What NIB does

NIB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1938 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, that operates as the central nonprofit agency under the federal AbilityOne Program authorized by the Wagner-O'Day Act. Its mission is to enhance economic opportunity and quality of life for people who are blind or have significant disabilities by creating and sustaining employment through the manufacture and delivery of products and services. NIB coordinates a workforce of 4,820 employees who are blind across a network of associated nonprofit agencies and distributes $174 million in wages and benefits. The organization holds ISO 9001 certification and conforms to WCAG 2.0 AA accessibility standards.

NIB produces goods under the SKILCRAFT brand spanning office supplies, industrial products, military and specialty items, custom manufacturing, and home goods, alongside a portfolio of services that includes kitting and fulfillment, contract management, contact center operations, supply chain management, administrative support, Section 508 accessibility assurance, cybersecurity, and document management. Its distribution footprint includes 162 Base Supply Centers located on military installations and federal facilities nationwide, complemented by e-commerce channels and government-wide contract vehicles including the New York State Preferred Source Program (NYSPSP). NSITE operates as a talent-management enterprise within the NIB ecosystem to professionalize the workforce pipeline.

NIB's business model is built on participation in mandatory federal procurement preference programs, generating revenue primarily through fees paid by its associated agencies for centralized services, e-commerce sales, and other program-related activities. Reported total revenue for fiscal year 2025 was $45.3 million, comprising $37.3 million in associated-agency fees, $4.3 million in e-commerce revenue, and $3.7 million in other income, against total assets of $117.2 million. End customers are overwhelmingly federal agencies—the Department of Defense, the Defense Logistics Agency, the General Services Administration, and individual military installations—making the organization structurally dependent on U.S. federal procurement priorities and appropriations rather than discretionary commercial demand.

Name

NIB

Legal name

National Industries for the Blind

Website

https://nib.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NIB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, that operates the AbilityOne Program network, employing people who are blind to produce SKILCRAFT products and deliver supply chain, administrative, and cybersecurity services primarily to U.S. federal customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fees from Associated Agencies: NIB charges fees to its network of associated nonprofit agencies for program management, compliance support, and organizational services.
2. E-commerce Sales: Net revenue from e-commerce sales of SKILCRAFT products and other goods through NIB's online storefront.
3. Government Contract Manufacturing and Services: NIB and its associated agencies manufacture products (SKILCRAFT brand) and provide services (contact centers, supply chain, document management) to federal government customers through the AbilityOne Program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NIB manufactures SKILCRAFT-branded products (office supplies, industrial goods, military apparel and textiles, custom manufacturing, and home products) and provides operational and technology services (kitting, contract management, contact centers, supply chain, document management, Section 508 compliance, and cybersecurity) to U.S. federal government customers through the AbilityOne Program. It sustains these activities to create and sustain employment for people who are blind across a network of associated nonprofit agencies.

Product overview

NIB operates as a platform organization managing a nationwide network of 32 associated nonprofit agencies that employ people who are blind. The portfolio includes: (1) SKILCRAFT branded products spanning office supplies, industrial goods, military apparel/textiles, and custom manufacturing; (2) 162 AbilityOne Base Supply Centers (BSCs) providing retail access to government and military customers; (3) Professional services including kitting, contract management support, contact centers, supply chain, and administrative support; (4) Technology services for Section 508 compliance, cybersecurity, and document management; (5) NSITE talent management enterprise connecting employers with people who are blind; and (6) the New York State Preferred Source Program. Products are primarily distributed through federal government contracts via the AbilityOne Program, military Base Supply Centers, and e-commerce platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NSITE: NIB's talent management enterprise providing employment services for people who are blind, visually impaired, and veterans
• AbilityOne Base Supply Center
• Advocates for Leadership and Employment
• Heard & Empowered Podcast
• Mission Driven Podcast

