Awarded Grants
Search & Filter Awarded GrantsKupona Foundation
Saratoga Springs, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Kupona Foundation is dedicated to providing high quality healthcare to those who need it most in Tanzania.
Purpose of the Grant
To support Kupona Foundation’s Tanzanian affiliate CCBRT (Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania) in using Aravind-like hospital-improvement strategies to increase the volume, efficiency, affordability, and sustainability of CCBRT eye care services
Amount
$451,991Term
30 monthsGrant Regions
Africa, InternationalNational 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
To scale up the distribution of braille literacy bags to New York State families with children aged 0 to 7 who are blind
Amount
$162,303Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State AreaNortheastern Association of the Blind at Albany Inc. (NABA)
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
(1) To help enrich and expand NABA’s existing afterschool and summer programs for youth who are blind and (2) to launch a small but growing pilot program to advance the full integration of NABA youth into mainstream afterschool and school programs that generally serve sighted youth
Amount
$253,350Term
42 monthsGrant Regions
Upstate NYRutgers University Foundation
Brunswick, NJ, USAAbout the Grantee
Created in 1973, the Rutgers University Foundation advances Rutgers’ pursuit of excellence in education, research, and public service. The foundation provide sthe bridge between donors and the schools and programs, faculty, and students that make up this university to help to match caring people with satisfying and meaningful opportunities to make gifts that have an impact on Rutgers.
Purpose of the Grant
To support Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (UBHC) in launching a peer tele-support mental health program for New York City and Northern New Jersey residents who are blind or visually impaired
Amount
$365,604Term
24 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 expand the capacity of two mentor eye clinics in Latin America to train current and aspiring Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (“AOP’s”) at the mentor clinics, themselves, and to support the mentors in helping at least 10 mentee eye care groups in Latin America build their own capacity to train AOP’s
Amount
$428,937Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
International, Latin America & CaribbeanThe Research Foundation for SUNY
Brockport, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Camp Abilities Brockport aims to empower children and teens with visual impairments to be physically active and productive members of their schools, towns, cities, and communities, as well as to improve the health and well-being of people with sensory impairments.
Purpose of the Grant
To recruit and train a combined total of 725 NYS-based K-12 students who are blind and visually impaired, physical education teachers and coaches, and parents in safely and effectively including these students in adaptive sports and physical education in camp and school programs
Amount
$299,926Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State AreaVIA
Buffalo, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
VIA aims to help people who are blind or visually impaired achieve their highest level of independence.
Purpose of the Grant
To underwrite initial planning work, including coordinating meetings among VIA, VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Helen Keller Services for the Blind, for a new Lavelle Fund / Blind Employers Network of New York (“BENNY”) Initiative to advance placement in competitive jobs that pay more than New York State minimum wage
Amount
$13,000Term
1 monthGrant Regions
Upstate NYVISIONS/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 build the proficiency of VISIONS’ rehabilitation professionals and select non-VISIONS teachers and rehabilitation specialists in serving children who have Cortical Visual Impairment (“CVI”) and their families – and then to support the delivery of such services
Amount
$300,000Term
24 monthsGrant Regions
NYC Metro 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
To increase dramatically the availability and use of accessible books and print materials for people with visual disabilities in New York City, including especially such underserved populations as college students, veterans, and other working-age adults
Amount
$525,000Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
NYC Metro AreaBrother James Kearney Scholarship Program
Multiple LocationsAbout the Grantee
The Brother James Kearney Scholarship Program for the Blind (formerly, the Lavelle Fund College Scholarship Program) aims to help make quality undergraduate and graduate education affordable for U.S. residents who are legally blind, financially needy, and attending any of 12 selected private colleges in New York State, Northeastern New Jersey, and Southwestern Connecticut. The program is currently authorized to admit new students through June 30, 2019.
Purpose of the Grant
To provide financial assistance to U.S. residents who are legally blind, financially needed, and studying at any of 12 partnering private colleges and universities located in New York State, Northeastern New Jersey, and Southwestern Connecticut (Phase 3)
Amount
$414,563Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State AreaDeafblind Citizens in Action
San Diego, CA, USAAbout the Grantee
As a disability rights organization, DeafBlind Citizens in Action (DBCA) strives for a better world for all, and founded by young deafblind adults.
Purpose of the Grant
To support two successive six-person cadres of young adults who are deafblind in developing their own leadership and self-advocacy skills by communicating to relevant federal policymakers about the education, employment, and technology accessibility needs of Americans who are deafblind
Amount
$76,000Term
24 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 support Helen Keller International’s ChildSight® Program in awareness-building and advocacy for City of New York and, ultimately, State of New York funding for the now-unfunded State mandate to screen the vision of all New York school children at middle school and other appropriate age levels
Amount
$127,159Term
18 monthsGrant Regions
NYC Metro AreaLearning Ally
Princeton, NJ, USAAbout the Grantee
Learning Ally is dedicated to helping students with print disabilities, including blindness, visual impairment, and dyslexia. Learning Ally improves the way students learn at home and in the classroom.
Purpose of the Grant
To strengthen and expand Learning Ally’s College Success Program (CSP), a relatively new national program to provide college students who are blind and visually impaired with the supports they need to thrive academically and socially in college, graduate from college, and obtain paid employment
Amount
$600,000Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
USA Multi-StateMy Blind Spot, Inc.
