Lighthouse Central Florida

What Lighthouse Central Florida does

Lighthouse Central Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1976 that provides comprehensive vision rehabilitation services to blind and visually impaired individuals across the lifespan in Central Florida. The organization operates five age-segmented programs — Early Intervention (birth to age 5), Children's Program (ages 5–13), Transition Program (ages 14–21), Adult Program (18+), and Senior Adult Services (55+) — delivering certified instruction across six core service lines: Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Orientation & Mobility (O&M), Adjustment to Blindness counseling, Braille literacy, Assistive Technology training, and Vocational Rehabilitation. Services are delivered at two Orlando facilities (215 E New Hampshire Street headquarters and 2500 Kunze Avenue) with mobile/in-home delivery for Early Intervention, and intake is managed through a Request Help form supported by a Client Experience team.

The organization's business model is a hybrid of charitable fundraising and a self-sustaining social enterprise. Program delivery is free to clients and funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, signature fundraising events (Raising Our Sights breakfast, Dining in the Dark immersive gala, BLINK Experience tours), recurring giving society memberships, and grants. Lighthouse Works, a wholly-owned social enterprise subsidiary operating a customer care center, employs individuals who are blind or visually impaired and provides call center services to Florida's Reemployment Assistance Program, generating earned revenue that subsidizes mission programs. The organization reports 2023–2024 impact metrics of 1,128 individuals and families served, 20,598 service hours delivered, and 11,293 individual services provided. Distribution is exclusively regional (Central Florida, USA), with no intermediaries or resellers.

Name

Lighthouse Central Florida

Legal name

Lighthouse Central Florida, Inc.

Website

https://lighthousecfl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lighthouse Central Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that delivers comprehensive vision rehabilitation services — including O&M, Braille, ADL, assistive technology, and vocational training — to blind and visually impaired individuals of all ages across Central Florida, supplemented by a social enterprise call center (Lighthouse Works) that employs people with vision loss.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vision Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Low Vision Rehabilitation (HLAKAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accessibility & Universal Design Consulting (HSABAJAB), Home Accessibility Assessment & Design (HSAPANAA)

Keywords

• Vision rehabilitation services
• Assistive technology training
• Orientation and mobility
• Early intervention programs
• Social enterprise employment

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Charitable Contributions: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Tax ID #59-2418228, relying on charitable contributions to fund vision rehabilitation programs.
2. Signature Fundraising Events: Revenue generated through event sponsorships and ticket sales for annual events including Raising Our Sights (breakfast, sponsorship levels $1,000-$10,000) and Dining in the Dark (gala dinner).
3. Lighthouse Works Social Enterprise Revenue: Lighthouse Works operates as a customer care center employing people who are blind or visually impaired, supporting Florida's Reemployment Assistance Program. Revenue from this social enterprise funds Lighthouse Central Florida programs.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate support programs where companies can make gifts to support the mission, with sponsorship opportunities at the Raising Our Sights event ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
5. Giving Society Membership: The Raising Our Sights Giving Society offers recurring donor recognition and engagement for supporters making sustained contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lighthouse Central Florida provides free, comprehensive vision rehabilitation services to blind and visually impaired children, teens, adults, and seniors in Central Florida, spanning Early Intervention, Children's, Transition, Adult, and Senior Adult programs, alongside instruction in Orientation and Mobility, Braille, Activities of Daily Living, Assistive Technology, Adjustment to Blindness, and Vocational Rehabilitation. Revenue to sustain these services comes from donations, signature fundraising events, and Lighthouse Works, a social enterprise call center that employs people who are blind or visually impaired.

