Braille Circulating Library for the Blind Inc.

Strengthening Hearts and Minds Through Braille

aka Braille Circulating Library for the Blind Inc. | Richmond, VA | www.braillecirculatinglibrary.org

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GuideStar Charity Check

EIN: 54-0585900

Contributions tax deductible
as of March 2023

IRS BMF 509(a)(1)
as of March 13, 2023

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Charity Check report

Mission

To provide Christian and Inspirational literature at no cost in formats accessible to individuals who are blind, vision-impaired and print- and physically-disabled.

Ruling year info

1955

Executive Director

K Robinson

Main address

2700 Stuart Avenue

Richmond, VA 23220 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

54-0585900

Subject area info

Archives and special collections

Protestantism

Evangelicalism

Unknown or not classified

Libraries

Population served info

People with physical disabilities

People with vision impairments

NTEE code info

Libraries, Library Science (B70)

IRS subsection

501(c)(3) Public Charity

IRS filing requirement

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

Tax forms

Show Forms 990

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

This profile needs more info.

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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?

Library Loans

Braille and Talking books are provided to individuals who are blind or print-disabled, or otherwise disabled. Materials loaned are from a unique collection of Christian and inspirational authors and speakers and are meant to uplift and encourage.
Loans are for a period of six weeks with the possibility of renewal. These include braille, large print and cassette formats. Membership is free of charge and all material is mailed at no cost through the Unites States Postal Service.

Currently, the Library serves patrons across the United States and in Canada.

Population(s) Served

People with vision impairments

People with other disabilities

Monthly Mailing

Monthly devotionals from Our Daily Bread Ministries are recorded onto cassette tapes then mailed to a standing list of patrons in 15 states and provinces. Tapes are comprised of a devotional for each day of the month.

Population(s) Served

People with vision impairments

People with other disabilities

Online Library Extension

The site, https://braillecirculatinglibrary.org, serves as an online extension of Braille Circulating Library, making the Library accessible to a global population around the clock.

This site was designed for ease of use by those with specialized navigational software for the blind and vision impaired. Library catalog information and links to information relevant to the blind are accessible from this site. In addition, an online audio library offers material in MP3 format. Registration is required to use this audio service.

Population(s) Served

People with vision impairments

People with other disabilities

Where we work

External reviews

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.

We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.

We shared information about our current feedback practices.

Who are the people you serve with your mission?

Blind, visually impaired and print and physically disabled individuals, and their families.
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 inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
What significant change resulted from feedback?

In response to information gathered, the Library added a digital library to its services.
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

Not all of the methods of communication needed are easily accessible.

Financials

Braille Circulating Library for the Blind Inc.

Fiscal year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

Financial documents

Revenue vs. expenses: breakdown

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

NET GAIN/LOSS: in

Note: When component data are not available, the graph displays the total Revenue and/or Expense values.

Financial data

Source: IRS Form 990

Digitizing IRS form 990 data

Braille Circulating Library for the Blind Inc.

Revenue & expenses

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Fiscal year ending: Download Data

Revenue
Contributions	$54,263
Program Services	$0
Investments	$93
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$54,356

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$41,400
Professional Fees	$0
Occupancy	$22,155
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$0
Other Expenses	$9,738
Total Expenses	$73,293
Net Gain/Loss	($18,937)

Revenue
Contributions	$89,814
Program Services	$0
Investments	$93
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$89,907

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$43,200
Professional Fees	$0
Occupancy	$20,805
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$0
Other Expenses	$15,429
Total Expenses	$79,434
Net Gain/Loss	$10,473

Revenue
Contributions	$56,441
Program Services	$0
Investments	$99
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$56,540

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$43,200
Professional Fees	$0
Occupancy	$19,600
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$1,561
Other Expenses	$10,322
Total Expenses	$74,683
Net Gain/Loss	($18,143)

Revenue
Contributions	$49,406
Program Services	$0
Investments	$18
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$49,424

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$21,600
Professional Fees	$0
Occupancy	$18,177
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$1,338
Other Expenses	$10,412
Total Expenses	$51,527
Net Gain/Loss	($2,103)

Revenue
Contributions	$139,201
Program Services	$0
Investments	$1,004
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$21
Total Revenue	$140,226

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$0
Professional Fees	$200
Occupancy	$21,934
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$172
Other Expenses	$26,651
Total Expenses	$48,957
Net Gain/Loss	$91,269

Revenue
Contributions	$39,656
Program Services	$0
Investments	$2,513
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$4
Total Revenue	$42,173

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$0
Professional Fees	$0
Occupancy	$14,492
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$100
Other Expenses	$18,363
Total Expenses	$32,955
Net Gain/Loss	$9,218

Revenue
Contributions	$34,698
Program Services	$0
Investments	$2,445
Special Events	$0
Sales	($1,432)
Other	$277
Total Revenue	$35,988

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$0
Professional Fees	$2,065
Occupancy	$13,320
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$579
Other Expenses	$28,462
Total Expenses	$44,426
Net Gain/Loss	($8,438)

Braille Circulating Library for the Blind Inc.

Balance sheet

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.

