2025-07-07T10:25:45-04:00 2024-12-31 431012822 CONNER ASH PC 12101 WOODCREST EXECUTIVE DR STE 30 ST LOUIS MO 63141 990 2024-01-01 430666768 ST LOUIS SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND STLO 3149689000 8770 MANCHESTER ROAD ST LOUIS MO 63144 SHARON MERTZLUFFT PRESIDENT AND CEO 3149689000 2025-06-30 true true ROBERT M KLUTHO CPA P00229981 3142052510 2025-06-30 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z SHARON MERTZLUFFT 8770 MANCHESTER ROAD ST LOUIS MO 63144 1696318 false X WWW.SLSBVI.ORG X 1911 MO THE ST. LOUIS SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PROVIDES A FULL RANGE OF VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES TO ADULTS. 20 20 26 50 0 830113 967587 417207 384921 379549 750183 169163 -2031491 1796032 71200 0 0 1075116 1210754 0 199172 717169 798733 1792285 2009487 3747 -1938287 20066462 18308976 132491 150537 19933971 18158439 X THE SOCIETY ENHANCES INDEPENDENCE, EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS AND ENRICHES THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR BLIND. false false 435001 116938 VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES: INDIVIDUALIZED VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED DUE TO MACULAR DEGENERATION, DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, GLAUCOMA, CATARACT, TRAUMATIC HEAD INJURY AND OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS. REHABILITATIVE NEEDS ADDRESSED INCLUDE HOW TO BEST USE REMAINING VISION; MEDICATION MANAGEMENT; DAILY LIVING SKILLS TRAINING; PREVENTION OF INJURIES; EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES (INCLUDING ADJUSTMENT AND DEPRESSION); ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATION; AND CAREGIVER SUPPORT. GROUP SERVICES ADDRESS PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL ISOLATION ISSUES AFFECTING AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO LIVE IN A SAFE, HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT MANNER. THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS ARE REFERRED BY THEIR OPHTHALMOLOGIST OR OTHER EYE CARE SPECIALIST AND MANY ARE DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE EYE CONDITIONS. INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES FROM THE SOCIETY'S STATE OR NATIONALLY CERTIFIED AND/OR LICENSED LOW VISION THERAPISTS, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST, SOCIAL WORKERS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND OTHER RELATED PROFESSIONALS. INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING, VARIOUS AIDS, EQUIPMENT, DEVICES, AND ADAPTIVE TECHNIQUES ARE USED TO ASSIST THE INDIVIDUAL IN ADJUSTING TO VISION LOSS OR BLINDNESS IN ORDER TO RESTORE OR MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY LIVING ACTIVITES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT THE SOCIETY'S OFFICES AS WELL AS IN-HOME. BECAUSE MOST INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE DUE TO THEIR VISION LOSS, THE SOCIETY OFFICES WERE PURPOSELY LOCATED ALONG KEY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROUTES. IN ADDITION, THE SOCIETY PROVIDES TRANSPORTAION ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE ALL INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF INCOME, HAVE ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALIZED VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. BECAUSE MOST VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND LOW VISION AIDS ARE NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE OR MEDICARE, DEVICES OR OTHER VISION REHABILITATION AIDS CAN BE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AT REDUCED COST IF THERE IS AN INABILITY TO PAY. 610683 165662 THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S LOW VISION CLINIC (DREWS LOW VISION CLINIC) AND LOW VISION SERVICES, EVALUATIONS ARE PROVIDED BY A LICENSED DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY AND CERTIFIED LOW VISION THERAPIST OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST. FUNCTIONAL EYE EXAMS ADDRESS WAYS TO BEST UTILIZE REMAINING VISION AND HOW TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL VISION LOSS. THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS SEEN IN THE LOW VISION CLINIC ARE EXPERIENCING VISION LOSS DUE TO AN AGE-RELATED EYE CONDITION. ADAPTIVE VISION AIDS AND EQUIPMENT ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN COMPLETING DAILY LIVING TASKS INCLUDING MANAGMENT OF TAKING MEDICATION, READING, AND COMMUNICATION. OVER 250 DIFFERENT LOW VISION AIDS ARE AVAILABE AND ARE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AT NO CHARGE IF INDIVIDUALS ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD SUCH DEVICES. IN-HOME FOLLOW UP BY THE LOW VISION THERAPIST OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST PROVIDES REHABILITATIVE LOW VISION TRAINING AND ENSURES THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BEST USE RECOMMENDED LOW VISION EQUIPMENT/AIDS. TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO ANY INDIVIDUAL NEEDING HELP IN GETTING TO THE DREWS LOW VISION CLINIC. 