Product overview

Lighthouse Central Florida is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a comprehensive suite of vision rehabilitation programs and services for individuals of all ages with vision loss. The organization operates across two main divisions: (1) Core Programs spanning Early Intervention (birth to age 5), Children's Program (ages 5-13), Transition Program (ages 14-21), Adult Program (18+), and Senior Adult Services (55+); and (2) Services including Activities of Daily Living, Orientation and Mobility, Adjustment to Blindness, Braille Instruction, Assistive Technology, and Vocational Rehabilitation. The organization also operates Lighthouse Works, a social enterprise providing employment for blind/visually impaired individuals. Public engagement occurs through signature events including Raising Our Sights, Dining in the Dark, and the BLINK Experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Intervention Program In-home visits, sensory/developmental activities, early mobility training, and family support and education for children birth to age 5 who are blind or visually impaired, preparing them for successful transition into preschool.
• Children's Program Program for children ages 5 to 13 that builds critical life skills through hands-on learning, social development, and academic support using the Expanded Core Curriculum for students with vision impairment.
• Transition Program Program helping students ages 14 to 21 gain skills and confidence to navigate life beyond high school through career exploration, assistive technology training, independent living skills, and community experiences.
• Adult Program Personalized vision rehabilitation services for individuals 18 and older who are blind or visually impaired, including training in orientation and mobility, adaptive daily living skills, and assistive technology.
• Senior Adult Services Specialized support for adults aged 55 and older adjusting to vision loss, helping maintain safety, confidence, and community connection through adaptive technology and independent living skills.
• Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Training Personalized instruction to help individuals with vision loss regain control over daily routines including cooking, dressing, personal grooming, and household chores.
• Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Instruction Certified instruction teaching individuals with vision loss how to move safely and confidently in various environments using techniques including white cane travel, public transportation navigation, and spatial relationships.
• Adjustment to Blindness Support Comprehensive support including peer support groups and practical strategies for coping with the emotional and psychological impacts of vision loss.
• Braille Instruction Tailored Braille lessons for beginners and advanced learners, covering reading, personal records management, and Braille displays on modern technology.
• Assistive Technology Training Introduction to tools and devices including screen readers, magnification software, adaptive keyboards, and smartphones with hands-on training for daily life integration.
• Vocational Rehabilitation Career counseling and skill development program designed to empower individuals with vision loss to achieve career goals through tailored training.
• Lighthouse Works (Social Enterprise) Social enterprise providing employment opportunities for individuals who are blind or visually impaired as Customer Care Professionals supporting Florida's Reemployment Assistance Program; revenue funds Lighthouse Central Florida programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,128 individuals and families impacted annually by programs and services (2023-2024 Impact Data)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Mythic AdventuresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA local Live Action Role Playing (LARP) group that partnered with Lighthouse Central Florida for the Lighthouse Renaissance Faire event. Mythic Adventures provided guest speakers in vibrant costumes, immersive storytelling, and interactive workshops tailored for students who are blind or visually impaired. The partnership brought medieval-themed experiential learning activities including potion-making (sensory skills), stage combat (body awareness), leatherworking, and dice adventures.
• Orlando Police Department SWAT TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Orlando Police Department's SWAT team serves as servers during Lighthouse Central Florida's Dining in the Dark event, navigating the pitch-black dining room outfitted in night-vision goggles. This partnership creates a unique event experience that illustrates the isolating condition of vision loss while building community connections between law enforcement and the vision-impaired community.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lighthouse Guild: National nonprofit providing vision rehabilitation, behavioral health, and social services for people with vision loss. Comparable in full-lifespan service scope, certified O&M/AT instruction, and integration of clinical and social programming.
• Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired: San Francisco-based nonprofit offering low vision rehab, assistive technology training, and youth services for blind/VI individuals. Directly comparable mission, programming structure, and donor-supported nonprofit model.
• VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired: NYC-area nonprofit providing rehabilitation, independent living, and employment services for people with vision loss. Comparable program mix (O&M, AT, vocational) and similar community-based GTM.
• Bosma Enterprises: Indianapolis-based nonprofit delivering vision rehabilitation and operates an employment/social enterprise (similar to Lighthouse Works). Directly comparable combination of rehab services plus mission-aligned BPO.
• Center for the Visually Impaired: Atlanta-area nonprofit offering vision rehabilitation, O&M, and adaptive living services across age groups. Comparable regional service model and referral-driven intake.
• Second Sense: Chicago-based nonprofit providing rehabilitation, training, and community programs for people with vision loss. Directly comparable O&M and assistive technology instruction portfolio.

Regional players

• Lighthouse Louisiana: Louisiana-based nonprofit serving blind/VI individuals with rehabilitation and children's services. Comparable mission but operates in a different geography (Gulf South).
• Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Michigan-based nonprofit delivering vision rehabilitation and independent living services. Comparable programming but serves a different Midwestern region.

Broad incumbents

• National Federation of the Blind: National advocacy and service organization for the blind. Comparable end-user population but operates at much broader scale with advocacy rather than direct rehabilitation as its core.
• American Foundation for the Blind: National nonprofit focused on research, advocacy, and accessibility for people with vision loss. Comparable mission area but functions as a broad-incumbent policy/research body rather than a direct rehabilitation provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LCF_Orlando
• Facebookfacebook.com/LighthouseCentralFlorida

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Central Florida