Fiscal year ending: Download Data

Assets	Jan 01, 2013	Dec 31, 2013	Change
Contributions	$54,263
Cash & Equivalents	$32,047	$26,717	($5,330)
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$85,785	$75,471	($10,314)
Other	$1,366	$190	($1,176)
Total Assets	$119,198	$102,378	($16,820)

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2013	Dec 31, 2013	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$0	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2013	Dec 31, 2013	Change
Net Assets	$119,198	$102,378	($16,820)

Assets	Jan 01, 2014	Dec 31, 2014	Change
Contributions	$89,814
Cash & Equivalents	$26,717	$45,668	$18,951
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$75,471	$67,161	($8,310)
Other	$190	$823	$633
Total Assets	$102,378	$113,652	$11,274

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2014	Dec 31, 2014	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$0	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2014	Dec 31, 2014	Change
Net Assets	$102,378	$113,652	$11,274

Assets	Jan 01, 2015	Dec 31, 2015	Change
Contributions	$56,441
Cash & Equivalents	$45,668	$23,516	($22,152)
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$67,161	$71,253	$4,092
Other	$823	$581	($242)
Total Assets	$113,652	$95,350	($18,302)

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2015	Dec 31, 2015	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$0	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2015	Dec 31, 2015	Change
Net Assets	$113,652	$95,350	($18,302)

Assets	Jan 01, 2016	Dec 31, 2016	Change
Contributions	$49,406
Cash & Equivalents	$23,516	$28,698	$5,182
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$71,253	$64,344	($6,909)
Other	$581	$424	($157)
Total Assets	$95,350	$93,466	($1,884)

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2016	Dec 31, 2016	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$0	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2016	Dec 31, 2016	Change
Net Assets	$95,350	$93,466	($1,884)

Assets	Jan 01, 2017	Dec 31, 2017	Change
Contributions	$139,201
Cash & Equivalents	$28,698	$124,459	$95,761
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$64,344	$59,393	($4,951)
Other	$424	$267	($157)
Total Assets	$93,466	$184,119	$90,653

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2017	Dec 31, 2017	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$0	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2017	Dec 31, 2017	Change
Net Assets	$93,466	$184,119	$90,653

Assets	Jan 01, 2018	Dec 31, 2018	Change
Contributions	$39,656
Cash & Equivalents	$124,459	$129,923	$5,464
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$59,393	$60,314	$921
Other	$267	$110	($157)
Total Assets	$184,119	$190,347	$6,228

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2018	Dec 31, 2018	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$0	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2018	Dec 31, 2018	Change
Net Assets	$184,119	$190,347	$6,228

Assets	Jan 01, 2019	Dec 31, 2019	Change
Contributions	$34,698
Cash & Equivalents	$129,923	$128,983	($940)
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$60,314	$56,944	($3,370)
Other	$110	$0	($110)
Total Assets	$190,347	$185,927	($4,420)

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2019	Dec 31, 2019	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$0	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2019	Dec 31, 2019	Change
Net Assets	$190,347	$185,927	($4,420)

Operations

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

Documents

Letter of Determination is not available for this organization

Form 1023/1024 is not available for this organization

Executive Director

K Robinson

Past work experience in both for-profit and non-profit sector includes: business and process analysis business and technical writing user training on financial software administrative support for executive leadership customer service regional library system circulation and inventory support

Braille Circulating Library for the Blind Inc.

Officers, directors, trustees, and key employees

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Compensation

Other

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Compensation data

Download up to 5 most recent years of officer and director compensation data for this organization

There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.

Braille Circulating Library for the Blind Inc.

Board of directors
as of 02/24/2023

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Board of directors data

Download the most recent year of board of directors data for this organization

Board co-chair

Melody Roane

Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired

Term: 2022 - 2025

Board co-chair

Stephen Preas

Benjamin-Moore Paint

David Cummings

Reitred CPA and Former CFO - Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen

Melody Roane

Virginia Rehabilitation Center For the Blind and Vision Impaired - Director

Danny Gordon

Retired - Dominion Resources

William Jeffries

Retired

Steve Preas

Benjamin-Moore Paint - Territory Representative

David Johnsen

CarMax - Project Manager

David Sommers

Retired Manager - Dominion Resources

K Robinson

Braille Circulating Library - Executive Director

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? No
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No
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? No
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Braille Circulating Library for the Blind Inc.

Strengthening Hearts and Minds Through Braille

Mission

Is this your nonprofit?

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

This profile needs more info.

Our programs

Library Loans

Monthly Mailing

Online Library Extension

Where we work

How we listen

Financials

Financial documents

Revenue vs. expenses: breakdown

Financial data

Digitizing IRS form 990 data

Braille Circulating Library for the Blind Inc.

Braille Circulating Library for the Blind Inc.

Operations

Documents

Executive Director

K Robinson

Braille Circulating Library for the Blind Inc.

Compensation data

Braille Circulating Library for the Blind Inc.

Board of directors data

Melody Roane

Stephen Preas

Board leadership practices

Board orientation and education

CEO oversight

Ethics and transparency

Board composition

Board performance