377186 102321 PROVIDING SPEAKERS, LITERATURE, SEMINARS AND OTHE PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS AND DISSEMINATION OF MATERIALS FOCUSES ON HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, VISION LOSS AND DIFFERENT EYE CONDITIONS. SIGHTED, BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED VOLUNTEERS ARE RECRUITED TO ASSIST WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH, CLIENT ACTIVITIES AND OFFICE SUPPORT NEEDS. 1422870 true true false false false false false false false false true false false true true false true false false false false false false true true false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 9 0 true 26 true false false false false false true true false false false false false false X 20 20 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true false false IL X X MARY HULSEY-LUPP 3149689000 8770 MANCHESTER RD ST LOUIS MO 63144 LAURA PARK-LEACH PRESIDENT AN 40.00 X 133732 0 23000 SHARON MERTZLUFFT PRESIDENT AN 40.00 X 60154 0 0 JAMES C BOBROW MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 PAMELA BOONE TREASURER 2.00 X X 0 0 0 JOSEPH BRINKER MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 GERALD BROOKS MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 ALICE CONWAY MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 BING DEMPEWOLF MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 KIMBERLY WHITE DROST SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 BEVERLY FOSTER MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN C GALANIS MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 HUMEYRA KARACAL MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 ELIZABETH KAUFFMAN CHAIR 2.00 X X 0 0 0 MICHAEL MCKINNIS ASSISTANT TR 2.00 X X 0 0 0 DAVID MORRIS VICE CHAIR 2.00 X X 0 0 0 BOB NEU MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 MERRICA SCHELL MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 BRADLEY SMITH MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 ERIN CLEARY SULLIVAN MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 VYAS SURESH ASSISTANT SE 2.00 X X 0 0 0 KENNETH TABB MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 PAUL TESSER MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 193886 23000 1 true true false 191000 776587 967587 CONTRACTED SERVICES 624100 208993 208993 LIVING AIDS 624100 175928 175928 384921 371145 371145 373680 300005 73675 73675 73675 1627871 1246565 2268 381306 -2268 379038 379038 197750 76280 121470 MISCELLANEOUS 624100 2364 2364 LOSS ON BEQUEST RECEIVABLE 624100 -2229000 -2229000 -2226636 71200 -1841715 823858 60154 39822 11652 8680 133732 88531 25904 19297 815180 539666 157885 117629 122121 96357 12380 13384 79567 50980 16262 12325 27000 3244 23756 81232 9760 71472 26107 19433 5432 1242 113966 97374 11358 5234 9353 9011 45 297 4960 2852 1908 200 86235 68393 12254 5588 25503 20226 3624 1653 LIVING AIDS 186373 183087 2262 1024 OUTSIDE CONTRACTOS 112456 75695 25753 11008 INVESTMENT FEES 56658 56658 CLIENT SERVICES 37440 37440 31450 24341 5498 1611 2009487 1422870 387445 199172 429331 498500 286811 238348 131248 73123 42209 58980 45574 52585 35572 38044 4613821 2403168 2083530 2210653 9255485 9584883 7756702 5553860 20066462 18308976 86145 102059 26000 27326 20346 21152 132491 150537 X 11973873 17257101 7960098 901338 19933971 18158439 20066462 18308976 X -1938287 136597 26158 X false true X true false X 645171 1656073 2507925 830113 967587 6606869 645171 1656073 2507925 830113 967587 6606869 1295550 5311319 299750 372883 368653 379511 744825 2165622 8772491 1442131 0.60550 0.79880 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 437407 437407 3889159 2230836 1658323 287255 172332 114923 2210653 PROMISE TO GIVE 4850000 BENEFICIAL INT IN PERPET TRUST 703860 5553860 SECURITY DEPOSIT 21152 21152 256959 136597 105820 242417 14542 56658 56658 71200 2032491 79662 79662 1952829 56658 56658 2009487 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XI, LINE 2D CHANGE IN VALUE-PERPETUITY TRUST 26,158 FUNDRAISING-NETTED W/ REV ON TR 79,662 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 4, PART XII, LINE 2D FUNDRAISING EXP-NET W/ REVENUE 79,662 false GALA 175925 175925 64181 OTHER EVENT 21825 21825 4806 7293 197750 197750 4806 71474 76280 121470 false false false false false false false false false LAURA PARK-LEACH PRESIDENT AND CEO 133732 23000 156732 FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES: INDIVIDUALIZED VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED DUE TO MACULAR DEGENERATION, DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, GLAUCOMA, CATARACT, TRAUMATIC HEAD INJURY AND OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS. REHABILITATIVE NEEDS ADDRESSED INCLUDE HOW TO BEST USE REMAINING VISION; MEDICATION MANAGEMENT; DAILY LIVING SKILLS