test-reading accommodations for students pursuing their GED, including reading aloud questions and passages for Language Arts and Social Studies sections. Supports students through graduation, with evidence of four students completing the program and earning diplomas.
  • Parenting Education and Support Programs 1 activity
    • Family support and school preparation programs
      Offers in-person and virtual sessions for families of children with vision loss to prepare for the school year, including guidance on routines, independence, organizing materials, and securing accommodations. Programs are designed to help families start the school year confidently.
  • Accessible Reading Materials Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Individualized reading and personal support services
      Provides weekly one-on-one reading support to elderly individuals who are blind, including reading articles and essays from publications such as the New York Times and New York Review of Books.
  • Home Care Services for Elderly and Disabled 1 activity
    • Long-term care and in-home support services
      Established GuildNet, a managed long-term care program that provided in-home care to thousands of New Yorkers over 18 years.
  • Autism and Neurodiversity Family Support Services 1 activity
    • National tele-support groups
      Launched the first national tele-support group for parents of children with vision loss, providing remote peer support and connection.
  • Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
    • Scholarship program for blind young adults
      Administers the national GuildScholar Program, awarding scholarships to legally blind young adults to support college transition, post-graduate education, and career development.
  • Special Education Day Schools 1 activity
    • Special education school for children with vision loss
      Operates a school providing education and therapeutic services for children aged 5–21 who are blind, visually impaired, or deaf/blind, including those with additional disabilities. Also operates the Elizabeth L. Newman Preschool in Manhattan for children with vision loss and other disabilities.
  • Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
    • Volunteer engagement program
      Engages volunteers who contribute over 16,000 hours of service annually to support individuals with visual impairments across programs.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$10.25M
Contributions & grants$2.68M26%
Program service revenue$2.19M21%
Investment income$5.37M52%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$5.80M
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead25%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$3.82M
Grants paid out$160K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$20.06M
Cash$3.43M
Investments$5.47M
Liabilities$-27.95M
Net assets$48.01M
Liquid reserves18.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -34.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 10
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CALVIN W ROBERTS MD PRESIDENT & CEO 2 $1.31M
PAUL D MISITI CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 0 $555K
MAURA SWEENEY CHIEF PROGRAM & SERVICE OFFICER 7 $512K
LAUREN DOODY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 3 $323K
NICOLE R HART GC & CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER 2 $286K
JAINE M SCHMIDT CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING OFFICER 4 $259K
MD M RAHMAN DIRECTOR OF IT NETWORK INFRA & OPS 2 $252K
CHARLES M CAMPOS DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND REIMBURSEMENT 6 $226K
MELISSA ROSENBAUM CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER (THRU 08/30/2024) 6 $197K
KAREN L BARTH DIRECTOR OF BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION 7 $162K
board members · 8
  • ERIC MAIDENBERG — SECRETARY
  • JAMES M DUBIN — CHAIRMAN
  • LAWRENCE E GOLDSCHMIDT — VICE CHAIR & TREASURER
  • MARIOS DAMIANIDES — ASSISTANT TREASURER
  • PAULINE RAIFF — IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
  • RONALD G WEINER — DEPUTY CHAIR (THRU 12/09/2024)
  • THOMAS G KAHN — DIRECTOR
  • THOMAS S T GIMBEL — DIRECTOR
relationships · 6

Who they work with

  • Adapt Community Network Partner — Provides vision services through a partnership at the Manhattan Preschool Program.
  • Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami School of Medicine Partner — Collaborated with The Guild to complete plans for the Lois Pope Jewish Guild for the Blind Low Vision Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
  • HumanWare Partner — Collaborates with HumanWare to demonstrate the StellarTrek navigation device.
  • Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) Government — Hosted a visit from New York City Mayor Eric L. Adams and MOPD Commissioner Christina Curry at the Lighthouse Guild Technology Center.
  • United Nations Partner — Judith, a former employee, spent much of her career at the United Nations prior to volunteering with Lighthouse Guild.
  • Zoom Partner — Platform used to host live webinars for blind and low vision users.
strategies · 2

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.

  • Integrated Vision and Healthcare Model
    methodology: integrated_care_and_technology
    By integrating vision and healthcare services, the organization improves access and health outcomes for people with vision loss because co-located, multidisciplinary care reduces systemic barriers and enables earlier intervention.
  • Person-Centered Potential Model
    methodology: person-centered_potential
    By framing individuals in terms of their potential rather than disability, the organization fosters resilience and engagement because identity-affirming approaches increase self-efficacy and motivation to pursue independence.