Awarded Grants
Search & Filter Awarded GrantsA Closer Look, Inc.
New York, NYAbout the Grantee
A Closer Look’s mission is to minimize suffering, maximize empathy and inspire action on health and social justice issues. By sharing unique perspectives through film and other creative media, they promote interdisciplinary and trans-generational discussions and offer resources available for help.
Purpose of the Grant
To support the final outreach efforts for the Going Blind film, and the Going Blind and Going Forward outreach program.
Amount
$15,000Term
12Grant Regions
USA Multi-StateAmerican Printing House for the Blind
Louisville, KY, USAAbout the Grantee
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is the world’s largest nonprofit organization creating educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are visually impaired.
Purpose of the Grant
To create PDFs for each chapter of the book Physical Education
and Sports, which will be transferred to Perkins International so they may disseminate the
book in this additional format to their Latin American audience.
Amount
$4,750Term
1 monthGrant Regions
International, Latin America & CaribbeanAmerican Printing House for the Blind
Louisville, KY, USAAbout the Grantee
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is the world’s largest nonprofit organizto 1) better serve the needs of parents of children with vision loss
through the ConnectCenter and 2) to ensure ease of navigation and streamlined, organized content within the site. The over-arching priority over the life of this grant is for APH to significantly enhance engagement with, and support for, parents of children who are blind, low vision, or deaf-blind.ation creating educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are visually impaired.
Purpose of the Grant
To 1) better serve the needs of parents of children with vision loss through the ConnectCenter and 2) to ensure ease of navigation and streamlined, organized content within the site. The over-arching priority over the life of this grant is for APH to significantly enhance engagement with, and support for, parents of children who are blind, low vision, or deaf-blind.
Amount
$325,000Term
24 monthsGrant Regions
USA Multi-StateAssociation for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment
Binghamton, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
AVRE is a private, non-profit organization that creates opportunities for success and independence with people who are blind or visually impaired.
Purpose of the Grant
For equipment repairs.
Amount
$30,000Term
1 monthGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State Area, Upstate NYBetances Health Center
New York, NYAbout the Grantee
Betances Health Center (Betances) is a federally qualified health center located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Their mission is to promote and provide quality health care for all, regardless of ability to pay. Since 1970, Betances has emerged as a leader in community based primary and specialty care serving over 5,000 underserved patients each year.
Purpose of the Grant
To support the integration of vision care services into Betances’ existing service model.
Amount
$200,000Term
18 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State Area, NYC Metro AreaBlind Early Services TN
Brentwood, TNAbout the Grantee
BEST works to ensure that all kids and families in the state of Tennessee receive appropriate training and resources specific to the developmental needs of blind and visually impaired children.
Purpose of the Grant
To partially cover the costs of holding a VIISA training course and an audit.
Amount
$10,000Term
10 monthsGrant Regions
Out of Tri-State AreaChristian Blind Mission (USA)
Washington, DC, USAAbout the Grantee
Christian Blind Mission International, Inc. is committed to the education and rehabilitation of persons with visual impairment and disabilities. The organization provides sight preventing NTD treatments to 61 million and serves about 10 million disabled people worldwide.
Purpose of the Grant
In support of the High-Impact Simulated Ophthalmic Surgical Training in sub-Saharan Africa Project which aims to train eye surgeons and to further develop a well-established simulation surgical training unit into a world-class, sustainable and comprehensive ophthalmic simulation training center. This training center will be located at the University of Cape Town (UCT), in South Africa.
Amount
$435,476Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
Africa, InternationalCity Access New York, Inc.
Staten Island, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
City Access New York promotes lifelong access to educational, vocational and cultural programs for New Yorkers of all abilities as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that identifies barriers to participation, in schools and in the community, and adapts the content and delivery of programs to the diverse needs of people with disabilities.
Purpose of the Grant
For renewed support of the Career Discovery Project (CDP) to underwrite pre-vocational education, orientation, and mobility training, and one or more paid semester- or summer-long internships at partner cultural institutions in NYC for each of 12-18 high school and college students who are blind or visually impaired.
