LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing rehabilitation, training, assistive-technology instruction, low vision clinical care, and community programs for blind and low vision individuals across California through four physical sites and a portfolio of sub-brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired does
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1902 and headquartered at 1155 Market Street in San Francisco. Formed in its current structure through the 1993 merger of the Rose Resnick Center into LightHouse for the Blind, the organization serves blind and low vision individuals across California through a continuum-of-care portfolio spanning early childhood (Little Learners), youth and transition services, adult rehabilitation training, a Low Vision Clinic operated in partnership with the UC Berkeley School of Optometry, and the residential Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa. It maintains four California facilities — San Francisco, Napa, Santa Rosa (the 17-acre Earle Baum Campus, integrated in 2024), and Eureka — alongside sub-brands including the MAD Lab (tactile graphics and accessible design), Adaptations online retail store, LightHouse ECO (a cleaning-products social enterprise launched in 2024 with PRIDE Industries), LightHouse AUX (accessibility user-experience research), and YES youth employment services. The core technology layer is third-party assistive technology (screen readers, magnification, mobile devices) taught through the Access Technology program, rather than proprietary software products.
The revenue model is a hybrid typical of mid-sized human-services nonprofits: foundation grants (anchored by a $3.3 million E. Matilda Ziegler Foundation award in late 2024), California Department of Rehabilitation / Older Individuals Who Are Blind government contracts for vocational rehabilitation, individual and corporate donations (Giving Tuesday, Waymo, Xfinity/Comcast), program fees for camp and training, and retail/e-commerce income from Adaptations and LightHouse ECO. The go-to-market is community-led, driven by referrals from medical providers, social workers, case managers, and rehabilitation counselors, supplemented by healthcare-provider partnerships, digital channels (website, email, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X), and corporate partnerships (notably Sony PlayStation for software-developer apprenticeships and VotingWorks for accessibility user testing). Leadership is in transition following the March 2025 resignation of CEO Sharon Giovinazzo, with Brandon Cox serving as interim CEO.
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Legal name
- LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Website
- https://lighthouse-sf.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing rehabilitation, training, assistive-technology instruction, low vision clinical care, and community programs for blind and low vision individuals across California through four physical sites and a portfolio of sub-brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vision Rehabilitation and Disability Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321)
- SIC
- Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Social Services (8300), Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Live-In Care (Single Caregiver, 24-Hour Presence) (HSABAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Home Accessibility Assessment & Design (HSAPANAA)
Keywords
Where LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, major gifts, and annual fundraising campaigns including Giving Tuesday and general donor support
- Program Fees: Fees for various programs and services including Enchanted Hills Camp, training courses, and workshops
- Government Contracts: Funding through California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) for vocational rehabilitation and independent living services
- Retail Sales (Adaptations Store): Online store selling tools, technology, and accessible solutions for blind and low vision individuals
- LightHouse ECO Products: Cleaning products including PRIDEClean, sold through LightHouse ECO initiative employing blind individuals
- Grants: Foundation grants including $3.3 million from E. Matilda Ziegler Foundation for Little Learners, Enchanted Hills Camp, and MAD Lab programs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | No publicly disclosed pricing - quote-based services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers rehabilitation, training, and community programs for blind and low vision individuals across California, including Access Technology training, Blind & Low Vision Skills Training, the LightHouse Little Learners early-intervention program, Transition Services, Enchanted Hills Camp, a Low Vision Clinic, Community Services, and Volunteer Services. It also operates the Adaptations online store and the LightHouse ECO social enterprise (PRIDEClean) to provide accessible products and inclusive employment opportunities.
Product overview
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a non-profit organization offering a comprehensive suite of rehabilitation, training, and community programs rather than commercial technology products. Its portfolio includes Access Technology training, Blind & Low Vision Skills Training, Youth Services (Little Learners and Transition Services), the residential Enchanted Hills Camp, Low Vision Clinic, Community Services, and Volunteer Services. The organization also operates subsidiary programs including MAD Lab (creating tactile accessible materials), the Adaptations Store (online retail of assistive devices), LightHouse ECO (cleaning products/social enterprise), and LightHouse AUX (accessibility research). The Earle Baum Campus in Santa Rosa extends their reach. These services work together to provide holistic support across all life stages for blind and visually impaired individuals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LightHouse Little Learners: Early childhood program for infants and toddlers with visual impairments
- Enchanted Hills Camp (EHC)
- Earle Baum Campus (EBC)
- MAD Lab (Media and Accessible Design Laboratory)
- Adaptations
- LightHouse ECO
- 30% & Growing
- YES (Youth Employment Services)
- LightHouse AUX
Products and services
- Access Technology Program
- Blind & Low Vision Skills Training
- LightHouse Little Learners
- Transition Services
- Enchanted Hills Camp (EHC)
- Low Vision Clinic
- Community Services
- Volunteer Services
- MAD Lab (Media and Accessible Design Laboratory)
- Adaptations Store
- LightHouse ECO (PRIDEClean)
- LightHouse AUX (Accessible User Experience)
- Earle Baum Campus (EBC)
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 60% decrease in OIB funding since 2024-2026 affecting the blindness services ecosystem
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.
- Sony PlayStationcoreDiversity hiring initiative where Sony PlayStation's Consumer Experience Innovation team provides Software Developer Apprentice positions specifically for qualified blind and low vision candidates. The apprenticeship involves hybrid work at the San Mateo office contributing to PlayStation's support portal and Salesforce platforms.
