Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center

What Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center does

Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit vision rehabilitation organization founded in 1985 in Sarasota, Florida, originally as Mana-Sota Lighthouse for the Blind. It provides free rehabilitation training and support services to blind and visually impaired individuals of all ages across five Florida counties (Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, DeSoto, and Highlands). The organization holds full AERBVI accreditation through January 2031 and describes itself as the only nationally accredited nonprofit in its region offering rehabilitation training at no cost.

Its service portfolio comprises eight core programs: Young Adults Program (ages 14–22), Vocational Rehabilitation, Independent Living, Orientation & Mobility Training, Activities of Daily Living / Adjustment to Vision Loss, Assistive Technology, Client & Family Support Services, and the Children's Program (ages 5–13). The assistive technology offering is training-focused, built around third-party consumer accessibility platforms (iOS VoiceOver, Android TalkBack) and physical low-vision aids rather than proprietary software. A separately branded retail line, the Lumination Low Vision Store, sells Eschenbach electronic magnifiers online and is positioned as the #1 authorized Eschenbach seller in Southwest Florida.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than fee-based: services are provided at no cost to clients. Revenue is diversified across individual donations (with 1:1 matching from the Louis & Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust for gifts of $5–$500), a four-tier corporate sponsorship program (Bronze $1,000+ through Platinum $10,000+), foundation grants, Florida specialty license plate proceeds distributed via Florida Agencies Serving the Blind, retail margins on Eschenbach products, and AmazonSmile passive donations. Distribution is multi-channel: a Sarasota headquarters, satellite class locations in Bradenton, Venice, Highlands County, and DeSoto County, in-home/itinerant services, and Zoom-based virtual classes. Marketing is community-led, driven by presentations to civic organizations, schools, churches, senior living facilities, and healthcare-provider referrals via VisionRefer.org. An 84% program-spending ratio signals a lean operational cost structure.

Name

Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center

Legal name

Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center

Website

https://lighthouseeducationcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 in Sarasota, Florida, providing free vision rehabilitation training, assistive technology, vocational support, and youth programs to blind and visually impaired individuals across five Florida counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vision Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Low Vision Rehabilitation (HLAKAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification) (EDAKAIAF), Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI), Assistive Vision & Screen Access (Screen Readers, Magnification, Braille Displays/Notetakers) (EDAFAKAD)

Keywords

• Vision rehabilitation services
• Assistive technology training
• Orientation and mobility
• Vocational rehabilitation programs
• Low vision products

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Individual donations from supporters, with the Louis & Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust offering 1:1 matching for contributions between $5 and $500.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships at Platinum ($10,000+), Gold ($5,000+), Silver ($2,500+), and Bronze ($1,000+) levels with recognition benefits.
3. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations supporting services for blind and visually impaired individuals.
4. Specialty License Plate Program: Revenue from 'A State of Vision' Florida license plates distributed through Florida Agencies Serving the Blind, Inc.
5. Lumination Low Vision Store: Retail sales of low vision products including Eschenbach electronic magnifiers. The organization is the #1 authorized seller of Eschenbach products in Southwest Florida.
6. Amazon Smile Program: Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to the organization through the AmazonSmile program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center is a nonprofit that provides free vision rehabilitation training and support services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired across five Florida counties. Its core offerings include independent living skills training, assistive technology instruction, orientation and mobility training, vocational rehabilitation, and age-specific programs for children, youth, and adults. The organization also operates the Lumination Low Vision Store, an online and retail outlet selling low vision products such as Eschenbach electronic magnifiers.

Product overview

Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center operates as a nonprofit service organization offering a comprehensive suite of vision rehabilitation programs rather than a software product. The organization provides eight core service programs: Young Adults Program, Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Independent Living Program, Orientation & Mobility Training, Activities of Daily Living/Adjustment to Vision Loss Program, Assistive Technology Program, Client & Family Support Services, and Children's Program. Additionally, it operates the Lumination Low Vision Store, an online retail outlet for low vision products including Eschenbach electronic magnifiers. All rehabilitation programs are provided at no cost to clients, supported by charitable contributions and corporate partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Children's Program
• Young Adults Program
• Vocational Rehabilitation Program
• Independent Living Program
• Orientation & Mobility Training
• Activities of Daily Living (Adjustment to Vision Loss Program)
• Assistive Technology Program
• Client & Family Support Services
• Lumination Low Vision Store

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% of budget dedicated to programs and services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Amazon (AmazonSmile Program)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazonSmile program donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to Lighthouse when customers select the organization as their charity, providing passive donation revenue.
• Beneva Flowers & PlantscapesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating retailer in the Helping Hands Program where customers can select Lighthouse to receive a donation with each order.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lighthouse Guild International: National nonprofit providing vision rehabilitation, education, and assistive technology services. Directly comparable mission and service portfolio, though operating at significantly larger scale across multiple US states.
• NewView Oklahoma: Regional nonprofit serving blind and visually impaired individuals in Oklahoma with rehabilitation, vocational, and assistive technology services. Closely comparable regional nonprofit model with similar free-service positioning.
• Alphapointe: Midwest regional nonprofit providing vision rehabilitation, employment, and assistive technology services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Comparable service mix and accreditation profile.
• Lighthouse for the Blind (Seattle): Long-standing regional nonprofit serving blind and visually impaired individuals in the Pacific Northwest with employment, training, and assistive products. Closely comparable mission and revenue model including retail.
• San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired: California-based nonprofit delivering vision rehabilitation, education, and assistive technology services. Comparable service breadth including orientation & mobility, vocational rehab, and low vision products.
• Cleveland Sight Center: Regional nonprofit providing rehabilitation, education, vocational, and low vision services across Northeast Ohio. Similar lifespan coverage from early intervention through senior services.
• Outlook Nebraska: Nebraska-based nonprofit combining vision rehabilitation services with a manufacturing enterprise that employs blind individuals. Comparable mission with a distinctive employment + services model.
• Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (Rochester): Regional nonprofit serving the blind and visually impaired in Upstate New York with rehabilitation, education, and assistive technology services. Comparable service portfolio and AER accreditation.

Broad incumbents

• VisionServe Alliance: National network of nonprofit agencies serving people with vision loss. Lighthouse is a member; VisionServe Alliance operates as the broader industry coalition rather than a direct service competitor.
• Florida Division of Blind Services: State government agency providing vocational rehabilitation and independent living services to blind Floridians. Operates as a publicly funded adjacent provider in Lighthouse's same service geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lighthouse-vision-loss-education-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center