TRAINING; PREVENTION OF INJURIES; EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES (INCLUDING ADJUSTMENT AND DEPRESSION); ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATION; AND CAREGIVER SUPPORT. GROUP SERVICES ADDRESS PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL ISOLATION ISSUES AFFECTING AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO LIVE IN A SAFE, HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT MANNER. THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS ARE REFERRED BY THEIR OPHTHALMOLOGIST OR OTHER EYE CARE SPECIALIST AND MANY ARE DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE EYE CONDITIONS. INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES FROM THE SOCIETY'S STATE OR NATIONALLY CERTIFIED AND/OR LICENSED LOW VISION THERAPISTS, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST, SOCIAL WORKERS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND OTHER RELATED PROFESSIONALS. INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING, VARIOUS AIDS, EQUIPMENT, DEVICES, AND ADAPTIVE TECHNIQUES ARE USED TO ASSIST THE INDIVIDUAL IN ADJUSTING TO VISION LOSS OR BLINDNESS IN ORDER TO RESTORE OR MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY LIVING ACTIVITES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT THE SOCIETY'S OFFICES AS WELL AS IN-HOME. BECAUSE MOST INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE DUE TO THEIR VISION LOSS, THE SOCIETY OFFICES WERE PURPOSELY LOCATED ALONG KEY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROUTES. IN ADDITION, THE SOCIETY PROVIDES TRANSPORTAION ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE ALL INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF INCOME, HAVE ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALIZED VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. BECAUSE MOST VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND LOW VISION AIDS ARE NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE OR MEDICARE, DEVICES OR OTHER VISION REHABILITATION AIDS CAN BE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AT REDUCED COST IF THERE IS AN INABILITY TO PAY. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4B THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S LOW VISION CLINIC (DREWS LOW VISION CLINIC) AND LOW VISION SERVICES, EVALUATIONS ARE PROVIDED BY A LICENSED DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY AND CERTIFIED LOW VISION THERAPIST OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST. FUNCTIONAL EYE EXAMS ADDRESS WAYS TO BEST UTILIZE REMAINING VISION AND HOW TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL VISION LOSS. THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS SEEN IN THE LOW VISION CLINIC ARE EXPERIENCING VISION LOSS DUE TO AN AGE-RELATED EYE CONDITION. ADAPTIVE VISION AIDS AND EQUIPMENT ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN COMPLETING DAILY LIVING TASKS INCLUDING MANAGMENT OF TAKING MEDICATION, READING, AND COMMUNICATION. OVER 250 DIFFERENT LOW VISION AIDS ARE AVAILABE AND ARE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AT NO CHARGE IF INDIVIDUALS ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD SUCH DEVICES. IN-HOME FOLLOW UP BY THE LOW VISION THERAPIST OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST PROVIDES REHABILITATIVE LOW VISION TRAINING AND ENSURES THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BEST USE RECOMMENDED LOW VISION EQUIPMENT/AIDS. TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO ANY INDIVIDUAL NEEDING HELP IN GETTING TO THE DREWS LOW VISION CLINIC. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS RECEIVE A DRAFT COPY OF THE RETURN FOR REVIEW VIA EMAIL WITH A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REVIEW THE TAX RETURN AND RESPOND WITH QUESTIONS/COMMENTS TO THE TAX PREPAREER. NO QUESTIONS/COMMENTS ASSUME THE RETURN IS ACCURATE AND READY TO BE FILED. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C TAXPAYER REQUIRES AND RETAINS ANNUAL DOCUMENTATION BY OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, TRUSTEES AND/OR KEY EMPLOYEES. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A EACH BOARD MEMBER RECEIVES A RATING SHEET TO SCORE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PRESIDENT. THE RESULTS ARE COMPILED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ARE SHARED WITH THE BOARD. ALSO, THE BOARD IS GIVEN THREE SALARY SURVEYS TO REVIEW FOR PURPOSES OF SETTING THE PRESIDENT'S COMPENSATION BASED ON MARKET CONSIDERATIONS. ALL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO AND REVIEWED BY THE BOARD MEMBERS TO DETERMINE NEXT YEAR'S SALARY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 TAXPAYER MAKES PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ONLY THOSE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED UNDER FEDERAL TAX LAW. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9 CHANGE IN VALUE-PERPETUITY TRUST 26,158