GOLD2022

Center of Vision Enhancement

We may lack sight, but we have vision.

aka COVE   |   Merced, CA   |  www.covemerced.org

Mission

COVE's mission is to support people with any level of visual impairment to enhance their quality of life by developing independence through multi-dimensional services and resources.

Ruling year info

2008

Executive Director

Margaret Diane Buchmann-Garcia MA Ed

COVE Board President

Tanya Williams

Main address

1901 G Street

Merced, CA 95340 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

68-0670036

NTEE code info

Blind/Visually Impaired Centers, Services (P86)

Vocational Rehabilitation (includes Job Training and Employment for Disabled and Elderly) (J30)

Single Organization Support (O11)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Summer Youth Program

An intensive program for high school and college students with training in assistive technology and independent living skills. Activities include training in assitive technologies for use in studies and in daily life, independent living skills training, independent travel training, guest presenters, and field trips. This program is a collaborative effort between the Merced county Office of education, the Department of Rehabilitation, and COVE.

Population(s) Served
People with vision impairments
Students

Assessment and training for adults who are blind or have a serious visual impairment seeking employment. Services include Vocational Assessment, Adjustment to Vision Loss sessions, Training in Daily Living Skills, Assistive Technologies, Orientation & Mobility, and Braille. Coaching for On-the-Job training is also provided. This is a collaborative program with the Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the Disability Employment Initiative.

Population(s) Served
People with vision impairments
Adults

Services and Training for adults 55 and older who are dealing with blindness who want to maintain an independent lifestyle. Services include information and referrals, monthly support groups, training in daily living skills, assistive technologies, and independent travel training. Assistive aids and devices are also provided.

Population(s) Served
People with vision impairments
Seniors

Program to connect clients with resources for the blind and visually impaired. train clients in the techniques and strategies for completing daily tasks independently, including independent travel, daily living skills, and the use of assistive aids and technology.

Population(s) Served
People with vision impairments
Adults

Where we work

Awards

Grant Award 2020

United Way

Certified Vendor 2012

Department of Rehabilitation

Grant Award 2016

Title VII-Chapter II OIB

Videos

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Support and train persons with low or no vision to become independent and for those of a working age, employed.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Persons with low or no vision who are aged 14 and above, their family, friends, and caregivers of a diverse race, cultures, and languages.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Case management notes, Community meetings/Town halls, Suggestion box/email,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    Provide additional services and seek resources for persons needing aids to complete daily tasks independently with limited or no sight. Expand employment opportunities and services for our clients.

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,

  • How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?

    We constantly adjust to the needs of our clients and their needs to allow them to be independent and live full lives with little or no sight. Since lifestyles vary, we adjust to meet their needs and are constantly seeking resources.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,

Financials

Center of Vision Enhancement
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Center of Vision Enhancement

Board of directors
as of 08/29/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Tanya Williams

retired Veteran

Term: 2022 - 2024


Board co-chair

Howard Smith

retired Businessman/Veteran

Term: 2011 - 2021

Diane Norton

retired, Norton Insurance

Linda vonMerveldt

reitired school psychologist

Esther Evans

retired businesswoman

Felicia Bogden

instructional assistant

Jeanette Jones

Student

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 8/28/2022
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person with a disability

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person with a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 08/28/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.