Lighthouse of Broward

What Lighthouse of Broward does

Lighthouse of Broward County Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1973 and headquartered in Sunrise, Florida. It is the only private, full-service nonprofit in Broward County providing comprehensive educational, rehabilitation, and counseling services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The organization serves more than 3,000 clients annually across five age-segmented programs: Bright Beginnings (ages 0-5), the David and Jean Colker KIDS Program (ages 6-13), TeenLIFE (ages 14-21), and adult programs Ready to Work, Workforce Enterprises, and Vital Living. Supporting capabilities include assistive technology training, orientation and mobility instruction, Braille literacy, job readiness coaching, counseling, and structured social activities.

The service delivery model is multi-modal, with instruction provided on-site at the Del Lago Circle campus, remotely via phone and video conferencing, in clients' homes, and at community locations throughout Broward County. The organization is accredited by the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), holds Charity Navigator's four-star rating and Candid's Platinum Transparency seal, and is a United Way of Broward County Community Impact partner. Staff include ACVREP CATIS-certified assistive technology instructional specialists, DHS Trusted Tester-certified digital accessibility evaluators, certified orientation and mobility specialists, and certified teachers of the visually impaired.

Revenue is generated entirely from non-commercial sources, including Florida Division of Blind Services government grants, United Way of Broward County partnership funding, foundation grants (e.g., Josephine S. Leiser, Negly Flinn), corporate sponsorships, individual donations processed through a qgiv.com giving portal, and signature annual fundraising events such as Dining in the Dark and the Heroes Celebration. All client services are provided at no charge. A 2026 facility renovation aims to double organizational capacity.

Name

Lighthouse of Broward

Legal name

Lighthouse of Broward County Inc.

Website

https://lhob.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lighthouse of Broward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded 1973, providing free rehabilitation, education, and support services to more than 3,000 blind and visually impaired children and adults annually across Broward County, Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vision Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accessibility & Universal Design Consulting (HSABAJAB)

Keywords

• Vision rehabilitation services
• Assistive technology training
• Career training programs
• Disability support services
• Youth education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Lauderdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization relies heavily on donations from individuals and corporations to fund operations. Donations can be made through their website via a secure giving portal (qgiv.com).
2. Government Grants: Primary funding from Florida Division of Blind Services. Also partially funded by State of Florida.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Additional funding required to meet annual budget provided through foundation grants from organizations such as Josephine S. Leiser Foundation, Negly Flinn Charitable Foundation, and corporate sponsors.
4. United Way Partnership: United Way of Broward County Community Impact funded partner, providing ongoing operational support.
5. Event Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including Dining in the Dark (raised $266,000 in 2025), Heroes Celebration (raised over $68,000 in 2026), and other community events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Lighthouse of Broward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1973 that provides comprehensive educational, rehabilitation, and vocational services to blind and visually impaired individuals of all ages in Broward County, Florida. Core offerings include early intervention (Bright Beginnings), school-age programs (David & Jean Colker KIDS Program), teen and young adult services (TeenLIFE), adult employment training (Ready to Work, Workforce Enterprises, Job Readiness), senior independent living support (Vital Living), and specialty services in Assistive Technology, Orientation & Mobility, Braille Instruction, Counseling, Social Activities, and Diabetes Management. Services are delivered at no charge through on-site, remote, in-home, and community-based channels, serving more than 3,000 persons annually.

