Awarded Grants
Search & Filter Awarded GrantsLavelle 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.
Amount
$221,073Term
48 monthsGrant Regions
USA Multi-StateVision 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.