If you’ve been exploring ways to give to A Race Against Blindness, you may have noticed that we are not yet rated by Charity Navigator.
We want to be transparent about exactly why that is — and why it has nothing to do with our legitimacy or accountability.
The Simple Reason: We’re a New Nonprofit
A Race Against Blindness was officially established in early 2023, and as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 92-2174042), we file an annual IRS Form 990 just like other charitable organizations.
However, Charity Navigator requires three consecutive years of electronically filed Form 990s before they will issue a rating. We have only filed our 2023 tax year form so far — our 2024 tax return (Form 990) is due in November 2025. Once we file our 2025 return next year, Charity Navigator will have the three years of data they need to evaluate us.
From Our Charity Navigator Profile Page
As Charity Navigator states directly:
"Accountability & Finance: Not Currently Scored: A RACE AGAINST BLINDNESS cannot currently be evaluated by our Accountability & Finance methodology due to only having one year of electronically-filed IRS Form 990 data (990EZ, 990N, 990PF does not qualify). To ensure year-to-year consistency the Encompass Rating System's Accountability & Finance beacon analyzes the three-year average of some data provided through the IRS form 990. Charity Navigator currently only has one year of consecutive e-filed Forms 990 from the IRS for A RACE AGAINST BLINDNESS under the EIN: 92-2174042. Before Charity Navigator can evaluate A RACE AGAINST BLINDNESS, A RACE AGAINST BLINDNESS will need to e-file for additional fiscal years."
— Charity Navigator Profile
Our Commitment to Transparency — Now
While we await our Charity Navigator rating, we are committed to going above and beyond in demonstrating our transparency and financial stewardship.
In addition to our Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency — the highest level possible — we publish full Annual Reports on our website, available for anyone to review at any time:
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Annual Financial Reports Hub — Our central page for financial reporting.
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2024 Annual Report — Details our $3 million in grants toward a potentially groundbreaking clinical trial, partnerships, fundraising impact, and financial position2024_RAB_Annual_Report.
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2023 Annual Report — Shares our nonprofit’s launch, mission, first major fundraising campaign, and financial overview2023_RAB_Annual_Report.
These reports outline:
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2023 and 2024 Executive salaries: $0 — we are a family-run nonprofit.
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Major grants awarded: $3 million in 2024 to advance a planned gene therapy clinical trial.
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Key metrics: Follower growth, grant totals, community impact.
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Financial statements.
Why This Matters for Donors
Charity Navigator’s three-year requirement exists to ensure consistency in financial performance data — not as a reflection of a nonprofit’s trustworthiness. In fact, many high-impact, newer organizations are “Not Yet Rated” simply because they’re new.
Our work is driven by urgency — funding sight-saving research to end blindness caused by Bardet-Biedl Syndrome — and we believe in earning your trust every step of the way. Our Platinum Seal from Candid and our published Annual Reports are proof of that commitment.
Looking Ahead
Once our 2025 taxes are filed and we meet Charity Navigator’s three-year requirement, our organization will be eligible for full evaluation. We look forward to receiving a rating that reflects the same transparency and accountability we already practice today.
In the meantime, you can always:
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Verify our nonprofit status via the IRS database.
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Review our GuideStar profile.
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Contact us directly with any questions.
Bottom Line
We’re not yet rated by Charity Navigator because we’re new — not because of any lack of transparency.
Until that rating arrives, you can see exactly how we operate, spend, and impact lives through our publicly available reports and real-time updates.
