2025-11-03T18:06:22-06:00 2025-06-30 991856619 GRANT THORNTON ADVISORS LLC 1000 WILSON BOULEVARD SUITE 1500 ARLINGTON VA 22209 990 2024-07-01 450524687 FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS RETINAL DEGENERATION FUND FOUN 4104230600 6925 OAKLAND MILLS ROAD 701 COLUMBIA MD 21045 PETER GINSBERG CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, FFB 4104230600 2025-11-03 1 1 MARY TORRETTA P00847851 7038477500 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z RUSSELL W KELLEY 6925 OAKLAND MILLS ROAD 701 COLUMBIA MD 21045 9006253 0 X WWW.RETINALDEGENERATIONFUND.ORG X 2003 DE SEE SCHEDULE O 11 10 10 12 0 0 8307442 8771404 0 0 443693 -1765133 0 0 8751135 7006271 0 1000000 0 0 1118966 1189026 0 0 0 190719 252025 1309685 2441051 7441450 4565220 52460807 59633698 85288 103316 52375519 59530382 THE FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS RETINAL DEGENERATION FUND'S MISSION IS TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSLATION OF RETINAL LABORATORY-BASED RESEARCH INTO CLINICAL TRIALS TO EXPEDITE THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF PATIENT THERAPIES. 0 0 2402495 1000000 THE FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS RETINAL DEGENERATION FUND (RD FUND) AIMS TO DELIVER LIFE-CHANGING SOLUTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH RETINAL DEGENERATIVE DISEASES TODAY, WHILE CREATING A PIPELINE OF NEXT-GENERATION AND NOVEL THERAPEUTIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR TOMORROW. RD FUND IS FLEXIBLE IN HOW IT STRUCTURES INVESTMENTS LEVERAGING EQUITY, DEBT, ROYALTY, AND/OR PROJECT CO-FUNDING. ALL PROCEEDS OF THIS HIGH-IMPACT PHILANTHROPIC VEHICLE ARE RETURNED TO THE FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR FURTHERING ITS MISSION. RD FUND ACCOMPLISHES THIS BY INVESTING IN EARLY STAGE BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON ADVANCING PROMISING THERAPIES FOR RETINAL DEGENERATIVE DISEASES. 2402495 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 6 0 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 11 10 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 X X PETER GINSBERG 4104230600 6925 OAKLAND MILLS ROAD 701 COLUMBIA MD 21045 X ADRIENNE GRAVES PHD CHAIRMAN 1.00 1.00 X 12500 0 0 KAREN PETROU VICE CHAIR 1.00 10.00 X 0 0 0 TONY ADAMIS MD DIRECTOR 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 JEAN BENNETT MD PHD DIRECTOR 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 MARK BLUMENKRANZ MD MMS DIRECTOR 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 CATHERINE BOWES RICKMAN PHD DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 15000 0 JACQUE DUNCAN MD DIRECTOR 1.00 5.00 X 0 75000 0 KELLY LISBAKKEN DIRECTOR 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 JOSE-ALAIN SAHEL MD DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 15000 0 JONATHAN STEINBERG MD DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 WARREN THALER DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 JASON D MENZO CEO 8.00 32.00 X 126140 504560 93231 PETER L GINSBERG COO / ACTING TREASURER, RD FUND 8.00 32.00 X 91006 364025 85311 RUSSELL W KELLEY MANAGING DIRECTOR, RD FUND 40.00 0.00 X 447300 0 85994 ALICIA KEMBLE SR. VENTURE ASSOCIATE 40.00 0.00 X 164205 0 48679 841151 973585 313215 3 0 1 0 0 8771404 8771404 234849 234849 1999982 -1999982 -1999982 -1999982 7006271 0 0 -1765133 1000000 1000000 639542 639542 341392 341392 42691 42691 108640 108640 56761 56761 13568 1613 11955 86585 86585 17980 17980 6893 6893 11637 11637 48582 48059 523 59523 57685 1838 PRINTING & SUBSCRIPTION 7222 962 6260 35 35 2441051 2402495 38556 0 123509 123221 3250000 1250000 750 800 42666783 53199218 6419765 5060459 52460807 59633698 85288 103316 85288 103316 X 52375519 59530382 52375519 59530382 52460807 59633698 4565220 2589643 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X X X 1 THE FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC 237135845 7 1 8771404 0 1 8771404 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 SCIENTIFIC INVESTMENTS HELD AT COST 43875060 C SCIENTIFIC INVESTMENTS HELD AT FMV 9324158 F 53199218 DUE FROM RELATED PARTY 4881016 ACCRUED INTEREST RECEIVABLE 179443 5060459 X 9595914 2589643 2589643 7006271 0 7006271 2441051 0 2441051 0 2441051 PART X, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION FOLLOWS THE ACCOUNTING STANDARD ON ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES, WHICH