The Lighthouse for the Blind
The Lighthouse for the Blind is a public charity based in an individual recipient, Missouri. It supports employment, education, and services for people who are legally blind, including vocational training and community programs; its 2024 filing also reports grants to organizations working on accessibility and services for people with visual impairments.
The Lighthouse for the Blind at a glance
In short: The Lighthouse for the Blind gave $593K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $59K), mostly in Missouri. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $593,073
- +28.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $59,307
- +3.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $116,279,803
- -6.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Missouri (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Lighthouse for the Blind
- Contact
Mailing address: 10440 Trenton Avenue, St Louis, MO 63132
Phone: (314) 423-4333
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lighthouse for the Blind funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mindseye Radio ($200K). Together the top 8 received $593K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 40 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri (60%), Illinois (34%), and Alabama (6%). The organization’s “See the Future” programs are open to blind and visually impaired residents of Missouri and the bordering Illinois counties of Calhoun, St. Clair, Monroe, Madison, and Jersey. Its Continuing Education Program has a separate stated eligibility area: Missouri excluding specified counties, or surrounding western Illinois counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Lighthouse for the Blind gives
- Giving grew 78% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $291K (2020) to $593K (2024). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $593K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mindseye Radio Belleville, IL | Support of soiree, gateway archers beepball, audio description services, and remote broadcast program. | $199,611 |
| Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments St. Louis, MO | Provide funding for family support services to help parents of children with visual impariments to develop a network of support as they learn to cope with their child's diagnosis, develop effective parenting skills, access community resources, and strive for a high quality of life for their child(REN)with visual impairments. | $149,651 |
| St Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired St. Louis, MO | Funding of full time occupational therapist and part time marketing specialist. | $54,392 |
| US Space and Rocket Center Huntsville, AL | Provide funding for visually impaired students from all over the world to attend scivis(space camp for interested visually imparied students). | $38,234 |
| Saint Louis Universtity St. Louis, MO | Funding for chrome lab r&d related to employee accessibility | $37,500 |
| St Louis Zoo St. Louis, MO | Funding for Truncated Dome Wayfinding Project | $37,500 |
| St Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired St. Louis, MO | Provide Funding for CCTV Assistance (Need Based). | $28,785 |
| Mo Council of the Blind St. Louis, MO | Assistance for Summer Camp Program. | $27,000 |
| Greater Region YMCA St. Louis, MO | Funding for accessible tactile map for new accessible playground | $10,400 |
| St Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired St. Louis, MO | Annual sponsorship to be used for fundraising events and general support. | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Lighthouse for the Blind?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $116,279,803 | $53,108,670 | $57,956,169 | $593,073 | 10 | $10,371,385 |
| 2023 | $124,521,418 | $31,186,438 | $31,015,265 | $460,123 | 8 | $4,424,448 |
| 2022 | $115,548,558 | $28,838,834 | $30,353,858 | $369,118 | 6 | $1,581,610 |
| 2021 | $132,994,524 | $33,499,796 | $28,937,265 | $333,097 | 9 | $4,941,439 |
| 2020 | $119,953,543 | $29,102,642 | $26,989,752 | $291,344 | 7 | $1,564,243 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s mission is “to assist individuals who are legally blind maintain dignity and independence by making available employment, education, and support services.” Its reported work includes employment and vocational training, adaptive technology, daily living skills, and scholarships or other education-related assistance.
Its 2024 grants included support for audio description and accessible broadcasting, family support for parents of children with visual impairments, occupational therapy, accessibility projects, and summer camp assistance. MindsEye Radio describes its own mission as “translating vision into audio” to build a more inclusive community for people who are blind or visually impaired. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation says it supports the educational programs and projects of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Space Camp.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the organization reported 10 grants totaling $593,073. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $199,611, with a median of $37,500.
The largest awards were $199,611 to MindsEye Radio for support of a soiree, Gateway Archers Beepball, audio description services, and a remote broadcast program; and $149,651 to the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments for family support services. Other reported grants included $54,392 to the St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired for an occupational therapist and marketing specialist; $38,234 to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center for visually impaired students to attend Space Camp; $37,500 to Saint Louis University for employee-accessibility research and development; $37,500 to the an individual recipient Zoo for a truncated-dome wayfinding project; $28,785 to the St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired for need-based CCTV assistance; $27,000 to the Missouri Council of the Blind for a summer camp program; $10,400 to the Greater Region YMCA for an accessible tactile map; and $10,000 to the St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired for event sponsorship and general support.