- WaymominorWaymo is sponsoring LightHouse Day on June 25, 2026 - the organization's annual community celebration event. This partnership supports awareness and community engagement for the blindness community.
- VotingWorksminorLightHouse AUX (Accessible User Experience) team is conducting user testing studies on VotingWorks accessible voting kiosk technology, recruiting blind and low vision participants to provide feedback on accessibility features.
- Laguna FoundationminorEnvironmental partnership for land stewardship at Earle Baum Campus, working together with LightHouse and Redwood Lions Memorial Foundation on land management, vernal pool protection, and ecosystem preservation.
- AARP Tax-Aide ProgramminorPartnership to provide free tax filing support at LightHouse San Francisco headquarters during tax season. AARP Tax-Aide counselors provide services on-site.
- Xfinity/ComcastmoderateRoundtable discussion about accessibility trends and joint efforts for greater digital inclusion. Xfinity/Comcast donated $20,000 to support LightHouse programs. Partnership focuses on ensuring accessibility of telecommunications and digital services.
- PRIDE IndustriescoreGroundbreaking collaboration for inclusive employment through LightHouse ECO's PRIDEClean cleaning products. PRIDE Industries provides employment opportunities for blind and low vision individuals through this partnership, setting a precedent for inclusive employment in cleaning services.
- Redwood Lions Memorial FoundationcorePartnership to care for and steward the 17-acre Earle Baum Campus landscape in Santa Rosa. Collaborative land management including vernal pool protection and environmental stewardship.
- UC Berkeley School of OptometrymoderatePartnership for the LightHouse Eye Clinic at San Francisco headquarters, providing low vision care and optical services in collaboration with the university's School of Optometry.
- San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)minorPartnership for Tactile Intersections Workshop promoting the citywide Safety—It's Your Turn campaign. LightHouse provides expertise on accessibility for public transportation infrastructure.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): UK national sight-loss charity providing advice, rehabilitation, campaigning, and community services. Comparable mission and continuum-of-care approach, but operates in the UK rather than California.
- Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired: California-based non-profit providing rehabilitation and adaptive technology services primarily on the Peninsula and South Bay. Comparable mission and program mix to LightHouse, with overlapping California service area.
- Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind: Mid-Atlantic blindness non-profit providing rehabilitation, youth, and employment services with regional service area. Comparable programmatic scope to LightHouse but focused on Washington D.C./Maryland/Virginia rather than California.
Direct peers
- Perkins School for the Blind: Provides education, rehabilitation, and accessibility services for blind and deafblind individuals across the lifespan. Comparable continuum-of-care model and assistive technology training offerings similar to LightHouse.
- The Carroll Center for the Blind: New England-based non-profit offering rehabilitation, assistive technology training, and employment services for the blind. Peer because of overlapping rehabilitation, access-technology, and independent-living training programs.
- Helen Keller Services: Non-profit serving blind, deafblind, and visually impaired individuals across the lifespan with rehabilitation, education, and youth services. Mirrors LightHouse's continuum-of-care and skills-training model.
- Chicago Lighthouse: Non-profit social enterprise serving people who are blind, visually impaired, or multi-disabled through clinical, rehabilitation, and employment programs (including a clock-manufacturing business). Direct peer in mission, multi-site structure, and combined service-plus-enterprise model.
- National Federation of the Blind: The largest U.S. membership organization of blind people, providing advocacy, education, and community programs. Closest direct peer to LightHouse because both operate as non-profit blindness service providers across multiple program areas (training, employment, youth, advocacy).
- American Foundation for the Blind: National non-profit providing research, publications, and programs serving blind and low-vision individuals. Highly comparable given its blindness focus, advocacy role, and broad programmatic portfolio similar to LightHouse.
Emerging players
- Be My Eyes: Tech-enabled platform connecting blind and low-vision users with sighted volunteers and AI for visual assistance. Adjacent accessibility service provider with overlapping target population, though delivered via digital platform rather than in-person rehabilitation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired social profiles
Digital presenceLightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
What does LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired do?
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers rehabilitation, training, and community programs for blind and low vision individuals across California, including Access Technology training, Blind & Low Vision Skills Training, the LightHouse Little Learners early-intervention program, Transition Services, Enchanted Hills Camp, a Low Vision Clinic, Community Services, and Volunteer Services. It also operates the Adaptations online store and the LightHouse ECO social enterprise (PRIDEClean) to provide accessible products and inclusive employment opportunities.
Is LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired a public or private company?
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired founded?
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired was founded in 1993. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired based?
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are program Fees, government Contracts, retail Sales (Adaptations Store), lightHouse ECO Products and grants.
Who are LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind. Direct peers are Perkins School for the Blind, The Carroll Center for the Blind, Helen Keller Services, Chicago Lighthouse, National Federation of the Blind and American Foundation for the Blind. Be My Eyes is listed as an emerging player.
Does LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired have an API?
No public API is recorded for LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
What industry is LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in?
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired's product category is Vision Rehabilitation and Disability Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSABAHAB, Live-In Care (Single Caregiver, 24-Hour Presence), with a secondary code of HSAPANAA, Home Accessibility Assessment & Design. Its NAICS code is 624120 and its SIC code is 8082.