ADDRESSES THE DETERMINATION OF WHETHER TAX BENEFITS CLAIMED OR EXPECTED TO BE CLAIMED ON A TAX RETURN SHOULD BE RECORDED IN THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. UNDER THIS POLICY, THE ORGANIZATION MAY RECOGNIZE THE TAX BENEFIT FROM AN UNCERTAIN TAX POSITION ONLY IF IT IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT THAT THE TAX POSITION WOULD BE SUSTAINED ON EXAMINATION BY TAXING AUTHORITIES, BASED ON THE TECHNICAL MERITS OF THE POSITION. MANAGEMENT HAS EVALUATED THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX POSITIONS AND HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS TAKEN NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE ADJUSTMENT TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO COMPLY WITH PROVISIONS OF THIS GUIDANCE. EUROPE (INCLUDING ICELAND & GREENLAND) 0 0 PROGRAM SERVICES TRAVEL 4283 EUROPE (INCLUDING ICELAND & GREENLAND) 0 0 INVESTMENT 13471283 MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA 0 0 PROGRAM SERVICES TRAVEL 2205 0 0 0 0 0 0 13477771 0 13477771 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 OPUS GENETICS INC 8 DAVIS DRIVE SUITE 220 DURHAM NC 27709 113516358 1000000 0 RESEARCH FUNDING 0 1 PART I, LINE 2 THE ORGANIZATION ENTERED INTO A CO-FUNDING AGREEMENT AS A FORM OF PROGRAMMATIC LENDING WITH OPUS GENETICS ON JUNE 13, 2025. THE AGREEMENT OUTLINED INITIAL RESEARCH FUNDING, NOT TO EXCEED $2,000,000, PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION. AS OF JUNE 30, 2025, THE ORGANIZATION HAD PAID A TOTAL OF $1,000,000, WITH A POTENTIAL $1,000,000 REMAINING TO BE FUNDED. THE FUNDED AMOUNTS WERE RECORDED AS GRANT EXPENSE. 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 JASON D MENZO CEO 88178 352711 19645 78580 18317 73270 7107 28430 11539 46155 144786 579146 0 0 PETER L GINSBERG COO / ACTING TREASURER, RD FUND 65948 263793 8916 35664 16142 64569 6909 27635 10153 40614 108069 432275 0 0 RUSSELL W KELLEY MANAGING DIRECTOR, RD FUND 326079 0 42765 0 78456 0 32428 0 53566 0 533294 0 0 0 ALICIA KEMBLE SR. VENTURE ASSOCIATE 151872 0 12211 0 122 0 9665 0 39014 0 212884 0 0 0 SCHEDULE J, PART I, LINE 3: THE FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS, INC., A RELATED ORGANIZATION, ESTABLISHES THE COMPENSATION FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S EMPLOYEES. THE FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS, INC. USES AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTANT, 990 OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, A COMPENSATION SURVEY OR STUDY, AND APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OR COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. SCHEDULE J, PART I, LINE 4B: SUPPLEMENTAL NONQUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLAN FFB OFFERS A LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN (LTIP) TO CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM. THE PLAN OPERATES ON A THREE-YEAR CYCLE WHEREIN INCENTIVE PAYMENTS ARE ACCRUED ANNUALLY BASED UPON ACHIEVEMENT OF PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND PAID OUT AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD. THE LAST CYCLE COVERED FISCAL YEARS 2022, 2023, AND 2024, AND WAS PAID OUT IN THE FALL OF 2024. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS ARE INCLUDED AS TAXABLE COMPENSATION IN SCHEDULE J, PART II, COLUMN (B)(III): - JASON D. MENZO: $91,227 - PETER L. GINSBERG: $79,679 - RUSSELL W. KELLEY: $77,904 A NEW LTIP THREE-YEAR CYCLE COMMENCED JULY 1, 2024, AND WILL COVER FISCAL YEARS 2025, 2026, AND 2027. THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS WERE ACCRUED IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024 AND ARE THEREFORE INCLUDED AS DEFERRED COMPENSATION IN SCHEDULE J, PART II, COLUMN (C): - JASON D. MENZO: $15,531 - PETER L. GINSBERG: $11,589 - RUSSELL W. KELLEY: $11,367 SCHEDULE J, PART I, LINE 7: FFB EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATE IN AN ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN. THE PLAN PROVIDES AN ANNUAL CASH BONUS DEPENDING UPON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF PRE-DETERMINED ORGANIZATION AND INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE CRITERIA. FORM 990, PART I, LINE 1, DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION: THE FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS RETINAL DEGENERATION FUND'S MISSION IS TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSLATION OF RETINAL LABORATORY-BASED RESEARCH INTO CLINICAL TRIALS TO EXPEDITE THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF PATIENT THERAPIES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 4 DURING THE TAX YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION AMENDED ITS BYLAWS TO EXTEND BOARD TERMS, ALLOW FOR THE ELECTION OF AN ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBER, AND CREATE THE POSITION OF VICE CHAIR. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 THE SOLE MEMBER OF FFB RD FUND IS THE FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS, INC. (FFB). FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A FFB ELECTS THE DIRECTORS OF FFB RD FUND ANNUALLY AS NEEDED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B DATA TO PREPARE THE FEDERAL FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO OUR OUTSIDE ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR PREPARATION AND GUIDANCE. AFTER IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED, A DRAFT OF THE FEDERAL FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE VP, FINANCE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, RD FUND, AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. WITH THE COO'S APPROVAL, THE DRAFT FEDERAL FORM 990 IS THEN MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS. A FINAL DRAFT IS MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C IN CONNECTION WITH ANY ACTUAL OR POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AN INTERESTED PERSON (INCLUDING OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND KEY EMPLOYEES) MUST DISCLOSE, IN WRITING PRIOR TO ANY DISCUSSION OR VOTE UPON A PROPOSAL, THE EXISTENCE AND NATURE OF HIS OR HER PERSONAL INTEREST TO THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD COMMITTEE CONSIDERING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT. AFTER DISCLOSURE OF THE FINANCIAL OR NON-FINANCIAL INTEREST AND ALL MATERIAL FACTS, THE INTERESTED PERSON SHALL LEAVE THE BOARD OR COMMITTEE MEETING WHILE THE FINANCIAL OR NON-FINANCIAL INTEREST IS DISCUSSED AND VOTED UPON. THE REMAINING BOARD SHALL DECIDE IF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS, AND IF SO, WHETHER THERE IS A COMPELLING REASON TO RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD THAT THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY BE OVERRIDDEN. A QUORUM IS NEEDED FOR VOTING AND THE VOTE TO OVERRIDE SHALL BE BY MAJORITY AND DULY NOTED IN THE MINUTES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 FFB RD FUND'S FEDERAL FORM 990 TAX RETURN AND CONSOLIDATED AUDIT ARE AVAILABLE AT ITS SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE, WWW.FIGHTINGBLINDNESS.ORG. OTHER PUBLIC GOVERNING DOCUMENTS INCLUDING THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST THROUGH THE CONTACT INFORMATION DISCLOSED ON FFB'S WEB SITE. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE SAME PERIOD OF DISCLOSURE AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 6104(D). FORM 990, PART VII, SECTION A: THE FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS, INC. (FFB), A RELATED ORGANIZATION, ACTS AS THE COMMON PAYMASTER FOR FFB RD FUND. FFB ALSO APPROVES AND REVIEWS ANY COMPENSATION TO OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, TRUSTEES AND KEY EMPLOYEES OF FFB RD FUND IN CONFORMANCE WITH THEIR COMPENSATION DETERMINATION POLICY. BOARD MEMBERS WERE NOT COMPENSATED FOR THEIR SERVICE ON THE BOARD, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CHAIR OF THE RD FUND BOARD, WHO WAS COMPENSATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RD FUND BOARD'S APPROVED COMPENSATION POLICY. SOME RD FUND BOARD MEMBERS ALSO RECEIVED STIPENDS FOR SERVING ON THE FFB'S SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD. THE FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC 6925 OAKLAND MILLS RD 701 COLUMBIA MD 21045 237135845 RESEARCH MD 501(C)(3) LINE 7 N/A 0 MACULAR DEGENERATION INTERNATIONAL INC 6925 OAKLAND MILLS RD 701 COLUMBIA MD 21045 363923922 FUNDRAISING IL 501(C)(3) LINE 7 THE FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC 0 NATIONAL RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA FOUNDATION 6925 OAKLAND MILLS RD 701 COLUMBIA MD 21045 522072391 FUNDRAISING MD 501(C)(3) LINE 12A, I THE FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS INC 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0