Product overview

Lighthouse of Broward is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides comprehensive rehabilitation, life skills training, and employment services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired in Broward County, Florida. Founded in 1973, it is the only full-service private non-profit in Broward County providing these services. The organization offers a coordinated portfolio of programs across all age groups: Bright Beginnings for infants and toddlers (ages 0-5), the David & Jean Colker KIDS Program for school-age children (6-13), TeenLIFE for teens and young adults (14-21), and adult programs including Ready to Work, Workforce Enterprises, and Vital Living. These programs are complemented by specialized services such as Assistive Technology training, Orientation & Mobility instruction, Braille training, Job Readiness, and various social activities and counseling support groups. The organization serves more than 3,000 persons annually and is accredited by the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bright Beginnings Year-round early intervention, developmental support, parent education, and kindergarten preparation program for blind and visually impaired children ages 0-5 and their families.
• David & Jean Colker KIDS Program (Keys to Independence) Year-round enrichment, independence skills, and socialization programming for blind and visually impaired children ages 6-13, including weekends, holidays, days off, and summer camp.
• TeenLIFE (Learning Independence From Experience) Year-round program for blind and visually impaired teens and young adults ages 14-21 covering career exploration, job readiness, work experience, daily living skills, and college preparation.
• Ready to Work Adult employment preparation program providing classes on work skill identification, resume writing, job applications, interview skills, competitive work habits, corporate etiquette, and overcoming workplace barriers to gain employment.
• Workforce Enterprises Program that creates job opportunities for clients who are blind and visually impaired, enabling them to become wage earners and taxpayers while reducing reliance on government support.
• Vital Living Adult program emphasizing skills to enhance quality of life, independence, and community participation for adults and seniors, offering training in independent living, safe travel, computers, the Internet, smartphones, and adaptive high-tech portable note-taking devices.
• Assistive Technology Training and instruction in assistive technology devices and software for blind and visually impaired clients, including specialized equipment and digital accessibility skills delivered by ACVREP CATIS and DHS Trusted Tester certified staff.
• Orientation & Mobility Training delivered by Certified Orientation Mobility Specialists to help blind and visually impaired individuals develop skills for safe and independent travel, including white cane instruction.
• Braille Instruction Comprehensive Braille reading and writing instruction for blind and visually impaired clients as part of the rehabilitation services portfolio.
• Job Readiness Training Comprehensive job readiness program supporting clients in obtaining employment and educational opportunities through resume writing, cover letters, interview preparation, mock interviews, disability disclosure guidance, and accommodation request support.
• Social Activities Program Recreational and social activities program for blind and visually impaired clients, including Zumba, arts and crafts, cooking class, fitness class, book club, trivia group, BINGO, guitar class, descriptive movies, and English conversation club.
• Counseling and Support Groups Individual and group counseling services for blind and visually impaired clients, including the Problem Solvers Support Group and support for past and present clients experiencing stress and anxiety.
• Low Vision Simulator Educational resource that allows individuals to experience visual impairments firsthand in order to better understand the challenges faced by clients with vision loss.
• Diabetes Management Services and support for managing diabetes, particularly relevant for clients whose visual impairment stems from diabetic retinopathy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of Vital Living participants improved their daily living and/or communication skills
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Florida Division of Blind ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState of Florida agency providing primary government funding for services to blind and visually impaired individuals in Broward County
• United Way of Broward CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way partner agency receiving Community Impact funding to support operations and client services
• VisionServe AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of VisionServe Alliance, a consortium of organizations serving the blind and visually impaired
• Florida Association of Agencies Serving the BlindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of state association for agencies serving the blind and visually impaired community
• Dania Beach Lions ClubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in White Cane Celebration event, hosting annual celebration at Lions Club location with lunch, games, and raffles for clients
• American Heritage SchoolsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeroes Celebration presented in partnership with American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus. Fifth and sixth annual events held with student participation and fundraising
• Sunshine HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of Family Support Event, impressed by inaugural event and committed to being presenting sponsor for next year's event
• Margaritaville Hollywood Beach ResortmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for 11th Annual Dining in the Dark event at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, Hollywood, FL 33019
• Van Horn Law GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted Debt Strategy Workshop for 27 clients, presenting interactive Q&A session on practical debt management and financial strategies
• Broward County Transit (TOPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParatransit service providing round-trip transportation for adult clients to Lighthouse of Broward at 5901 Del Lago Circle
• Florida Lighthouse of Palm BeachesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in joint Annual STEAM Fair with students from Lighthouse of Palm Beaches

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches: Direct neighbor and active partner, running joint programs such as the Annual STEAM Fair. Operates the same vision-rehabilitation nonprofit model on an adjacent Florida geography (Palm Beach County), serving the same visually impaired population with comparable age-segmented programming.
• Lighthouse Louisiana: New Orleans-based independent Lighthouse nonprofit offering vision rehabilitation, employment, and youth services throughout Louisiana. Mirrors Lighthouse of Broward's single-state regional nonprofit model, with somewhat broader multi-disability programming.
• VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired: NYC-based nonprofit providing rehabilitation, employment, and social services for blind and visually impaired residents. Closest direct programmatic peer to Lighthouse of Broward outside Florida — same age-segmented service model, AER-aligned practices, and free-of-charge delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Lighthouse Guild: Large, established NYC-based nonprofit providing vision-loss rehabilitation, education, and behavioral health services. Operates the same comprehensive vision-rehabilitation model but at national scale, with broader medical and behavioral health integration than Lighthouse of Broward.
• The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. Seattle-headquartered 501(c)(3) manufacturing and services nonprofit employing blind and visually impaired individuals across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Shares the Lighthouse mission identity and employment/Workforce Enterprises focus, with significantly larger scale and a manufacturing-services hybrid model.
• Chicago Lighthouse: Midwest nonprofit offering vision rehabilitation, assistive technology, employment, and youth programs across the same client lifecycle as Lighthouse of Broward (infants through seniors). Independent nonprofit like Lighthouse of Broward, but operating in Chicago with deeper pediatric and clinical service lines.
• Perkins School for the Blind: National nonprofit serving children who are blind, deafblind, or visually impaired, with strong early-intervention overlap to Lighthouse of Broward's Bright Beginnings program. Different primary model (residential school + global programs) but directly comparable early-childhood mission.

Direct peers

• Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI): Rochester, NY-based nonprofit providing rehabilitation, education, and assistive technology services for blind and visually impaired individuals. Closely comparable mission, programmatic structure, and AER-aligned service model to Lighthouse of Broward.

Others

• VisionServe Alliance: Consortium of nonprofit agencies serving blind and visually impaired populations of which Lighthouse of Broward is a member. Industry association — not a direct competitor — but useful as a peer-network signal of comparable organizations and best-practice benchmarks across the sector.
• National Industries for the Blind (NIB): National nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for people who are blind through its network of associated agencies, including Lighthouse of Broward's Workforce Enterprises program. Adjacent enabler in the employment-outcomes value chain rather than a direct program-service competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgMsWQbLci3sJKpTYylSEkw
• Facebookfacebook.com/LighthouseBroward
• Instagraminstagram.com/lighthouseofbroward/?hl=en
• Xx.com/browardvision

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Lighthouse of Broward