Amount
$102,000Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
NYC Metro AreaGoodwill Vision Enterprises
Rochester, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Goodwill Vision Enterprises (formerly Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired), founded in 1911, is a premiere provider of vision rehabilitation services to people who are blind or visually impaired throughout the Greater Rochester, Finger Lakes, and Southern Tier areas of New York.
As part of its mission-focused work, GVE empowers people with vision loss to engage in fulfilling careers by offering a variety of entrepreneurial businesses, including a state-of-the-art contact center, and manufacturing and fulfillment services.
Purpose of the Grant
For the exploration of a partnership with the University of Rochester’s Flaum Eye Institute to enhance low vision and vision rehabilitation services across the Finger Lakes region for people with vision loss while contributing to the financial sustainability of the Grantee.
Amount
$75,000Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
Upstate NYLavelle School for the Blind
Bronx, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Located in Bronx, New York, the Lavelle School for the Blind is a multi-cultural educational institution committed to teaching and training students with visual impairments and additional disabilities. Founded in 1904, Lavelle School for the Blind was originally a Catholic institution, based on the Catholic tradition and the compassion and dedication of the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt.
As a private, state approved and supported institution, Lavelle School for the Blind educates approximately 150 enrolled students annually from all five New York City boroughs as well as surrounding school districts outside of New York City. Students may enroll as early as age 3 and can continue until age 21.
Purpose of the Grant
The purpose of this year’s John Caffrey Student Enhancement Discretionary Grant is
to continue enabling the School’s Executive Director to explore and expand services offered at the
School.
Amount
$75,000Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State Area, NYC Metro AreaLavelle School for the Blind
Bronx, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Located in Bronx, New York, the Lavelle School for the Blind is a multi-cultural educational institution committed to teaching and training students with visual impairments and additional disabilities. Founded in 1904, Lavelle School for the Blind was originally a Catholic institution, based on the Catholic tradition and the compassion and dedication of the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt.
As a private, state approved and supported institution, Lavelle School for the Blind educates approximately 150 enrolled students annually from all five New York City boroughs as well as surrounding school districts outside of New York City. Students may enroll as early as age 3 and can continue until age 21.
Purpose of the Grant
For gala support.
Amount
$10,000Term
1 monthGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State Area, NYC Metro AreaLavelle School for the Blind
Bronx, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Located in Bronx, New York, the Lavelle School for the Blind is a multi-cultural educational institution committed to teaching and training students with visual impairments and additional disabilities. Founded in 1904, Lavelle School for the Blind was originally a Catholic institution, based on the Catholic tradition and the compassion and dedication of the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt.
As a private, state approved and supported institution, Lavelle School for the Blind educates approximately 150 enrolled students annually from all five New York City boroughs as well as surrounding school districts outside of New York City. Students may enroll as early as age 3 and can continue until age 21.
Purpose of the Grant
Gift in memory of founding Board members.
Amount
$10,000Term
1 monthGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State Area, NYC Metro AreaLavelle School for the Blind
Bronx, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Located in Bronx, New York, the Lavelle School for the Blind is a multi-cultural educational institution committed to teaching and training students with visual impairments and additional disabilities. Founded in 1904, Lavelle School for the Blind was originally a Catholic institution, based on the Catholic tradition and the compassion and dedication of the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt.
As a private, state approved and supported institution, Lavelle School for the Blind educates approximately 150 enrolled students annually from all five New York City boroughs as well as surrounding school districts outside of New York City. Students may enroll as early as age 3 and can continue until age 21.
Purpose of the Grant
For the creation of a model “Activities of Daily Living Training Apartment.”
Amount
$250,000Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State Area, NYC Metro AreaNational Braille Press
Boston, MA, USAAbout the Grantee
National Braille Press supports a lifetime of opportunity for blind children through braille literacy, and provides access to information that empowers blind people to actively engage in work, family, and community affairs.
Purpose of the Grant
In support of the 2023 Touch of Genius Award program. $10,000 will support the award to the winner, and $5,000 will cover ancillary costs associated with managing the award program.
Amount
$15,000Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
InternationalNational Society to Prevent Blindness
Chicago, ILAbout the Grantee
Founded in 1908, National Society to Prevent Blindness is the USA’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, the organization’s work touches the lives of millions of people each year.