The organization’s website describes education awards for eligible individuals, including assistance with adaptive equipment, tuition, and training. These are awards to participants, not grants to outside organizations. For the Continuing Education Program, applicants must be legally blind, be full-time students from preschool age through 26, and live in Missouri outside specified counties or in surrounding western Illinois counties. The application materials listed include a completed application, a doctor-completed vision assessment, certified school transcripts, and two recommendation letters. The website says the award is not intended to replace school district funding required under IDEA or rehabilitation-services funding for the blind.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Geoffrey Orf as chair, James Keaney as secretary, and Tammy Krebel as treasurer. It also lists Kathleen Boland, Alice Conway, Joe Dale, Wendy Henke, Randy Nacke, Dale Poslosky, and Shana Rose as board members.
The Lighthouse for the Blind is led by Eric Warnhoff, President & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 8 of 20 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Eric Warnhoff
President & CEO
President & CEO - September to Present → President & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$63K (2021) → $265K (2024)
Geoffrey Orf
Chair
Secretary → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenifer Kate Coy
Director & Programs
Director & Human Resources → Director & Programs, 2023
On filings since 2022
45 hrs/week
$103K (2022) → $116K (2024)
Jennifer Boeyink
Director & Human Resources
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$122K (2023) → $144K (2024)
Brittney Bettonville
Director, Marketing & Business Development
New on the 2024 filing
55 hrs/week
$131K (2024)
Clint A. Cruse
Vice President & Manufacturing
On filings since 2020
55 hrs/week
$164K (2020) → $209K (2024)
Jill Kluesner
Vice President, Finance & Administrator
Vice President, Finance & Administration → Chief Financial Officer, 2021
Chief Financial Officer → Vice President, Finance & Administrator, 2023
On filings since 2020
55 hrs/week
$156K (2020) → $206K (2024)
Mark Adams
It Manager
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$115K (2020) → $121K (2024)
Lasonja Trent
Senior Production Manager
New on the 2024 filing
45 hrs/week
$123K (2024)
Aubrey Zobrist
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Thomas
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Dale
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Boland
Board Member
Chairman → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Randy Nacke
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shana Rose
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tammy Krebel
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alice Conway
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Keaney
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dale Poslosky
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Henke
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Brian Houser (2020–2023) — Sales & Marketin
- Former: Stephen Cusumano (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Tim Rooney (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Harold Henry (2022–2023) — Maintenance Supervisor
- Former: Jeri Schultz (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ben Haltenhof (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jenna Gorlewicz (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Kim Mueller (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Tonia Walters (2022) — Production
- Former: John W. Thompson (2020–2021) — President & CEO -
- Former: Angie Schwartze (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Karen Nelson (2020) — Director & Human Resources
- Former: Mark Epstein (2020) — Technical Services Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $265K, to Eric Warnhoff (President, CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Lighthouse for the Blind
How much does The Lighthouse for the Blind give each year?
The Lighthouse for the Blind gave $593K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $460K across 8 grants.
What is The Lighthouse for the Blind's typical grant size?
The Lighthouse for the Blind's median grant in 2024 was $37,500, and its average grant was $59,307, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Lighthouse for the Blind give grants?
The Lighthouse for the Blind gives mostly in Missouri: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (34%) and Alabama (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (8 grants).
Does The Lighthouse for the Blind give general operating support?
Yes: 10% of The Lighthouse for the Blind's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are The Lighthouse for the Blind's largest grantees?
The Lighthouse for the Blind's largest 2024 grantees include Mindseye Radio ($199,611), Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments ($149,651) and St Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired ($93,177 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Lighthouse for the Blind?
The Lighthouse for the Blind reported $116.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $53.1M.
What does The Lighthouse for the Blind fund?
The organization’s mission is “to assist individuals who are legally blind maintain dignity and independence by making available employment, education, and support services.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lighthouse for the Blind?
The Lighthouse for the Blind has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Lighthouse for the Blind's EIN?
The Lighthouse for the Blind's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-0652639. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lighthouse for the Blind's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Lighthouse for the Blind funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lighthouse-for-the-blind-morg_288401a38f6c437c8853cb7bb451b755
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_430652639_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Lighthouse for the Blind funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lighthouse-for-the-blind-morg_288401a38f6c437c8853cb7bb451b755},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Lighthouse for the Blind's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Lighthouse for the Blind down — hundreds of funders to go?