Awarded Grants
Search & Filter Awarded GrantsVision Forward Association
Milwaukee, WIAbout the Grantee
Vision Forward Association is an independent organization promoting personal development, career growth and community awareness through specialized services and programs for people who visually impaired. It provides a full spectrum of programs and services designed to build confidence and independence for people living with vision loss.
Purpose of the Grant
In support of “Technology Creates Possibilities: A National Training
Program in Assistive Technology for Professionals and Individuals who are Blind and Visually
Impaired.”
Amount
$240,483Term
24 monthsGrant Regions
Out of Tri-State Area, USA Multi-StateVISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
New York, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Started by six women in 1926 and pioneered racially integrated programs in the early 1920’s,VISIONS is a 501c3 nonprofit rehabilitation and social service agency celebrating over 90 years of service, assisting people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired to lead independent and active lives in their homes and communities, and educating the public to understand the capabilities and needs of people who are blind or visually impaired so that they may be integrated into all aspects of community life.
Purpose of the Grant
To support the Lower Hudson Valley project.
Amount
$10,000Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State AreaVisionServe Alliance
St. Louis, MOAbout the Grantee
VisionServe Alliance is a consortium of Executive Directors/CEOs of 501(c)(3) nonprofits throughout the United States that provide unique and specialized services to people who are blind or with severe vision loss. They aim to bring together the full diversity of services with the ultimate goal of unifying the many issues and organizations operating independently of one another in the field.
Purpose of the Grant
In support of the “Big Data Project to Reframe Aging and Vision Loss Services through Data Collection and Analysis,” which will create the first set of comprehensive data about people with blindness or low vision on a state-level basis.
Amount
$50,000Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
USA Multi-StateVisionSpring
New York, NYAbout the Grantee
VisionSpring is a global social enterprise creating access to affordable eyewear. Founded in 2001, VisionSpring works to transform the systemic dysfunction of the optical market, which has failed to deliver a 700-year old technology to 624 million people earning less than $4 per day. For many of these individuals, the lack of access to affordable eyeglasses leads to the loss of educational and employment opportunities. VisionSpring is filling the market gap by providing vision screenings and radically affordable eyeglasses. To date VisionSpring has facilitated vision screenings for 5.8 million low-income consumers and reached over 4.4 million with corrective eyeglasses.
Purpose of the Grant
This grant is in support of the Clear Vision Workplace initiative in Bangladesh. Funds
will be used to verify proof-of-concept by assessing the most cost-effective way to attain high level
of glasses coverage rates for factory workers.
Amount
$195,392Term
30 monthsGrant Regions
Asia (Outside South Asia), InternationalAdaptive Design Association, Inc.
New York, NYAbout the Grantee
Adaptive Design Association, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization which creates custom adaptations for children with disabilities. The group utilizes tri-wall cardboard and other sustainable materials to meet children’s equipment needs. Products include tangible symbol cues, customized positioning systems, and customized work surfaces.
Purpose of the Grant
For the Expansion of ADA’s Tangible Symbol Cue Set project.
Amount
$15,100Term
12Grant Regions
NYC Metro Area, Upstate NYAmerican Foundation for the Blind
New York, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
The mission of the American Foundation for the Blind is to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or visually impaired. We mobilize leaders, advance understanding, and champion impactful policies and practices using research and data.
Purpose of the Grant
To support AFB’s “Access & Engagement 3” (A&E3) research study to help ensure that students with visual impairments have an inclusive and equitable education.
Amount
$86,250Term
13 monthsGrant Regions
USA Multi-StateAssociation for the Multiple Impaired Blind
Brick, NJ, USAAbout the Grantee
Residential programs for people with multiple disabilities are what AMIB does with love, patience, and expertise. AMIB operates 14 group homes throughout Ocean and Monmouth County New Jersey and provides supportive services to 66 individuals in residential settings, 17 in day habilitation settings and 3 families with respite.
Purpose of the Grant
To underwrite the purchase of four adapted, handicapped-accessible vans to be used to transport visually impaired and multiply disabled adults from the Grantee’s new group homes to daily adult daycare programs and to medical appointments.
Amount
$200,000Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State AreaBenetech Initiative
Palo Alto, CA, USAAbout the Grantee
Benetech continues to be a nonprofit—with a pure focus on developing software for social good. More than two decades after our founding, we’ve grown to include multiple program areas and initiatives that provide software to improve—even transform—the lives of people all across the world.
Purpose of the Grant
In support of a two-pronged (“Digital Transformation in Specialized Schools” and “Education and Career Support”) India-based project which aims to train teachers of blind and visually impaired students to incorporate digital learning in the classroom environments, and to increase fundamental digital literacy skills for employability.
Amount
$649,936Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
International, South AsiaCenter for Disability Services, Inc.
Albany, NYAbout the Grantee
The Center for Disability Services provides a range of programs and services in upstate New York for individuals who have disabilities.
Purpose of the Grant
To allow the Langan School to purchase new technology to effectively support its classroom for visually impaired students.
Amount
$10,000Term
4Grant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State Area, Upstate NYCL Gupta Eye Institution
Moradabad, IndiaAbout the Grantee
C.L. Gupta Eye Institute, a unit of C.L. Gupta Charitable Foundation is a tertiary eye care center equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical equipment, specializing in treating various eye problems. The main aim of the institute is to provide the same quality of treatment and patient care to all sections of society irrespective of their socio-economic status.