New York, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
My Blind Spot aims to inspire accessibility for people of ALL abilities and to provide outreach, advocacy, education and services by promoting an inclusive culture and accessible digital infrastructure to ensure equal access to employment, education, recreation, and independent living opportunities for people with disabilities.
Purpose of the Grant
To advance the employability and financial success of 30 New York City area small business owners, accounting and financial professionals, and job aspirants who are blind by training them to use My Blind Spot’s accessible version of QuickBooks™ accounting software
Amount
$59,774Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
NYC Metro AreaPerkins 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
(1) To build the capacity of Perkins’s Resource Center in Cordoba, Argentina to strengthen the practice of K-12 teachers and schools that serve children who are blind and multiply disabled in targeted Spanish-speaking South American countries and (2) to help stabilize and strengthen the financial management of three model schools for such children in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Ahimsa and ADEFAV) and Lima, Peru (Helen Keller Association – Peru)
Amount
$330,062Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
International, Latin America & CaribbeanSeva 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 build eye care capacity and service volume in the Seva Foundation’s Eastern Nepal eye care network
Amount
$405,000Term
36 monthsGrant Regions
International, South AsiaThe CRUDEM Foundation, Inc.
St. Ludlow, MA, USAAbout the Grantee
At CRUDEM and Hôpital Sacré Coeur, they aim toward a higher calling with a vision for a better world, to exemplify their Christian heritage of service and compassion by:
- Providing accessible quality health care,
- Embracing all people in need regardless of their
religion, economic status or medical condition, - Responding with faith, integrity, respect
and excellence, - Meeting others with an open heart and open mind, calling forth the self-empowerment of the people and communities we serve, and
- Upholding, at all times, and in all endeavors, the inherent dignity of every individual.
Purpose of the Grant
To help the Hôpital Sacré Coeur in Milot, Haiti launch and sustainably operate full-time eye care service
Amount
$94,395Term
24 monthsGrant Regions
International, Latin America & CaribbeanVIA
Buffalo, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
VIA aims to help people who are blind or visually impaired achieve their highest level of independence.
Purpose of the Grant
To increase VIA’s financial sustainability and generate permanent jobs for people who are blind by partnering with the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired to win preferred-source government contracts and business contracts for both manufactured goods and contact center services
Amount
$655,000Term
48 monthsGrant Regions
NYC Metro AreaVISIONS/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 provide, each year, job preparation and placement services to between 15 and 30 incumbent Lavelle – Brother Kearney Scholars interested in obtaining permanent paid jobs in New York City
Amount
$418,365Term
48 monthsGrant Regions
NYC Metro AreaAmerican 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 sustain AFB’s FamilyConnect® online information service for American families with children who are blind and visually impaired, strengthen and expand the program’s partnership with the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments and its parent organization (Lighthouse Guild International), and hire an independent evaluator to assess program services and outreach and recommend needed program improvements
Amount
$205,500Term
18 monthsGrant Regions
USA Multi-StateBrother James Kearney Scholarship Program
Multiple LocationsAbout the Grantee
The Brother James Kearney Scholarship Program for the Blind (formerly, the Lavelle Fund College Scholarship Program) aims to help make quality undergraduate and graduate education affordable for U.S. residents who are legally blind, financially needy, and attending any of 12 selected private colleges in New York State, Northeastern New Jersey, and Southwestern Connecticut. The program is currently authorized to admit new students through June 30, 2019.
Purpose of the Grant
To provide financial assistance to U.S. residents who are legally blind, financially needed, and studying at any of 12 partnering private colleges and universities located in New York State, Northeastern New Jersey, and Southwestern Connecticut (Phase 3)
Amount
$281,949Term
12 monthsGrant Regions
Entire NY Tri-State AreaCatholic Charities Community Services
New York, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
Since 1917, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York has been supporting New Yorkers in need by
- Protecting & Nurturing Children & Youth
- Feeding the Hungry & Sheltering the Homeless
- Strengthening Families & Resolving Crises
- Supporting the Physically & Emotionally Challenged
- Welcoming & Integrating Immigrants & Refugees
Purpose of the Grant
To expand the Catholic Guild for the Blind’s outreach and independent living skills training for seniors who are blind and reside in one of three target Lower Hudson Valley counties.
Amount
$215,633Term
24 monthsGrant Regions
Upstate NYCentral Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Utica, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
CABVI operates as a not-for-profit agency that serves people who are blind or visually impaired, from newborns to the elderly, offering comprehensive vision rehabilitation, employment and technology services personally tailored to meet an individual’s needs.
Purpose of the Grant
To support the expansion of the Dwyer Avenue warehouse
Amount
$139,044Term
60 monthsGrant Regions
Upstate NYCentral Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Utica, NY, USAAbout the Grantee
CABVI operates as a not-for-profit agency that serves people who are blind or visually impaired, from newborns to the elderly, offering comprehensive vision rehabilitation, employment and technology services personally tailored to meet an individual’s needs.
Purpose of the Grant
To help finance the building of an approximately $1.25 million warehouse extension that will facilitate the employment of more workers who are blind.