Purpose of the Grant
For 1) a comprehensive evaluation of the ASPECT Patient Engagement Program and 2) establishment of a community platform to promote ongoing engagement of program graduates.
Amount
$84,391Term
24 monthsGrant Regions
USA Multi-StateNeighborhood Health Center
New York, NYAbout the Grantee
Providing care since 1987, Neighborhood Health Center serves as Western New York’s leading primary and integrated services provider to more than 26,000 patients.
Purpose of the Grant
To support the integration of vision care services into Neighborhood’s existing service model.
Amount
$200,000Term
18 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State Area, Upstate NYNew York Public Library
New York, NYAbout the Grantee
The Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library provides free accessible reading material for patrons who are blind, visually impaired, or are otherwise physically unable to read standard print. Heiskell Library offers materials to borrow in a wide range of formats, including braille, talking books, and magazines, for users of all ages, as well as players and apps. Patrons can also find accessible programming and events, individual coaching in assistive technology, group tech workshops, braille study groups, and more.
Purpose of the Grant
For the Heiskell Library’s “Translating Access” project.
Amount
$247,611Term
24 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State Area, NYC Metro AreaOrbis International
New York, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Orbis International is an NGO that brings people together to fight avoidable blindness through a network of partners to mentor, train and inspire local teams to fight blindness in their own communities.
Purpose of the Grant
To support the Sitapur Eye Hospital – Orbis Comprehensive Childhood Blindness Project in India (Phase 2).
Amount
$454,648Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
International, South AsiaPerkins School for the Blind
Watertown, MA, USAAbout the Grantee
Perkins is a progressive, multi-faceted organization committed to improving the lives of people with blindness and deafblindness all around the world.
Purpose of the Grant
To support the ELP Shark Tank – The Power of Innovation project.
Amount
$5,000Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
International, Latin America & CaribbeanPerkins School for the Blind
Watertown, MA, USAAbout the Grantee
Perkins is a progressive, multi-faceted organization committed to improving the lives of people with blindness and deafblindness all around the world.
Purpose of the Grant
In support of “Every Child Can Learn: Scaling Up Systemic change for Children with Disabilities and Visual Impairment in Latin America.”
Amount
$1,949,445Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
International, Latin America & CaribbeanResearch Foundation of the City University of New York
New York, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Hunter College, located in the heart of Manhattan, is the largest college in the City University of New York (CUNY). Founded in 1870, it is also one of the oldest public colleges in the country. More than 23,000 students currently attend Hunter, pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in more than 170 areas of study.
Purpose of the Grant
To support Hunter College’s Vision Rehabilitation Teacher (VRT) graduate programs.
Amount
$674,796Term
48 monthsGrant Regions
USA Multi-StateSaint Francis de Sales School for the Deaf
New York, NYAbout the Grantee
St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf (SFDS) is a privately owned, state supported school for Deaf students from birth through 8th grade located in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn. SFDS offers a Parent Infant Program (Ages 0-3), an Early Childhood Program (Ages 3-5) and a School Age Program (Grades K-8). Students attending SFDS are Deaf, Deafblind, Functionally Deaf and Deaf with Additional/Multiple Disabilities including Deaf with Autism and Deaf with Intellectual Disabilities.
Purpose of the Grant
To support a portion of a universally designed inclusive playground for the Grantee’s students, including those who are deafblind.
Amount
$50,000Term
3 monthsGrant Regions
NYC Metro AreaSeva Foundation
Berkeley, CA, USAAbout the Grantee
Seva works with local communities around the world to develop self-sustaining programs that preserve and restore sight.
Purpose of the Grant
To establish and operate a vision center in Santa Rosa Jauregui.
Amount
$136,796Term
39 monthsGrant Regions
International, Latin America & CaribbeanSuccess Beyond Sight
Tucson, AZAbout the Grantee
The mission of Success Beyond Sight is to empower individuals who are blind or low vision to advance professionally and fully engage in community life by eliminating barriers to their equal opportunity for success.
Purpose of the Grant
For the National Teachers of Students with Visual Impairment (TSVI) Recruitment Project that will identify potential candidates for TSVI university programs, develop specific iterative messaging targeted to relevant audiences and launch a national campaign to promote and deliver that messaging.