Purpose of the Grant
In support of a project to “Eliminate Rural Avoidable Blindness Backlog During COVID-19 Pandemic in Western Uttar Pradesh, India.”
Amount
$368,196Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
Asia (Outside South Asia), InternationalCommunity Health Care Association of New York State
New York, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Established to give a voice to the state’s network of community health centers as leading providers of primary care, the Community Health Care Association of New York State’s (CHCANYS) mission is to champion community-centered primary care in New York State through leadership, advocacy, and support of Community Health Centers.
Purpose of the Grant
To help cover Phase 2 costs of a multi-year project aiming to increase vision health services to low-income New Yorkers through the Federally Qualified Health Center system.
Amount
$34,000Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
NYC Metro Area, Upstate NYDominican College
Orangeburg, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
The aim of Dominican College is to promote educational excellence, leadership, and service in an environment characterized by respect for the individual and concern for the community and its needs. Founded by the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, the College is an independent institution of higher learning, Catholic in origin and heritage. In the Dominican tradition, it fosters the active, shared pursuit of truth and embodies an ideal of education rooted in the values of reflective understanding and compassionate involvement.
Purpose of the Grant
To help sustain the core operations of the TVI Program and to increase the supply of highly qualified certified TVI’s.
Amount
$576,680Term
60 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State AreaFreedom Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.
Cassville, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Started by husband and wife team, Eric & Sharon Loori, over 25 years ago, they run a state-of-the-art kennel facility with all the amenities to make guide dogs as comfortable as possible, and structured for training staff.
Purpose of the Grant
To provide general operating support for Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind, the Northeast’s lowest-cost provider of guide dogs for people who are blind.
Amount
$216,000Term
24 MonthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State AreaFUNDAL
Mixco, GuatemalaAbout the Grantee
FUNDAL acts as a bridge to inclusion for students with deafblindness, visual and other impairments who need more specialized intervention in the beginning and then need support in the transition to mainstream education.
Purpose of the Grant
To support the “Forging Paths towards Inclusion and Sustainability” project.
Amount
$399,000Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
International, Latin America & CaribbeanHadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Winnetka, IL, USAAbout the Grantee
The mission of Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired is to create personalized learning opportunities that empower people to thrive – at home, at work and in their communities.
Purpose of the Grant
To support development of its new tactile braille workshop series, Braille for Everyday Use.
Amount
$225,000Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
USA Multi-StateHelen Keller International
New York, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Founded in 1915, Helen Keller International is dedicated to saving and improving the sight and lives of the world’s vulnerable by combating the causes and consequences of blindness, poor health and malnutrition.
Purpose of the Grant
To initiate the third phase of its “Scaling up Diabetic Retinopathy Services in Bangladesh” (SDRSIII) project.
Amount
$648,069Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
Asia (Outside South Asia), InternationalHelen Keller Services
Brooklyn, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Since 1893, Helen Keller Services (HKS) has been committed to improving the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired or have combined hearing and vision loss.
Purpose of the Grant
In support of the “Feeling Through” curriculum development project which plans to take advantage of and build on the enormous popularity of the “Feeling Through” Academy-award nominated short film, to build a robust, already-in demand professional training curriculum.
Amount
$347,580Term
24 monthsGrant Regions
InternationalHimalayan Cataract Project
Waterbury, VT, USAAbout the Grantee
The Himalayan Cataract Project works to eradicate preventable and curable blindness in the developing world.
Purpose of the Grant
To cover equipment costs for the Community Eye Hospital currently under construction in Bhaktapur, Nepal.
Amount
$70,000Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
International, South AsiaLavelle 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 support of the School’s gala.
Amount
$5,000Term
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
To provide discretionary funds which will enable the School’s Executive Director to explore and expand services offered at the School, examples of which were provided in the grant request dated April 5, 2021.
Amount
$50,000Term
12 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
To support the Lavelle School Fire Alarm Project.
Amount
$240,000Term
12 monthGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State Area, NYC Metro AreaLutheran Braille Workers, Inc.
Yucaipa, CAAbout the Grantee
In its 78-year history, LBW has produced and distributed over 14 million volumes of the Bible and other Christian resources to blind and visually impaired people in 164 countries.
Purpose of the Grant
For the purchase of a new Braillo digital braille embossing printer and a new internal kit to upgrade the existing Braillo printer at its Southern California headquarters.
Amount
$99,254Term
24 monthsGrant Regions
International, Latin America & CaribbeanNew 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 four months of bridge funding for the Heiskell Library’s “Translating Access” project.
Amount
$12,774Term
4 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State Area, NYC Metro AreaNortheastern Association of the Blind at Albany
Albany, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
NABA provides a wide range of services to individuals with visual impairments, including training and placing legally blind adults in professional employment, and providing rehabilitation services to seniors with age-related vision loss. NABA, with over a century of experience, continues to help individuals overcome the challenges of vision loss, enabling them to lead more productive, independent lives. NABA also provides free vision screening for children 18 months to 4 years old through our KidSight Program.
Purpose of the Grant
To support the Lower Hudson Valley project.