Products and services

• SKILCRAFT Office Products Office supply products including pens, paper, desk accessories, and business essentials manufactured by NIB associated agencies and sold to federal government customers through the AbilityOne Program.
• SKILCRAFT Industrial Products Industrial and manufacturing products produced by NIB associated agencies for government and commercial customers, including the SKILCRAFT Pro-Grade Tools line launched in partnership with Snap-on Industrial.
• SKILCRAFT Military Products Military uniform apparel, textiles, clothing, and equipment supplied to U.S. military branches and defense agencies through the AbilityOne Program and DLA procurement channels.
• SKILCRAFT Custom Products Custom manufacturing and bespoke products produced by NIB associated agencies to meet specific customer requirements.
• SKILCRAFT Home Products Home goods and household products manufactured by NIB associated agencies and sold through SKILCRAFT channels.
• AbilityOne Base Supply Centers (BSCs) Retail stores located on military bases and federal installations offering one-stop shopping for thousands of SKILCRAFT products and government/military supplies. The program operates 162 centers nationwide.
• NSITE Talent Management Enterprise A continuum of employment services that connect employers with talented people who are blind, visually impaired, and/or veterans to meet their workforce needs.
• Kitting Services Assembly and kitting services for government and military supplies provided by NIB associated agencies.
• Contract Management Support Professional contract management support services provided by trained employees who are blind to federal government agencies.
• Contact Centers Customer service and contact center operations staffed by employees who are blind through NIB associated agencies.
• Supply Chain Services Supply chain management and logistics services provided by NIB associated agencies.
• Administrative Support Services Administrative and back-office support services provided by employees who are blind.
• Section 508 Assurance Services Accessibility testing and Section 508 compliance verification services ensuring federal electronic and information technology meets accessibility standards.
• Cybersecurity Services Cybersecurity services provided by NIB associated agencies to protect government and corporate IT systems.
• Document Management Services Document digitization, imaging, and management services including document scanning and digital imaging provided by employees who are blind.
• New York State Preferred Source Program (NYSPSP) State-mandated program administered by NIB that creates and sustains employment for people who are blind by directing New York state and local government agencies to purchase products and services from affiliated nonprofit agencies.
• Manufacturing Services Manufacturing capabilities across multiple product categories including textiles, industrial goods, and custom products operated by NIB associated nonprofit agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,820 employees who are blind employed across the network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• America's VetDogsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIB partners with America's VetDogs to provide dog collars and leashes, demonstrating commitment to supporting veterans and service animals.
• Snap-on IndustrialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIB launched SKILCRAFT Pro-Grade Tools in partnership with Snap-on Industrial, expanding the product line available through the AbilityOne Program.
• National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind (NAEPB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIB partners with NAEPB on annual Public Policy Forum and Training Conference and Expo. NAEPB represents associated nonprofit agencies and advocates for employment of people who are blind.
• SourceAmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSourceAmerica is another central nonprofit agency in the AbilityOne Program ecosystem. NIB collaborates with SourceAmerica on textile/apparel conferences and initiatives.
• National Council of SourceAmerica Employers (NCSE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIB collaborates with NCSE, an organization representing employers of people with disabilities in the AbilityOne ecosystem.
• VisionServe AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLauren Branch, President and CEO of NIB associated agency NewView Oklahoma, serves as chair of the VisionServe Alliance executive committee. VisionServe Alliance is a forum of U.S. and Canadian organizations working to build a better world for people with vision loss.
• U.S. AbilityOne CommissioncoreOthersThe U.S. AbilityOne Commission administers the AbilityOne Program, which is the primary federal procurement program through which NIB operates. NIB works closely with the Commission on compliance and program development.
• General Services Administration (GSA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGSA is a key federal customer partner. NIB engages with GSA to support their evolving needs and GSA has confirmed strong support for the AbilityOne Program.
• Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerDLA is a key federal customer for NIB's military products. NIB engages with DLA to support their procurement needs and maintain strong relationships.
• National Federation of the BlindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIB advocates work with the National Federation of the Blind on legislative priorities, including participating in Washington Seminar events.
• Alexandria Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNIB is a 15-year member of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, supporting local business community engagement.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired (IBVI): IBVI is an NIB associated nonprofit agency in Wisconsin that manufactures products and provides services to federal customers while employing people who are blind or visually impaired. It operates within the same AbilityOne framework and mission-aligned employment model as NIB.
• SourceAmerica: SourceAmerica is the other central nonprofit agency in the AbilityOne Program, operating a parallel network that employs people with significant disabilities (other than blindness) to deliver products and services to the federal government. It is the closest structural analog to NIB, sharing the mandatory-source framework, federal contract focus, and network-of-associated-agencies model.
• Envision (formerly Industries for the Blind of Rochester): Envision is an NIB associated nonprofit agency employing people who are blind across manufacturing, contact center, and base supply operations. It is a direct mission-aligned peer operating SKILCRAFT production and AbilityOne service contracts nationwide.
• UNICOR (Federal Prison Industries): UNICOR is a federally authorized manufacturing entity that supplies products to federal agencies under a mandatory-source preference similar to NIB's AbilityOne framework. It competes with NIB on certain SKILCRAFT product lines (textiles, office products, industrial goods) for federal procurement dollars, making it a direct government-mandated manufacturing peer.
• Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired: CABVI is an NIB associated nonprofit agency providing rehabilitation, employment, and contract manufacturing services for people who are blind or visually impaired. It overlaps with NIB on rehabilitation-services delivery, government contracting, and SKILCRAFT manufacturing.
• Alphapointe: Alphapointe is one of NIB's largest associated nonprofit agencies, manufacturing products and providing services to the federal government while employing people who are blind or visually impaired. It is a direct operational peer within the NIB network and competes for many of the same AbilityOne contracts.
• Bosma Enterprises: Bosma Enterprises is an Indianapolis-based NIB associated nonprofit agency providing employment, training, and rehabilitation services for people who are blind, plus government contract manufacturing. It operates the same mission-aligned employment and federal contracting model as the broader NIB network.
• Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. (Seattle): The Lighthouse for the Blind is a Seattle-based NIB associated agency that manufactures SKILCRAFT products, operates Base Supply Centers, and provides rehabilitation and employment services for people who are blind. It mirrors NIB's manufacturing-and-services model at the regional associated-agency level.
• Travis Association for the Blind / Austin Lighthouse: Travis Association for the Blind (Austin Lighthouse) is a large NIB associated agency manufacturing products for the federal government and employing people who are blind. It is one of the highest-volume AbilityOne producers and a direct operational peer to NIB's network model.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Goodwill is a much larger nonprofit employment services platform that operates retail, contract manufacturing, and workforce development programs for people facing barriers to employment. While it is broader in mission and not blind-specific, its AbilityOne participation, federal contracting, and workforce-services model overlap meaningfully with NIB's network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NatIndBlind
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCz5BvVZc5a2J6uceLqCDv8Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-industries-for-the-blind
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalindustriesfortheblind

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 NIB